[tpbarran]

Dear Spongebob,

My philosophy has been since the last two rig I built, get a full-size tower with big intake fan(s) and big exhaust fan (s). Follow the rule of front fans intake/ lower, rear fans (incl. Power Supply exhaust) exhause/ higher. You can use your front fans for cooling off your HDDs, too. You can add fans inside the case with cable ties at strategic places--near the RAM and the CPU. You should definitely get an after-market heatsink and cooler, like the copper fanned Zalman 9700, or the Arctic Freezer 7. Check theses for the available size inside your case, but with a tower you should have no problem. I have been using a Thermaltake Armor for 3 years and am very pleased with it. I just bought a Zalman G1000 and, after a few modifications of my own it cools well enough, but I'm not as satisfied with it. Other cases that come to mind: Lian Li aluminum cases, the newer Thermaltake designs, but I don't think one has to go overboard on the price of the case. My thermaltake was something like 160 American when I bought it. Don't rely on the powersupply, buy a case without it. The ones installed are garbage. Get a name-brand powersupply and name brand memory. The basic design of the case should tell you a lot about it--is the space clear or are there blocks to the free flow of air? What will it look like with your equipment installed. Do a drawing, even. Also, DO NOT FORGET THE THERMAL COMPOUND, Arctic 5 or OCZ (I used OCZ on my last rig and while it cools a few degrees lower than Arctic Silver, it is much harder to apply and more expensive). Once you are up and running, download the program Core Cooler and check the temperatures at idle and while you are running Prime 95. They should be within the appropriate limits.

Good luck

tpbarran