New Silent Case

[MeltingBlaze]

SIlent PC seems dead nowadays. Majority wants RGB led and sync with motherboard software, keyborad one, fan one etc..
I really cant find anything on the net except a few treads with a bunch of reply each.

As u can see i'm not native english speaker so please keep this in mind - i'm writing all of these cause i cant find any proper answer. Isnt easy but i hope it will helps!


I'm searching for a new SILENT case casue new AMD Ryzen CPU are coming soon and i want to change my actual PC.

INFO

• AIR cooling options using a Noctua NH-D15 (is 165mm tall but it seems to be the king of the coolers and i trust noctua. i even like the beige color! )
• It needs to fit an ATX motherboard (if it can accomodate larger ones is still ok)
• single GPU (prob going for Nvidia GTX 2070 (didnt looked at any particular model yet but is long and when replaced they will be slightly longer probably)
• RGB lighting is avoidable (if there is, is still ok)
• it has to be quiet
• it has to be fresh (cause it helps a lot in be quiet and for improve components lifespan)
• i want it to last in time (my actual pc is more than 10 years old)
• i don't care about a window (i prefer not but if it has it is still ok if it is made of temperate glass)
• I like to have fewer big fans (now i have 3x 120mm noctua fan and 2x more fan on the cooler - i would like to go AT LEAST 140mm or more now that noctua has even the 200mm ones)
• AIR FLOW: i would like to try bottom top air flow (chimney orientation) but i can go for classic way if needed - i like positive pressure - i like dust filters
• i dont need too much bay to fit storage ( i would like to have 2 PCIex SSD and 3 HHD)
• i can buy a fan controller if the case dont come with one pre installed
• i want it almost dead silent when in idle at night
• i know i have to choose all silent high budget component to make it run correctly (i'm looking at Seasonic semi pasive full modular PSU, Noctua NH-D15 cooler, Noctua fans, ssd make no noise, 3x 4Tb Western Digital Red etc)
• budget is about 300€ (350$)

MODELS worth considering (for the moment i have read about these ones)

Cooler Master SL600M - seems good but no psu button and high CPU temperature

Silverstone FT02 - probably good but is an old model and VGA lenght is problematic
Silverstone FT05 / Raven RV 05 - cant fit noctua cooler in them.. for the rest they seems really good (listed in order of preference)

Nanoxia Deep Silence 5 - seems silent but too hot

Phanteks Eclipse P600s - classic orientation air flow but valid
Phanteks Enthoo Primo Special Edition - i dont get if i can go for the bottom top air flow ???

Be Quiet Silent Base 801 - classic orientation air flow (not really impressed)
Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2 - pc of the year 2018 almost everywhere... i dont get if i can go for the bottom top air flow ???

Fractal Design Define R6 - one on the top 3 for sure
Fractal Design Define S2 - cant tell the differences with the R6 except for the glass window ???

and that's all i have to say. now..

QUESTIONS
* other models ?
* did i said something wrong that need rethinking ?
* any suggestions / clarifications ?
* please also see "???" above

Thanks in advance!

 

[ClockHound]

I've used a D15 in the FT05. The D15 is 160mm high - 165mm with front fan raised to clear RAM. Mounting the D15 front fan on the rear tower solves the clearance issues. The twin 180mm intake fans provide ample unobstructed airflow into the cooler. In this case, a D15S would run within 1 degree of a D15.

The FT05 is the quietest and coolest case I've used - also the most dust-resistant. However, it is no fun to work in - it's very cramped. In stock config there's limited drive storage options, 2x 3.5" drive cage and 2x 2.5" SSD slots on the MB tray. To add more hard drives requires some ingenuity with hair band elastics and possibly duct tape. ;-)

WARNING: Not a cat-staff-friendly case. The top of the FT05 is essentially open to the elements and wayward cat vomit, which is why I now use my 2nd coolest case for day-to-day cat staff/human activities.

If you want lots of storage options in a quiet space, the Fractal S2/R5/R6 are excellent options. Once the weak stock fans are replaced.

 

[UsandThem]

I've moved all my cases over to the Fractal Design R5 (2 of them), and a Be Quiet Dark Base 900 (not pro, not rev. 2).

That said, you really can't go wrong with the R6 or Dark Base 900 rev 2, as they are very close in features and build quality to their predecessors. They are both very modular, so you can customize them pretty much however you want to.

The one big difference I see between the R5 and R6 is the R5 allows users to remove individual "ModuVents" when adding fans at top, which gives you more control in how much noise escapes out of the openings. In my cases, I only have the top-back one removed, and I find the "noise penalty" of removing more than one of them too much. With the R6, you only have the option of removing the whole piece, so it's feast or famine on your options up there.

 

[MeltingBlaze]

First of all thank you all for the help you are giving me!
Second, i know it takes me ages to reply

I've used a D15 in the FT05. The D15 is 160mm high - 165mm with front fan raised to clear RAM. Mounting the D15 front fan on the rear tower solves the clearance issues. The twin 180mm intake fans provide ample unobstructed airflow into the cooler. In this case, a D15S would run within 1 degree of a D15.

oh great ideas! didn't know about "the trick" of mounting the second fan in another position on the D15 and never thought about the D15S. That seems a really valid option reeding some reviews around.

