Because my old computer, Jeedzilla, failed recently and I decided to replace it with a new Home Theatre PC, I was able to build a new Linux box. As always, the machine is called Avalon, and this is at least Avalon #4. The machine is built around Jeedzilla's AMD Athlon64 3000+, with a new MSI motherboard and an Antec P182 case. It was a coin toss between this and a NZXT Lexa case; I decided to go for sensible and sturdy rather than flashy but of course regretted it as soon as I'd placed the order!

1. 25 May, 11:00: Photo-call for all the parts. Venue: kitchen table. The motherboard, graphics card (at this stage), and case are new, the rest is recycled.

   

2. A close up of the funky MSI boxes.

   

3. 25 May, 13:30: The power supply is fitted. This is the first time I've fitted a PSU; until now I've always bought cheapo cases with PSUs included. I decided this time to get something which would last! I did save a few quid with the Linux box, though, by buying a cheap generic but high-powered PSU. It'll do, as the machine won't be on as much as the other one.

   

4. The PSU is fitted in a lower chamber in the Antec P182 case, and per the manual the power cables come up through a hole in the plastic lid pictured here (it later transpired there's a better route for some of the cables behind the motherboard tray). The Antec case exudes quality, and it's clear a great amount of thought has gone into it. Note the removable drive bay pictured here, with drive rails and a keyring-like piece of metal to pull the bay out.

   

5. The generic "EZ Cool" PSU clearly visible in it's compartment in the bottom chamber; cable ties and a cable route behind the motherboard. We'll use those later.

   

6. The MSI K8N Neo4-F motherboard. Cheap, and looks cheerful enough.

   

7. 25 May, 15:15: Bugger. I removed the CPU and heatsink from the old motherboard as one piece, but they won't go onto the new board as one because the latch is in the way!

   

8. ...AMD's website says to unfix and then twist the heatsink whilst the CPU is still seated, to seperate them. So, out of the bin comes the old MSI K8N Neo4 SLI Platinum board. I snap the latch off, seat the CPU in the socket, and give it a twist.

   

9. Disaster! I manage to bend the pins on the CPU (see bottom right of picture). The pins are so numerous and so tightly packed it's hard to focus the eye when looking at them, but somehow - with a flat screwdriver - I manage to get them lined up again. The questions now are will the CPU will fit into the socket and will it work?

   

10. 25 May, 15:50: The CPU and RAM are now seated in the motherboard.

    

11. 25 May, 20:15: Almost ready. Doesn't it look nice and shiny?

    

12. ...but it won't stay like that for long. The CPU fan shows how dusty it is here.

    

13. Looks pretty good from the rear too - just like me! Note the massive fan, and the rubber inlets for watercooling. She booted first time and hasn't been problematic in the slightest (I didn't take any more photos of this build).

    

14. 31 May, 18:10: Loaded up with hard disks, she's emptying the 500GB drives from Jeedzilla so that they can go into Kalika's RAID array. This was a long, long job. By this stage the machine has a different graphics card (my old GeForce 6600) - I'll explain why in the HTPC article.

Leaving for sale a system which I can build from the various left over parts from the old Avalon:
AMD Athlon XP1800
Soyo K7V DRAGON motherboard
1x512MB PC2100 DDR RAM
ATI Rage Fury 32MB graphics
2*80GB HDDs
Sony CD/RW drive
Extra 100mbps network card?
Case & PSU

My thoughts on the Antec case: I don't believe this a 10/10 case as some reviewers have claimed. It's functional rather than beautiful imho; a side window option would have been nice; it's not totally screwless; and it doesn't come with a speaker. However, the build quality is exceptional, it's very very quiet, and it's full of wonderful little design touches. It ought to last a very long time indeed, making it good value. 9/10.