help: silent pc upgrade

[urndel]

Hi guys I need your help.

I'm thinking about upgrading my computer's case, the cooling and the psu. I'm not sure if I'll do it yet but I'm seriously looking at it.

So what I want is a small case that is silent and provides good cooling. I'm not sure If I want micro-ATX because I don't want to limit upgrade options or I might want to put in a big graphics card later if I ever have the money.
Also I want USB 3. I prefer not to have any USB 2 because its old and I don't want to think when I connect USB stuff.
On top if that I want a clean looking case without a window and I don't want to open doors to access my bluray drive (where my case is I cant open those doors)

I also wonder if a not so silent case can be made really quite by replacing fans? (noctua fans or some other type I don't know)

Little story about my current case:
The exhaust fan died so it doesn't have one. The GPU is passive cooled (GT520), stock intel cooler and the psu has its fan blocked (and I mean totally blocked) because my case is old and stupid.
Airflow in my current case it pretty much non existent
Also the nice white plastic has turned yellow from being in direct sunlight all the time.

 

[charre]

Just bought one of these myself. Its a mini tower that supports full size atx or m-atx and supports full size graphics cards. It also has some silencing features.

About making your current case silent: There are some products out there, but you may end up paying a lot of money with little discernible benefit. The actual panels of your case might be a bit loose and vibrate for example. It's probably time to just break down and buy a new case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112218

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Fractal Cases are silent. Also installing an aftermarket cooler will also make your CPU more quiet and temps will drop

 

[DaveSimmons]

Fractal Define Mini is only a couple of inches smaller than the R3 so you might decide to just go with the R3 instead:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1230-page1.html

Page comparing to several others:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1230-page7.html

I was thinking mATX myself, but finally decided to go with the easier cable management and future-proofiness of a bigger case, an Antec P280:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/Antec_P280

 

[lsv]

Hi guys I need your help.

I'm thinking about upgrading my computer's case, the cooling and the psu. I'm not sure if I'll do it yet but I'm seriously looking at it.

Good

So what I want is a small case that is silent and provides good cooling. I'm not sure If I want micro-ATX because I don't want to limit upgrade options or I might want to put in a big graphics card later if I ever have the money.
Also I want USB 3. I prefer not to have any USB 2 because its old and I don't want to think when I connect USB stuff.
On top if that I want a clean looking case without a window and I don't want to open doors to access my bluray drive (where my case is I cant open those doors)

If you can't open a door your options for very silent cases are limited. I would have recommended the R3 but that has a door. Maybe the upcoming Corsair 550D (the door can be removed) is a good option though I'd say wait for reviews.

I also wonder if a not so silent case can be made really quite by replacing fans? (noctua fans or some other type I don't know)

Yes for sure, Noctua's are a bit expensive. I bought 3 of these bundles from NCIX for my builds.

Little story about my current case:
The exhaust fan died so it doesn't have one. The GPU is passive cooled (GT520), stock intel cooler and the psu has its fan blocked (and I mean totally blocked) because my case is old and stupid.
Airflow in my current case it pretty much non existent
Also the nice white plastic has turned yellow from being in direct sunlight all the time.

Once you give the PSU and other components some airflow the stress on those components will go down, definitely recommended to give your PSU some airflow.

 

[Zap]

So what I want is a small case that is silent and provides good cooling. I'm not sure If I want micro-ATX because I don't want to limit upgrade options or I might want to put in a big graphics card later if I ever have the money.

There are many micro ATX cases which can take big graphics cards, so that should not be the limitation. What is the limitation is the size of the motherboard. Micro ATX and ATX motherboards can both fit in ATX case, but ATX motherboards cannot fit in micro ATX cases.

Most cases these days have reasonable cooling. Indeed many "gamer" oriented cases go a bit overboard in that department.

I also wonder if a not so silent case can be made really quite by replacing fans?

You can always reduce noise by slowing down fans, whether by replacing them with lower RPM models or lowering the RPM of existing fans using some kind of fan control.

Note that if you are in the market for a case and you also are interested in keeping your computer on the quiet side, it is always easier to start with a case designed for "quiet" than it is to start with a case designed to be a wind tunnel for super hot graphics cards.

For "quiet" with no door, consider an Antec Solo II.

