Case Recommendations?

[SamSpade]

I'm looking for a medium sized case that already has a fairly quiet Power Supply and Fan combo. Figure I'm looking for something in the 450w category PS wise, as I'm planning on going with a X800 or FX6800 on the vid card plus other goodies.

I'm open to the notion of buying a case without a PS and adding the power supply later. Price does matter, so I'm looking for a balance between being reasonably quiet and not bankrupting me. Obviously, sufficient cooling and power is critical and can't be compromised on, but I'd appreciate some ideas on specific units to look at that meet the power and quality requirements while remaining halfway quiet.

 

[Anubis]

dont bother witha combo just get them seperate

Lian-Li PC65B Case Here 4 case fans real quite and teh frint intake fans have a speed controll switch
Antec True Power 480w Here

 

[Pauli]

The Antec SLK3700-BQE is a nice, quiet case but has only a 380W PS. Check out SilentPCReview for alot more info.

 

[Nebor]

The ANtec 3700 BQE is a nice case. I have the Acousticase 6607, which is a quieted version of the 3700 BQE. It features regular HD cages, and acoustic padding custom fitted for the case. Definitely a high quality case, and very very quiet. It's $200 at quietpcusa.com

You will have to buy fans and a power supply though.

You'll also need to change the heatsink on that new video card to a VGA Silencer on low setting. And modify your power supply with a quieter fan.

I use Acoustifan 120mms for my intake and exhuast, I keep them @ 7v. I use a panaflo l1a in my Zalman power supply. The Acoustifans are about $30 each.

I mean, if you want quiet, you want really quiet, right?

 

[nick1985]

sonata

 

[Sundog]

Antec SLK3700-BQE

 

[Boztech]

I have a Lian Li PC61 with the 4 stock 80mm case fans. It is not what I would consider quiet. Not LOUD, but not quiet. Any of the Antec Solution series with 120mm fans would be a good choice. 120mm fans are the ideal cooling solution.

You could always run a Rheobus in the case of your choice and you get the best of both worlds.

 

[Pauli]

Originally posted by: Nebor
The ANtec 3700 BQE is a nice case. I have the Acousticase 6607, which is a quieted version of the 3700 BQE. It features regular HD cages, and acoustic padding custom fitted for the case. Definitely a high quality case, and very very quiet. It's $200 at quietpcusa.com

You will have to buy fans and a power supply though.

You'll also need to change the heatsink on that new video card to a VGA Silencer on low setting. And modify your power supply with a quieter fan.

I use Acoustifan 120mms for my intake and exhuast, I keep them @ 7v. I use a panaflo l1a in my Zalman power supply. The Acoustifans are about $30 each.

I mean, if you want quiet, you want really quiet, right?

Wow, so you're talking about $320 or so for that setup? Is that extra couple of dbs worth more than $200 extra?

 

[mrwxyz]

Originally posted by: nick1985
sonata

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Pauli

Originally posted by: Nebor
The ANtec 3700 BQE is a nice case. I have the Acousticase 6607, which is a quieted version of the 3700 BQE. It features regular HD cages, and acoustic padding custom fitted for the case. Definitely a high quality case, and very very quiet. It's $200 at quietpcusa.com

You will have to buy fans and a power supply though.

You'll also need to change the heatsink on that new video card to a VGA Silencer on low setting. And modify your power supply with a quieter fan.

I use Acoustifan 120mms for my intake and exhuast, I keep them @ 7v. I use a panaflo l1a in my Zalman power supply. The Acoustifans are about $30 each.

I mean, if you want quiet, you want really quiet, right?

Wow, so you're talking about $320 or so for that setup? Is that extra couple of dbs worth more than $200 extra?

Throw in a modified Zalman PS, VGA Silencer, Zalman 7000Cu and more..... I've spent over $500 on silencing. And I'm still not there. Thinking about another $300 for the Zalman Reserator.

I was just saying, if quiet is really important to you, this is a possibility. It certainly kicks the poop out of a Sonata or regular 3700 BQE.

 

[Falloutboy]

maybe I'm just young but I can't stand a quite system hell I can't sleep without hearing my system humming away at 40db

hell when my system was broken for a week this winter I had to turn on a desk fan so I could sleep.

I guess I should just count my self lucky.

 

[mattisch]

Im gonna get a computer about now.

amd 64 3000
r9800pro

I was going to get the 3700bqe. But then someone told me i needed a more powerfull psu. The 3700bqe is only 350W. Is that enough? I could get the sonata, but thats a rather old case, i want a newer better psu.

I bought the 330W antec silent some time ago, and it was the biggest dissapointment. Im comparison to my earlier zalman quiet psu, its like a jumbojet. Its not silent at all!

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: mattisch
Im gonna get a computer about now.

amd 64 3000
r9800pro

I was going to get the 3700bqe. But then someone told me i needed a more powerfull psu. The 3700bqe is only 350W. Is that enough? I could get the sonata, but thats a rather old case, i want a newer better psu.

I bought the 330W antec silent some time ago, and it was the biggest dissapointment. Im comparison to my earlier zalman quiet psu, its like a jumbojet. Its not silent at all!

No power supply comes quiet. THey all need to be modified. Except for some of the fancy fanless types.

Directron will sell you a 3700bqe without a power supply, that way you can put in a nice quiet one.

 

[SamSpade]

Thanks all. I had seen some references to the Sonata before, so that was and is of interest. The 3700bqe also looks very, very interesting other than the insufficient power supply - I may look into that further.