Antec 3700AMB w/ quiet PSU a good quiet setup?

[Todd33]

I already own a Enermax quiet 350W PSU. My case is very poor at containing noise. I was thinking of the Antec 3700 with my old PSU. Maybe unplug the 120mm fan too. My system is a 3GHhz P4 w/ Zalman 7000 Al-Cu. A Geforce 4400 and two 7200 RPM ATA drives. I'm not over clocking, so I want to get away with as little airflow that is safe. I just want quiet!

Any other cheap mods I can do to lower fan noise (I never hear the hard drives)?

 

[Zepper]

AFAIC, the Casetek design on which the 3700AMB, the Compucase 6A19, etc. are based is one of the best ever (and better than the BQE if you're using std IDE/SCSI HDs, not SATA). Very easy to build out. The HD bays have rubber isolators standard and the opticals can be mounted with home made rubber biscuits instead of the rails if you want. 12cm in and out (only might want to clear out the stamped fan grilles). If you can't make it quiet, you aren't trying.
. See the write up of the 6A over on coolcases.com.
.bh.

 

[Atrail]

Might be better off with this case for quiteness.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Atrail
Might be better off with this case for quiteness.

????

It's the same case, but a different colour, right? Or does it have rubber grommets and 120mm fans?

 

[Atrail]

its a mixture of the 3700AMB and the Sonata. Best of both...
rubber and 120mm fans yes

 

[Davegod]

He was probably looking for the Sonata?

IMO I cant see much between the SLK3700 and Sonata. SLK is significantly cheaper, and if you wanted a front fan it does it better since the Sonata would put it at the wrong side of the HDD rack, so mostly just circulates air already inside instead of drawing fresh air in. Sonata does come with a larger PSU that comes with connectors that effectively 7v (maybe even 5v) any fans connected to them, not sure if the 350w in the SLK does that. Sonata is meant to have a spiffy piano-black paintjob too, doubt the SLK's is as good.

I suggest find some reviews, both the SLK3700 and Sonata are the cases you want to be looking at. Not sure if you'll get away with only the PSU fan, TBH I'd go assuming you'll have to use the 120mm exhaust - at least 7v modded or using a low rpm papst or something.

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Originally posted by: Atrail
Might be better off with this case for quiteness.

Is the door on the front removable?

 

[Atrail]

Not sure. I know they can be broken off.
I dont have this case just read reviews and thought about purchasing it...

 

[Todd33]

I ended up with the SLK3700-BQE, the AWB was out of stock. I wonder which PSU is quieter though...

 

[Nebor]

I'm going for the Acousticase 6607 black. It's basically the 3700BQE, but with a few small changes, like a different door. It doesn't come with any fans, or a power supply, but it does come with a customer fitted acoustic padding pack, to pad the entire inside of the case. Retail should be something like $150. I already have a Zalman 400w PS to migrate into it, which is quieter than anything Antec has ever produced, and I'll be buying some kind of 120mm fans. Acoustiproducts makes some 120mm fans, but they're like, $25 each...

This case should be in stock within the next few weeks at at least one major silent PC retailer.

 

[Todd33]

I got it all installed. It's quieter, but I can still hear it without trying to. I'm not sure which fan is the worst offender, but I think its the Thermaltake HSF for my GF4. Only four fans blowing:

Zalman 7000Al-Cu
120mm Case fan
Antec 360S PSU fan
Thermaltake GF4 fan (50mm 5500RPM)

I didn't end up using my Enermax EG365P-VE 350W PSU, it has two fans, but one is controlled by a knob. Anyone know if its quieter than the Antec 360S than shipped with the 3700-BQE?

 

[jodhas]

it's your video card fan

 

[Todd33]

I wonder how a Ti4400 would do with the fan off? hehe

I know Zalman sells a passive cooler, but $30 for an old card I might not have for much longer...

 

[Atrail]

Originally posted by: Todd33
I ended up with the SLK3700-BQE, the AWB was out of stock. I wonder which PSU is quieter though...

So whats your impression of the case besides the noisy video card?
How are the temps?
Thinking about this case or the P160, P160 just a lot of money and no power supply.

 

[Todd33]

It's nicely designed, looks good too. I don't really monitor temps, everything is stock speed. I'll see if I can get the Asus monitor program going and report back.