Quiet case?

[RailHeaven]

I'm looking to build a new mid-range computer (I'm going off the guide here with a couple upgrades). I'd like for it to be as quiet as possible and I was wondering how the case factors in to that. If anybody has a recommendation for a quiet case then that would be great. I'd say my budget is $100 but if there is a really case that is more expensive then that then I would love to have a look.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MoInSTL]

Fractal Design. The have a few models. I just got the new R4 Titanium Grey. They offer the Black Pearl and Arctic White as well. $109 at New Egg with free shipping. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352022

Anand Tech did a review last month. There are several other reviews out there. Oh & it ships with two fans. Room behind the motherboard for cable management, can remove one or both drive cages and front and PSU dust filters. Built in fan controller for up to 3 fans.

It's quiet. Don't overlook a quiet PSU too.

 

[Zap]

The Fractal Design Define R4 is a decent choice. Other choices are the NZXT H2 and Antec Sonata Solo II.

If you decide to go micro ATX there is the Fractal Design Define Mini.

Another option is to go with an Antec Sonata with bundled PSU. Newegg still has the older Sonata III with an EarthWatts 500W PSU for $130, plus the latest Sonata IV with a Neo Eco 620C PSU. Both of those PSUs are pretty decent (EarthWatts made by Delta, Neo Eco made by Seasonic).

 

[lehtv]

A quiet build involves:

1. A quiet case - has no major openings other than those occupied by fans, and uses sound dampening materials on the side panels. I recommend Fractal Design Define R4.

2. Quiet case fans - downvolted with a fan controller to near-inaudible speeds. For a 140mm fan, that's around 400-500RPM. The included R4 fans are pretty good, but for optimal operation you'll want a second 140mm intake at the same RPM, all controlled by the integrated 3-speed controller at the lowest setting. The controller supports three fans.

3. Quiet internal components - the case dampening materials will help some, but you can't rely on the case to silence noisy components.

3a. CPU cooler with a low RPM or otherwise quiet fan. I recommend Scythe Mugen 3 and Thermalright HR-02 Macho for overclockers, though if you want truly quiet load noise levels, overclocking will be very limited. You could buy a nice heatsink like one of the above, and replace the fan with one that has similar constant RPM as your case fans

3b. PSU with at least Bronze efficiency and either a very low noise fan or passive operation (at least at idle). Passive operation probably unnecessary for a low wattage (<300W) PC

3c. Quiet video card cooler. Most nonreference coolers on current generation cards, like Asus DCII, MSI Twin Frozr, Gigabyte Windforce and such, are extremely quiet at stock clocks/volts and with a customized fan profile (using MSI Afterburner). For total silence, it's an option to buy an Arctic Cooling Accelero or Twin Turbo aftermarket heatsink, in which case I'd recommend an EVGA card because they'll honor warranty even if you remove the stock cooler.

3d. HDD's (optional) - 7200rpm drives make more noise, 5400RPM drives make less noise, SSD's make no noise. For a balance between cost, noise and capacity, buy one 128GB or 256GB SSD and a 1TB/2TB 5400RPM hard disk.

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I'd recommend you create a thread over at General Hardware about your new build

 

[Zap]

3. Quiet internal components - the case dampening materials will help some, but you can't rely on the case to silence noisy components.

:thumbsup: This is a more holistic approach to "quiet." Note that there IS a difference between "quiet" and "silence" with "quiet" easy to do with smart component choices, and "silent" (at least in the true sense of the word) difficult without compromising somewhere.

So back to the quoted text. It is 10x, no wait, 100x easier to make something quiet that is already quiet, than to take something noisy and make it quiet.

 

[RailHeaven]

Awesome, thanks for the advice guys. I'll definitely take lehtv's advice and make a thread about my build.

 

[n0x1ous]

I can concur on the fractal R4. Used for my new server and i can hardly hear anything in it running.