550d, R4 or NDS1?

[Crate87]

Hi there

Got a question for you guys - I want to get me a case that will make the most silent build.
Which case will do the best job of these? Are there something better?

Corsair 550d, Fractal Design Define R4 or Nanoxia Deep Silent 1?

I'm using air cooling only and the system consists of Intel i5-2500K @ 4,5 GHz, a GTX 770 or R9 290 (Which is one is better/best value?) and that's basically, it apart from the obvious 2 HDDs.
CPU cooler is Noctua NH-D14 if that matter.

Let's see what you got

 

[mv2devnull]

There are bound to be reviews that compare those cases. Or something: http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/1tovqb/choosing_a_case_pt_2_silent_cases/

 

[Deders]

I can say the DS1 is very quiet and has great airflow when configured so that the top 3.5" drive bays aren't blocking the fan. If you need more than 3 drive bays you can position 3 or even 5 more in between the bottom 3 bays and the PSU.

 

[lehtv]

I have the R4, would buy again. The 550D and DS1 don't support 140mm fans throughout the case, I prefer them. Currently I have the R4 setup with four 140mm PWM fans (connected to CPU fan header via splitter), the 7200RPM hard drives are by far the loudest components in idle.

 

[Charlie98]

You could also look at the Fractal Define Mini... a little smaller than the R4 with the same build quality and attention to sound damping. The Mini uses 120mm fans front and rear, but I believe will still handle a D14.

 

[Crate87]

Thanks guys - good replies!

I have read almost every review of these cases and fx for the DS1 gets different scores whether the review is from Anandtech, Tomshardware or Silentpcreviews. The same goes for the 550d and the R4. That's why I wanted to hear some opinions from people who might have one or all three cases or experience with them at least.

The Defines are great cases. I have already used the mini for a build and it was really nice. The Scythe Mugen 3 just managed to stay in there, although the top of the cooler just touches the side panel, so I guess the same goes for the NH-D14. But I need a case that can take the ATX standard. And I'm tempted to try another manufacturer.

What bothers me about the 550d is that it has 4 external bays which could have been used for something else. Who needs 4 external bays?

I don't know which one to get. What is the best case for silence?

 

[Charlie98]

If you have built in a Define Mini, then add some size and you get the R4. When the 550D came out I reallllly wanted one, but I don't want an ATX case (I was trying to get out of one... ) but then I saw the Define Mini. If I was building ATX, the R4 would be my first stop, some of that being personal preference of course; I do like the split door on the DS1.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them...

I wonder, has anyone ever done a substantive review of how quiet a case is?

 

[Deders]

If you can get Be-Quiet fans they can make any PC so quiet you can't tell if it is on.

 

[Crate87]

Charlie, I can imagine the R4, it has to be a great case - I just like to try a different manufacturer to get the feeling of different cases. But if it is better than the other two I will go with the R4. In my country all three cases cost the same.

I don't know what you are referring to with the reviews, I have read the previously mentioned ones and got something out of them.

Deders, okay so you would state that the Be-Quiet fans are the best then? What about the Noiseblockers from Blacknoise?

Design wise I'm more for the R4 or DS1 than 550D. So should I go DS1 then? Those fans run low and silent according to reviews, then maybe put a silent 140mm on the side?

 

[Deders]

Deders, okay so you would state that the Be-Quiet fans are the best then? What about the Noiseblockers from Blacknoise?

Not tried them but I have tried the Be-Quiet's on a media build and found it eerily silent when I switched it on.

 

[lehtv]

The PWM fans I have are bequiet. They are excellent fsns but not necessarily noticeably quieter than the oncluded Fractals. The wide PWM range from inaudible 300rpm to quiet 1000rpm is what I really like about them. The noise profile is pleasantly smooth