I've just upgraded my kt266a with 1600xp 8kha+ in an Enlight 7237 case with the front modified so I could fit a 92mm panaflow fan in place of the stock 80mm fan. I also cut a blowhole in the top and mounted a 80mm panaflow to pull the heated from the top of the case out. Cpu has a YSTech 60mm fan mounted ontop of a thermoengine hs and was ducted to the outside rear to ensure it got only cooler outside air instead of the warmer air inside the case. The video card has a 40mm fan added for cooling. I had also tried using cork glued to the inside to help with the higher pitched fan noise, which helped just enough to cut some of the fan noise down to bearable levels. All in all, the sound was bearable, more like white noise than a wind tunnel, but definately could be heard 2 rooms away.
My new setup is a full server size Chieftec case with room for 6 extra fans ( an stock 80mm case fan came mounted in the side panel ). I installed 3-80mm Vantec Stealth fans, a Vantec Areoflow hsf with a 70mm Magnetic Tip Fan mounted on top, and a Antec True430 psu with 2 fans. 2 of the 80mm fans are hooked into the "fan only" cable coming from the psu. The psu is actually one that adjusts it's fans speed depending on the demands from the system. I was actually amazed on the level of sound difference achieved with the new setup. With twice the fans of the other system, it's putting out only half the noise. And the noise it does make is more like a hiss than the sounds of fans running. It's almost like having your cake and eating it too 🙂
My new setup is a full server size Chieftec case with room for 6 extra fans ( an stock 80mm case fan came mounted in the side panel ). I installed 3-80mm Vantec Stealth fans, a Vantec Areoflow hsf with a 70mm Magnetic Tip Fan mounted on top, and a Antec True430 psu with 2 fans. 2 of the 80mm fans are hooked into the "fan only" cable coming from the psu. The psu is actually one that adjusts it's fans speed depending on the demands from the system. I was actually amazed on the level of sound difference achieved with the new setup. With twice the fans of the other system, it's putting out only half the noise. And the noise it does make is more like a hiss than the sounds of fans running. It's almost like having your cake and eating it too 🙂