 

[ElFenix]

this question depends a lot on your definition of "silent." another question is your usage model. some of the wide open cases without much damping or contorted sound paths may be a bit louder at idle, but due to the superior airflow will be more quiet during a load.

first thing i'd try is using better quality, low rpm fans.

 

[Zap]

first thing i'd try is using better quality, low rpm fans.

Did you read what the OP wrote about his case?

"Airflow in my current case it pretty much non existent
Also the nice white plastic has turned yellow from being in direct sunlight all the time."

Sounds like an ancient beige case with small exhaust fan.

 

[urndel]

Sounds like an ancient beige case with small exhaust fan.

NO exhaust fan It died a year ago, made a horrible noise so I removed it

 

[T_Yamamoto]

NO exhaust fan It died a year ago, made a horrible noise so I removed it

You should of bought another one

 

[urndel]

Well I was lazy and it worked fine without one.

Also I'm thinking about moving my case up onto the wooden planks above my screen that way all my space constraints would be solved. Then I can even fit a SilverStone FT02

Don't know about it yet but if I can do quite watercooling for a decent price then I might go with that. I'm thinking about upgrading to Ivy bridge later but might not do it because I'm going to buy a macbook pro sometime when uni starts again and I don't want to spend money on a pc I'll be using less and less.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Well I was lazy and it worked fine without one.

Also I'm thinking about moving my case up onto the wooden planks above my screen that way all my space constraints would be solved. Then I can even fit a SilverStone FT02

Don't know about it yet but if I can do quite watercooling for a decent price then I might go with that. I'm thinking about upgrading to Ivy bridge later but might not do it because I'm going to buy a macbook pro sometime when uni starts again and I don't want to spend money on a pc I'll be using less and less.

A Mac? WOW.

 

[urndel]

A Mac? WOW.

Yes a macbook pro to take to uni. Basically just because I like apple laptops. but all that is a bit off topic here

As for my case choice I'll definitely move my case as it will free up a lot of space on my desk. That leaves me with 2 choices:

1:
A silent air cooled case. Pretty plain looking fractal Design R3 or something like that

2:
A silent water cooled pc. Pretty plain looking case but then I'll take one with a window and I'll add lighting. If I do that it needs to look really good. And I'll spend a more money on it but I'll do it in steps.
First get the case.
Then cpu block + radiator + pump + reservoir.
Then add a graphics block + radiator.
And add lighting somewhere along the way to.
Got my basic plan for the loop just need to find a good case for that.

 

[zardthebuilder]

did you see this?

Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case
Limited time Shell Shocker® deal 2/9/2012
$79.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352013

 

[urndel]

did you see this?

Fractal Design Define R3 Black Pearl w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case
Limited time Shell Shocker® deal 2/9/2012
$79.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352013

Didn't see it since I live in Australia and Newegg doesn't ship internationally. They totally should though
Since the Australian dollar is so strong atm a lot of things are cheaper in America.

 

[urndel]

I think I made my decision. I'll go for the Corsair 650D. I have never owned a corsair case but I think It will be great.
Just one question: Since this is a negative air pressure case: How much dust will it gather?
And If I put a 2x140mm radiator at the top and pull air through that into the case how much of a negative effect will that have on temp inside?
I want to make my water cooling loop like this:
reservoir->pump->2x140mm radiator at the top->cpu->140mm radiator on the back exhaust->GPU (-> maybe external radiator)

 

[Anarchist420]

You could remove all heatspreaders, replace all stock TIM with AC MX2, put the heatspreaders back on, underclock, and undervolt. having a super low room temp helps also. I wouldn't do that, but then I'm not concerned about fan noise unless the noise sounds like a defect.

 

[urndel]

having a super low room temp helps also.

Super low room temps would help. The only problem is that I life in Perth, Australia. The big fan in my room sometimes can barely keep me from dying
Ambient goes past 40°C here and having my pc on only gets the temps in my room higher

 

[gramboh]

I think I made my decision. I'll go for the Corsair 650D. I have never owned a corsair case but I think It will be great.
Just one question: Since this is a negative air pressure case: How much dust will it gather?
And If I put a 2x140mm radiator at the top and pull air through that into the case how much of a negative effect will that have on temp inside?
I want to make my water cooling loop like this:
reservoir->pump->2x140mm radiator at the top->cpu->140mm radiator on the back exhaust->GPU (-> maybe external radiator)

If you are concerned about silence, take a look at the Corsair 550D which is being released this month. There's pictures/video on Corsair's website.