Switched from a 650D to a Fractal R3

[lsv]

Hey all,

I've just switched to a Fractal R3 from a Corsair 650D, I have to say it's a very nice case.

The R3 is smaller than the 650D yet much much quieter, however, it was harder to work with due to space constraints. Some things I don't like are the standoffs being like .5mm off and some of the screw points for my new PSU were a bit off as well. Nothing really bad but I think Fractal should consider making a slightly more expensive R3 variant for the $150 price point and it would totally destroy. Also the top cable routing grommet for 8pin mobo power was very hard to make use of.

All in all I'm very happy with the switch, my PC is used in a home studio and the silence + cooling offered is superb.

I currently have 3x Noctua S12B's as intake and one S12B as exhaust.

CPU HSF is a Noctua NH-D14 with the ULNA and my mobo set to silent, it doesn't start the 120mm fan until it's needed and the 140mm is running at 600rpm. It's barely audible. I may test not running the bottom 120mm to further reduce noise.

I've also put an Asus 6950 DC II in it and it just barely fit, I had to tilt it during installation to fit.

Temps (rig in sig) - 40c idle CPU, 65c prime95 for an hour.
6950 is at 45c idle and got to 82c with furmark for an hour. I ran prime95+Furmark for that hour to get my temps. Very impressive.

I only have a few pics but here you go!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

So many Noctua fans

 

[lsv]

So many Noctua fans

There's a deal at NCIX; 2x S12Bs for $25, well worth it

http://ncix.ca/products/?sku=47335&v...facture=Noctua

 

[dmoney1980]

Nice build! I thought that the hdd trays were supposed to be all black?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

There's a deal at NCIX; 2x S12Bs for $25, well worth it

http://ncix.ca/products/?sku=47335&v...facture=Noctua

OMFG.

but im stuck on a POS dell....gotta bring my grades up so i can build my own pc

 

[lsv]

Nice build! I thought that the hdd trays were supposed to be all black?

The black r3 has white accents/cages and the white one has black accents/cages.

 

[dmoney1980]

The black r3 has white accents/cages and the white one has black accents/cages.

Gotcha, I was looking at it from my smartphone, it looked grey. Really nice case, I might pick one up myself.

 

[lsv]

Gotcha, I was looking at it from my smartphone, it looked grey. Really nice case, I might pick one up myself.

If you want silence it's the way to go, I don't recommend the stock fans though, they run a little too loud for me. But I mix/master in my bedroom and need a quiet computer which doubles as my gaming pc.

 

[dbrons]

I don't recommend the stock fans though, they run a little too loud for me.

agree, I have just the front stock fan remaining and I run it on the controller the R3 comes with, turned all the way down.

The rear fan I replaced when I installed my Corsair H60.
It has 2 very quiet PWM fans pulling cool air in. I added a 140mm Noiseblocker up top as the exhaust.

This is the best case I ever worked with though yes I too wish it were a little more solidly built.

Dave

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

There's a deal at NCIX; 2x S12Bs for $25, well worth it

http://ncix.ca/products/?sku=47335&v...facture=Noctua

What's the better fan, this or the NF-P12? I mean this is by far the better deal ($5 more for a second fan), but which is the better fan (quietness being most important).

 

[lsv]

What's the better fan, this or the NF-P12? I mean this is by far the better deal ($5 more for a second fan), but which is the better fan (quietness being most important).

The NF-P12 has higher pressure and can spin faster, the S12B run much slower and can go to a much lower starting voltage. I want silence so I bought the cheaper and slower fans that can still move good air.

It depends on what you want but the deal is nice

Edit - there are stats available here, I'm a bit off on some of the notes but the jist was right; http://noctua.at/main.php?show=produkte&lng=en