The FT05 is the quietest and coolest case I've used - also the most dust-resistant. However, it is no fun to work in - it's very cramped. In stock config there's limited drive storage options, 2x 3.5" drive cage and 2x 2.5" SSD slots on the MB tray. To add more hard drives requires some ingenuity with hair band elastics and possibly duct tape. ;-).

WARNING: Not a cat-staff-friendly case. The top of the FT05 is essentially open to the elements and wayward cat vomit, which is why I now use my 2nd coolest case for day-to-day cat staff/human activities.

interesting to know but i don't have a cat so is ok

If you want lots of storage options in a quiet space, the Fractal S2/R5/R6 are excellent options. Once the weak stock fans are replaced.

never heard about that. do you suggest to change the stock fans with some good noctua fans?

so - if i am interpreting this right - your first choice for a new silent case will be the Silverstone FT05.
The second one The Fractal Design Define serie.
Which one among R6, R5 or R2?
It seems to me that the R6 can be the best, the R5 "only" provides more drive bays and a side fan slot and a 1 cm better GPU clearance. The R2 is the big older brother of the R5.
For this specific question i link my new question "which Fractal case" to UsandThem reply below

I've moved all my cases over to the Fractal Design R5 (2 of them), and a Be Quiet Dark Base 900 (not pro, not rev. 2).

That said, you really can't go wrong with the R6 or Dark Base 900 rev 2, as they are very close in features and build quality to their predecessors. They are both very modular, so you can customize them pretty much however you want to.

The one big difference I see between the R5 and R6 is the R5 allows users to remove individual "ModuVents" when adding fans at top, which gives you more control in how much noise escapes out of the openings. In my cases, I only have the top-back one removed, and I find the "noise penalty" of removing more than one of them too much. With the R6, you only have the option of removing the whole piece, so it's feast or famine on your options up there.

great information!
do you have the case airflow "front/rear" or "bottom/top" oriented?

so your fist pick will go to the Fractal R6 and secondary on the Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2. am i right?

 

[UsandThem]

do you have the case airflow "front/rear" or "bottom/top" oriented?

so your fist pick will go to the Fractal R6 and secondary on the Be Quiet Dark Base Pro 900 rev 2. am i right?

I like my Be Quiet case the best. I was able to install 3 x 140mm fans in the front, and it is the quieter of the two cases. It is really a well engineered case that should last for many future builds.

And I have all the cases set up for front-to-back airflow, although I do have fans on the bottom of the R5 blowing upward into the video cards. However, doing that really doesn't have much affect on the temperatures since I already have 2 x 140mm Noctua fans in the front blowing across them. I just left the bottom fans in because they aren't hurting anything.

 

[MeltingBlaze]

I like my Be Quiet case the best. I was able to install 3 x 140mm fans in the front, and it is the quieter of the two cases. It is really a well engineered case that should last for many future builds.

really nice feedback

And I have all the cases set up for front-to-back airflow, although I do have fans on the bottom of the R5 blowing upward into the video cards. However, doing that really doesn't have much affect on the temperatures since I already have 2 x 140mm Noctua fans in the front blowing across them. I just left the bottom fans in because they aren't hurting anything.

so you are perfectly fine with classic fan orientation. good to know. i dont know why i am so curious about "chimney orientation"

 

[ClockHound]

really nice feedback

so you are perfectly fine with classic fan orientation. good to know. i dont know why i am so curious about "chimney orientation"

Perhaps because the chimney brings back Victorian-era coal-fired thermal nostalgia.

Other than the Silverstone FT/Raven series, there's no decent option for a bottom-to-top clean airflow case.

Good front-to-back airflow can be just as effective as bottom-to-top airflow - when well implemented.

 

[UsandThem]

Perhaps because the chimney brings back Victorian-era coal-fired thermal nostalgia.

Other than the Silverstone FT/Raven series, there's no decent option for a bottom-to-top clean airflow case.

Good front-to-back airflow can be just as effective as bottom-to-top airflow - when well implemented.

Exactly.

Inwin is probably the largest bottom-to-top cooling manufacturer out there, and they always score lower when it comes to temperatures and acoustics compared to fron-to-back cooling cases. For example, read some on a case like their Inwin 303. They look pretty, but that's about it.

 

[ElFenix]

toms put out a review of the antec p101 the other day

 

[MeltingBlaze]

Perhaps because the chimney brings back Victorian-era coal-fired thermal nostalgia.

Other than the Silverstone FT/Raven series, there's no decent option for a bottom-to-top clean airflow case.

yeah. the new Cooler Master MasterCase SL600M seems great on paper but is "only good" in review testing. with some problem need to be fixed.
is a pity cause i would like a case with noctua fans: 2x 200mm fan bottom and 2x200mm fan top at minimum rpm.
it should be super silent in load and one can set an idle setting on a fan controller if needed.
dont seems to me that reviewer used 4 fans. prob the pre installed cooler master only.
it is clear that the FT05 has a better hardware placement.
i dont get why not make a new fortress better and newer than the 2 instead of going slim and thinner every year.. this silverstone that made cases for top models

Good front-to-back airflow can be just as effective as bottom-to-top airflow - when well implemented.

of course. i dont want to try to deny that at all. is only that it seems very logical to me the bottom flow approach. especially for a silent point of view.

