Looking for new quiet and super cool case

[darkscythe]

I've been reading a lot on the forums,and seems a lot of people are in favor of the Antec cases, with a few being partial to Kingwin and Cooler Master cases. I'm just looking for a case to replace the one I have currently, which sounds like an airplane at lift off, and idle's my computer at 38° w/ 5 80mm fans, 2 intake at front, 1 intake from side, and 2 exhaust from rear.

I've been reading that two 120mm fans are awesome to have, extreme cooling and are quiet, so I am here to ask for your help Please help me pick out a nice looking case, super cool, and can be quiet, which I assume the quiet part will be when choosing fans.

Being that told 120mm is quiet, I'd like to look into cases that hold 120mm fans, as many as possible to keep computer cool, and quiet. Also have been told Panaflow is probably the best fan brand to get, so suggestions on that are welcome.

I already have a 400 watt psu that I will reuse, so please help me find a case best suited for my computer, and something reasonably priced please. Thanks!

 

[Nebor]

Nothing offers extreme cooling and silence. Sorry, it doesn't happen. Silencing is a balancing act between noise and heat dissipation. How much heat can your computer take? How much noise can you take? There's no magical solution.

Try reducing the number of fans in your current case to just the 2 exhuast fans. I doubt your temps will change much, and you'll be left with a much quieter case.

Also, 2 120mm fans at 2800rpm will be much louder than 2 80mm fans at 2800rpm.

 

[darkscythe]

I understand what your saying, I'd just like a case taht can give me the best of both worlds, i'm willing to take two 120mm fans, with that being said, what's the best case to put these badboys in?

 

[Insane3D]

In most cases, you get much better airflow by only having exhaust fans. Most people seem to like to install a fan at every possible location in a case, and in some cases, that makes things worse. By using only exhaust fans, sealing off any stray opening with tape or the like, except for the front, you get a more natural airpath, and less turbulence and noise.

IMO, a great case for what you are looking to do is the Antec SLK3700AMB. It's got a excellent airflow path, has a 120mm exhaust fan, a dual fan 350W PSU (which you could sell if you don't need it), rubber mounts for the HD's, great paint job, and it's very easy to work with. If you want to spend a little time doing some minor modifications, you can cut the noise down even more by cutting out the rear fan grid, and replacing the rear fan with a 120 x 38mm Panaflo.

The case is on sale right now @ Newegg for $64 shipped, which is an awesome deal, and you could probably sell the PSU for at least $30 or $40.

 

[Nebor]

I agree, the Antec 2650 BQE, 3700 AMB or 3700 BQE are all great choices for quiet cooling.

 

[cw42]

i vouch for the 3700bqe. i have two 120mm fans at 5v, dunno how fast they're spinning, and a zalman cnps7000alcu at 1900rpm. i would try to voltmod my 120mm's to 7v, but i cant figure out the voltmod becuz i dont have the right tool to do it.

 

[mdcrab]

i would try to voltmod my 120mm's to 7v, but i cant figure out the voltmod becuz i dont have the right tool to do it.

You do not have to use a tool. You can cut & splice (& solder & tape).

 

[darkscythe]

Looks like I am most definelty going Antec, in one of the 3 series listed, but am still making a choice, but a quick question, will my computer be any cooler than it is now? I feel 38° idle is pretty warm, so thoughts please.

This is my current case, but in silver

Text

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: mdcrab

i would try to voltmod my 120mm's to 7v, but i cant figure out the voltmod becuz i dont have the right tool to do it.

You do not have to use a tool. You can cut & splice (& solder & tape).

You can also pick up items to do it for you that tie into the fan itself (between the fan and the power feed). That way, you turn the dial until you get the fan spinning at the level you want and you don't need to do any perm. alterations. Especially useful if you're not sure about how long you want to do the speed drop. You can pick the devices up from local stores (like [in]compusa) for under $10 each... One that I'd recommend is made by Zalman and stays inside the case. VERY easy to use and set the speed on. The only thing about the one I picked up si there's no markings on it for low and high, so you need to do that yourself. EASY to do with either something sharp, or a marker that will show up on black plastic.