Quietest and nicest cabinet of this list

[tutuava]

Hi

I am buying a new computer from a shop that assembles it for me, and gives me a series of choices to pick from, including cabinets. I don't really have a clue which cabinet to pick, mostly I would like it to be quiet, so if any of these are quieter or a lot nicer than the others I would pick that. There are more I can choose from, but they get a little too expensive. I would like that it has front USB ports as I'm looking to get a motherboard with a couple of front USB3 plugs..

Cooler Master Elite 310
NZXT Gamma Steel
Antec Two Hundred
Cooler Master Elite 430
Fractal Design Core 3000
Antec Dark Fleet Series DF-10
Cooler Master Storm Scout
Fractal Design Define R3

Thanks for any tips!

 

[jrocks84]

Fractal Design Define R3 is the only case I would really consider quiet among those.

 

[lsv]

Fractal Design Define R3 is the only case I would really consider quiet among those.

+1 on the R3.

 

[tutuava]

Thank you both - it seems that it only has USB 2 front connectors though, as do the others. I found a Cooler Master Silencio 550 which has one USB 3 and one USB 2 port on the front, it seems USB 2 is still standard on the cases..

 

[Arg Clin]

R3 is a great case. Quiet and with options to do good airflow if needed. (I've closed off the rear exhaust and opened up one of the 140mm top vents)

For front USB3, get a front hub I suppose.

 

[loopingz]

Any feedback on the Silencio 550?
Some report give it a bit better than R3 on a noise by $ ratio at least.

I am wondering what to choose between the too but I fear the lack of cooling. I dont overclock but my house temp is 30C in summer and there will be a 2600K and 6970 inside.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

you can always just water cool the whole thing and then put in anti vibration pads. put in silent fans with fan controllers and call it a day

 

[aigomorla]

I am wondering what to choose between the too but I fear the lack of cooling. I dont overclock but my house temp is 30C in summer and there will be a 2600K and 6970 inside.

lulz...

That is nothing to be fearing about...

get a good aftermarket heat sink + the R3.
Ask them for a sink upgrade and not use the stock intel sink.

The R3 is a nice case.
It was conceived on the forums, and not someone who thought they were smart.

They took what people said they wanted and did it...


Personally one should take their time in building a system.
Its not difficult if u have the right set of parts.

Its most definitely easier then putting together a radio controlled car.
Or even assembling a bike.

 

[Spicedaddy]

The last build I did, I decided to forget about "quiet cases" and just go with an open design with the least noise-making components inside.

I got the Fractal Core 3000, took out all the fans it came with. Only fans inside are the 120mm on the Xigmatek Gaia CPU cooler (i5-2500K) and the blower on a reference ATI 6870. The PSU is a Seasonic Gold (fan is off all the time) and I have an SSD.

It's definitely the quiestest system I've had, even if the Core 3000 isn't a "quiet case".

 

[Zap]

I got the Fractal Core 3000, took out all the fans it came with... It's definitely the quiestest system I've had

Fewer things that make noise = less noise. Brilliant!

The "quiet" cases are ones that allow you to still have case fans while keeping a low noise profile. They do this through a few methods:
- Decoupling things that have vibration potential like grommets for HDDs and soft fan mounts.
- Dampening things that can pick up and transmit vibrations by using thicker steel and adhering materials to the side panels.
- Utilizing an indirect air path. Sound is very directional, and thus a case like the R3 will have a solid front with slits around the sides. Air still moves thanks to the fans, but noise will be attenuated.

 

[SZLiao214]

The last build I did, I decided to forget about "quiet cases" and just go with an open design with the least noise-making components inside.

I got the Fractal Core 3000, took out all the fans it came with. Only fans inside are the 120mm on the Xigmatek Gaia CPU cooler (i5-2500K) and the blower on a reference ATI 6870. The PSU is a Seasonic Gold (fan is off all the time) and I have an SSD.

It's definitely the quiestest system I've had, even if the Core 3000 isn't a "quiet case".

You should hear what your system sounds like when your graphics card as a non reference cooler.

Out of the cases listed get the R3.
How much are they charging you for that case? There is a pretty big price difference between an antec 200 and a R3.

 

[Spicedaddy]

You should hear what your system sounds like when your graphics card as a non reference cooler.

Reference cooler can get pretty loud also when playing games, but I don't play PC games anymore. The important thing is that it blows the hot air outside the case. (very important since I have no case fans)

The problem with "quiet cases" is that they're closed down to block the noise, so you have to put case fans or there won't be any airflow. A case like the Core 3000 has so many holes (especially on top) that heat can just rise out of the case.

 

[piasabird]

http://www.missingremote.com/?option=com_smf&Itemid=198&topic=2717.msg20220

There was an R3 review at this site. Quiet is kind of relative. If you put a really noisy video card in a case, you should expect it to make some noise. Often a computer case is designed more like the body of a guitar than a quiet chamber.

 

[Zap]

Reference cooler can get pretty loud also when playing games, but I don't play PC games anymore.

If not gaming, then why a 6870 graphics card?

 

[Spicedaddy]

If not gaming, then why a 6870 graphics card?

It was the cheapest that had the "blow out the rear" reference cooler, and it supports 3 monitors, has good video features, etc.