a new case for quiet, unintrusive computing

[bigtm135]

I am building a new performance machine since my current one is getting old. The one quirk I have with my current case is that it's LOUD, I can hear it from another room. It may because of my fans on it (Thermaltake Armor w/ 250mm and 2x 120mm (110CFM)), but it's ridiculous. Oh, and it weighs a ton >_> (50lbs+), but that's steel for ya.

I was thinking that watercooling may reduce the noise a bit? I'm not sure on this so I wanted to ask you guys.

For my new pc I wanted to OC a core i7 920 and get a 4870x2, so I think cooling will be important but I would like to keep it as quiet as possible. Any suggestions would be kindly appreciated. Thanks in advance

PS: please no cases with annoying led's >_< it's so hard to sleep with a giant blue computer.

Budget: under 300-400$ would be best, anysize tower, atx.

 

[yh125d]

CM590 centurion/Antec 300/Antec 900 with a bunch of low RPM fans, something like a Sunbeam CCF, OCZ VEND2, Xigmatek S1283, or Thermalright Ultra-Extreme cooling the i7, and you'll have a rig that's cool, quiet, and powerful for a lot less $$ than WC.


Not that anything's wrong with WC, but it's expensive and weighs more than air, since you expressed weight as a concern. I'm sure aigo will be here and have his way with you trying to get you to convert

 

[Cookie Monster]

Antec P182?

 

[ahenkel]

you know the one that really helped with silencing one of my rigs was replacing the power supply fan. Not for everyone but it had a cheap fan that was flinging lubricant so it had to go. I was suprised at how much quieter it got. Food for thought maybe.

 

[WoodButcher]

ahenkel touched on something you need to think about. Cases don't make noise, buy quiet components and quality fans with a fan controller. Most cases don't do a real good job of sound deadening, the antec P- series is decent but I found it clumsy to open and replace the side panel. Get a case you like the appearance of and then go to work making it quiet.

 

[Tullphan]

Also, don't forget that if you do go the H2O route, you'll need a case large enough to hold all the necessary components. Of course, you'll want to make sure the install's all neat & tidy so you're probably looking at a full tower.
So, keep in mind the size & cost of the new case, the cost of the H2O components & the cost of quiet fans (which cases usually don't have) and a new, quiet PSU large enough to power your new rig.
You have a budget?

 

[Zepper]

Need some guidelines re. size and cost so we can suggest a more accurate solution.

.bh.

 

[bigtm135]

thanks for the replies... still haven't decided tho. I'm not really sure how quiet an H2O system is since I've never lived with one. And yeah, my psu is loud >_< so I'll definitely look into that.

but i'm shootin for 300~400$, don't care about the size, should hold atx though.