New Build, Wooden Case, Awesome! (Still could use any feedback)

[whubbard]

I haven't been around here in a bit due to an insane amount of school work, and because I've been looking into this build. For Christmas I am going to build my mother a PC, however it will be made out of maple wood to match her desk. I have looked into building a wood case, and I am dead set on doing so. I am very skilled with wood and have all the tool required to build an elegant wooden PC case. I have a brand new XP Pro OEM, so I won't need an OS, and I am also going to have her pick out a Keyboard, Mouse, and Monitor which she would like as they can be somewhat personal choices.

Currently the build goes as follows:

Case: Wood (I will be buying and scrapping a Linkwood case ($15) for parts)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811164090

Motherboard: Asus P5B-VM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131043

PSU: Enermax 350W (EDIT: USING SEASONIC BELOW)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817103455

RAM: Corsair DDR2 800 512x2
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145566

Hard Drive: WD Caviar 250gb (EDIT: USING SEAGATE BELOW)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144701

Optical: Lite-On Combo Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106992

Fans: 2x Scythe S-Flex (EDIT: USING YATE LOONS BELOW)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835185004


If there are any suggestions I'm open too them. I'm pretty sure that PSU will do very well, however it not for certain. Also, if anybody here has built a wooden case and has any extra tips (I've read a fair bit about it already, but advice never hurts) they would be great.

Lastly, I will be able to use the power switch that comes with the case, however I was looking for something that wasn't as tacky, and was maybe elegant. Small but elegant. The optical drive will be covered by a door, but if the switch looks nice enough I might be willing to put it on the outside. Here is a basic design that will look a bit like mine, (this is what I would like the switch to look like (I understand that I will have to cover it by wood, but I need the internal comonent)), I also will not have any front fans for the purpose of elegance. (one rear, one on the underside), also the PSU will be on the bottom.

~THANKS~

[whubbard]

This is actually more like what my wood case will look like:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/files/images/woodcase/woodcase04.jpg

Also for the switch: http://www.xoxide.com/acrylicpanel.html ??yes??

[Mr.Ferrari]

If you wanna save some money, go for some corsair ddr2 667 valueselect if you want to save some money.

Also get a Seagate 7200.10 instead.

And about the fans, pick one of these up instead:
Yate Loon D12SL (http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa.html)
or
Nexus (http://www.petrastechshop.com/12neresicafa.html)

Also exchange the powersupply out for something better for your buck:
Seasonic 330W (http://www.svc.com/p3zo3f3slr.html)
Enhance 400w (http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-E5140GH)

[clroberts]

The only think I would worry about with a wooden case is how the heat transfer will work. Metal conducts temps very well and when you cool a case, it can indirectly cool other parts of the case where the fans aren't located. I know that since you have read up on this you've figured out all the potential problems associated with making a case out of wood, but I just seems to me that it would be harder to cool a case made out of wood.

[whubbard]

Yes, it is.
However, that is why I am putting in two 120mm fans. Also I am not putting many extra parts in, just what it needed. The E6600 also runs cool, I probably wouldn't put a Pentium D into a wood case.

If I end up needing too, I can always make some extra vents around the case and but dust filters on them, shouldn't be too big of an issue.


Here are the temps one guy got with his wood case (pretty much the same design as mine):
-------------Case--System----CPU
Idle-----------29------38-------47
CPUBurn------31------42------55

[whubbard]

Ferrari,
I like the seasonic:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817151022

I will also grab two of the yate loons! (I know how much you love them :D)
Do you think they will be loud if there are two?

Also going to use the seagate:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148144

[Mr.Ferrari]

Seasonic=$$ but they are the quietest lol.

Those nexus you see..are the best and the highest performing silent fans on the market. No other fan maker can touch thier cfm/dba ratio.

Nexus uses cherry picked Yate Loons as their models. Then basically just undervolts them.

I mean its gonna be really quiet. But the nexus will naturally be quieter. However I would just get the yate loon and a fan controller and have them at 7v if 12v is too loud.

Because IMO 15 bucks for a nexus is way too much.

[whubbard]

I'm not going to but a fan controller in because that would just intimidate my mother :D
Also the orange is NOT going to work as the way the desk is, the back of the case will be visible, while the whole fan wont be exposed, parts of it will.
I think I will run the fans off the P5B, and let them take care of the voltage.
Anything else? What about that switch I suggested, should it work fine?

[newbuilder14]

Whubbard, is your mother planning on mad overclocking or something? Haha, just use Corsair ValueSelect memory and use the stock Intel heatsink fan.

By the way, what CPU are you using? - Or am I just blind this early in the morning (likely)?

