Thanks for the help in the past here. Most recent build was 2007 where I started a similar post. You folks were helpful in building a PC that I am still gaming on today, with only a video card upgrade between now and then and that was due to failure after 2.5 years.
This time around I need to start right from the chassis. Previous build I just re-used a metal Chieftec tower. This time around I need a whole new case because the PC in the Chieftec is going to get wiped and used for my wife. Here's a general idea of where the plan stands. A gaming/simulation PC that also does some video editing, mainly family HD recordings or gaming videos. It will do flight and racing simulations and I plan on doing 3 screens down the line. I've usually done Nvidia cards but this time around I plan on going ATI. I have no allegiance to either card company but very much want the option to run 3 screens and the ATI performance will be more than enough for me. I'm thinking ATI 5870 right now. I'm also thinking Intel i7 930 to 950 range depending on cost per performance. FIRST STEP, I need a case! I don't want anything too fancy. Spending big money on the case itself hurts. However I want something that gives me the room to build, and if need be later easily crossfire the ATI cards, and have adequate cooling. I've looked at a few. MY DILEMNA, I have a small open desk setup to the right of my main gaming office desk. I fit my Chieftec tower in there with clearance enough to keep the little keyboard tray to that desk. It fits 3 towers with ease. I use it to have my gaming PC, my kids PC, and a LAB/DUMMY PC. That way my legs are free of wires and heat while at the gaming PC desk. Width is no issue but height may be. It seems my Chieftec tower (WITH OUT FEET INSTALLED) stands at 20.5 inches. I can always remove that desk's keyboard tray, but I like it for neatness and my little kids have it at a good height but would prefer to keep it. Few full tower cases I've looked at: Cooler Master HAF 932 Full Tower Black Case HEIGHT: 21.5 inches Thermaltake Element V VL20001W2Z HEIGHT 21 inches Few mid tower cases I've looked at: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case HEIGHT: 19.5 inches (It fits!) COOLER MASTER CM690 II Advanced Black Steel body HEIGHT: 20.10 (It fits!) SO, the mid towers fit, the full towers are a tad too tall. Can anyone recommend another good gaming tower I can look at? Or any suggestions regarding the search itself. I have not bought a new tower by itself since 2003. Appreciate any and all of your suggestions as I start putting together the parts of the next machine.