[whubbard]

blind...hehehe sorry (Its all in my first post)
The proccesor is the E6600 and I am using the stock Intel heatsink fan, those are case fans.
Also, isn't the XMS2 more reliable than value select?

:D
(My switch? Is it good? yes/no?)

[Cricket]

Those nexus you see..are the best and the highest performing silent fans on the market. No other fan maker can touch thier cfm/dba ratio.

Nexus uses cherry picked Yate Loons as their models. Then basically just undervolts them.

I mean its gonna be really quiet. But the nexus will naturally be quieter. However I would just get the yate loon and a fan controller and have them at 7v if 12v is too loud.I noticed the Yate Loon fans all use sleeve bearings...what is the life expectancy of these?Also, isn't the XMS2 more reliable than value select?Nope.(My switch? Is it good? yes/no?)Good. Yes.

:) Cricket

[whubbard]

Cricket, do you have any other suggestions for a good quiet case fan (black)? I like the one yate loon I have...but if it has a lower life expecancy then I might not want to use it.

Also, Value Select does not have DDR2 800. Isn't the $30 worth the 800 over the 667?

[Cricket]

Cricket, do you have any other suggestions for a good quiet case fan (black)? I like the one yate loon I have...but if it has a lower life expecancy then I might not want to use it.Wait for Mr.Ferrari to respond to the life expectancy question...Yate Loon may be using very high quality materials that will last a long time. A friend of mine has Antec sleeve bearing fans in her computer and they've been running for 4 years now.Also, Value Select does not have DDR2 800. Isn't the $30 worth the 800 over the 667?You really don't need DDR2 800, DDR2 667 will run fine in a C2D system.

:) Cricket

[whubbard]

I understand I don't need the 800, but I still think I'm going to spend the extra $30.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Cricket is absolutely right.

Well when comparing sleeve to something like a ball bearing or a double ball bearing fan. The ball bearing fan will always win.

Temperatures have a big impact on the life of your bearings. In a 25c ambient temperature. Ball bearing and Sleeve bearing have nearly the same high life expectancy, but if that temperature is 40c, then a sleeve bearings life is cut almost by half. While a ball bearings life looses only 5-10k hours.

With that being said, you will not find a quiet fan that is ball bearing. Yes it might not run fast and not spin at high rpms, but a ball bearing fan will always have that slight whine to it that becomes noticable at quiet fan speeds.

On the quality of Yate Loons bearings? I know for a fact that their Sleeve bearing fans have been used in many FSP and Seasonic Powersupplies. Which operate at high temperatures, but are some of the most reliable psu manufactures in the world.

All in all, if you plan your fan on being in high temperatures, and need a long life expectancy, then I would suggest a louder ball bearing. But if you want the quietest fans, then they are gonna be sleeve bearing. And Yate Loons' would be the first I would trust..

Just my outlook though..

[flanzig1]

One thing I would suggest is to make sure that all metal parts tied to a common ground point like the case of the PSU.

[newbuilder14]

How old are you? You said you are still a student but spend $3,000 on a sweeeet computer. Teach me. :)

[coreywhite]

whubbard, when you finish this you should make sure to post pictures. It sounds like it'll be a pretty incredible looking PC. By the way, I think you intended to post a link to a similar design in your first post, but it didn't show up. Anyway . . . good luck!

[whubbard]

Here is where I got many of my ideas and is the basis of what my case will look like. I'm going to be adding some pink felt and other things to make it match her desk and chair.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article237-page1.html

Newbuilder...I recieved that as a gift from my parents as I only had a laptop. I also fix all of there computer problems so I fed them a pretty convincing arguement. Also it will most likely be the only big gift in a while, as it was actually over $4400. :D

Also, Flazig, How do you recomend I do that, I haven't seen anybody else do it, but it makes a lot of sense.

[tetsuo]

Hee...I used to be a cabinet maker, I made cabinets (for kitchen and bath) and the occasional dresser or the like for homes that ran in 3-7 million dollar range in Atlanta, GA. For years I loved more than anything to work with wood...I've been dreaming of a wooden computer case lately, wishing I had an actual shop to work in.

You have my envy whubbard. :)

[whubbard]

Tetsuo, why don't you do it. I mean im going to be building mine with mainly a jigsaw, electric sander, and an electric drill. I mean I will be using a bunch of other things but those are the only power tools. As an ex-cabinet maker you don't have access to these??

Well...anyways im looking forward to this build. Finalizing the design now.

[newbuilder14]

Looks like it will be fun. Good luck. :)

[Retrac1324]

Good luck. I have no suggestions, but you should check out ZapWizards complete Wooden PC mod including Keyboard, Mouse, and iPod

[clroberts]

You'll have to show us that computer when you're done. Do you know yet what kind of finish you will be using?