Exactly.

Inwin is probably the largest bottom-to-top cooling manufacturer out there, and they always score lower when it comes to temperatures and acoustics compared to fron-to-back cooling cases. For example, read some on a case like their Inwin 303. They look pretty, but that's about it.

oh didnt know about in win. but if u are already telling me they are not worth a look at all. i prefer to focus on what may become my new case.

toms put out a review of the antec p101 the other day

i read something about this model and it seems not bad at all but far form good. a really valid price/performance ratio is probably its best quality.


@ALL
i'm looking back at the cases i am considering and i've made some cut at the list. the remaining ones:

BOTTOM / TOP Airflow
Silverstone Fortress FT05
Cooler Master MasterCase SL600M


FRONT / REAR Airflow
Phanteks Eclipse P600S
Be Quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev. 2
Fractal Design Define R6

as you can tell we removed already half! the bouquet of possibilities.
most of them as i can see are big towers.. casue probably there is no real need for them for my future setup.

now i need to read some reviews and look at some videos for understand better some aspect that need futher clarifications!

 

[ClockHound]

The SL600M could be a decent option - if they had done the clever thing and rotated the MB 90 degrees ala Silverstone. But they didn't. It's a compromised design, with compromised cooling.

That leaves the FT05 as the only effective B-2-T option. Or is it? Could roll your own and not worry about Silverstone's 90 degree patent.

On the Front-To-Rear front, if it was me...which it isn't, would select the R6, because it's cheaper and looks better than the other two look-at-me cases. IMO, which is the only opinion I have, so that settles it. ;-)

 

[kschendel]

I have a Define R6 and it's basically inaudible even loaded. One big difference is that I don't have a hot GPU (it's an RX550 since it's a programming workstation), and it's all SSD. I still think the R6 would work well for you though. I suggest replacing the stock fans with beQuiet Silent Wings 140mm, and you might want to look at the new NH-U12A instead of the D15 - smaller with better ram clearance but same quiet and performance.

 

[MeltingBlaze]

The SL600M could be a decent option - if they had done the clever thing and rotated the MB 90 degrees ala Silverstone. But they didn't. It's a compromised design, with compromised cooling.

reading some reviews around i have to agree. is such a wasted opportunity!
almost everywhere i have read of the CPU temperatures problems caused by the CPU breathing the GPU hot exhaust air.

That leaves the FT05 as the only effective B-2-T option. Or is it? Could roll your own and not worry about Silverstone's 90 degree patent.

i dont have the necessary engineering skills for build something that good myself.
and yes. this leaves the Silverstone Fortress FT05 as the only good bottom/top airflow option.

On the Front-To-Rear front, if it was me...which it isn't, would select the R6, because it's cheaper and looks better than the other two look-at-me cases. IMO, which is the only opinion I have, so that settles it. ;-)

thanks for your feedback!
the Fractal Dessign Define R6 is available at caseking.de at 149.90€ with usb type C (155.90€ for the Tempered Glass Version).
the Phanteks Eclipse P600S is available at caseking.de at 139.90€ with usb type C (149.90€ for the Tempered Glass Version).
the Be Quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev.2 is available at caseking.de at 259.90€ with usb type C.

probably in a pure cost / quality ratio the Be Quiet has to be cutted from the list but here i'm not looking for this criteria.
for the moment it is still in play even if i have to admit is the last in order at the moment.
i dont even know why (is very well reviewed in general - hardware canucks case of the year, gamernexus best noise level case etc.. and even in who reviewed the previous version most of their cons list has been fixed now with rev.2).

The lack of reviews about the new Phanteks (based on an improved version of the EVOLV X) is an issue at the moment too.
Luckily i'm not that in a hurry

I have a Define R6 and it's basically inaudible even loaded. One big difference is that I don't have a hot GPU (it's an RX550 since it's a programming workstation), and it's all SSD. I still think the R6 would work well for you though. I suggest replacing the stock fans with beQuiet Silent Wings 140mm, and you might want to look at the new NH-U12A instead of the D15 - smaller with better ram clearance but same quiet and performance.

Thank a lot for your nice feedback!
ofc the fact to have only ssd and a cool- on it's own - gpu surely helps a lot!

TALKING ABOUT FANS
in this just started tread and online i read about people changing the fans for obvious reasons (more airflow, less noise, well balance flow dynamic etc).
now i have only noctua in my case a Cooler Master Silencio Micro ATX form factor, and the noctua all use the Low Noise reduction cable.

i think that considering that at least 3x140mm + 2x140mm on the cooler is a good number of fans, and they come at around 25€ each this is a sum of money worth some words.

seems that the be quiet fans are really good too (so money saved and replacing the DBP900rev.2 in game even in a price/quality ratio).
a minor note on the case and his fans is that this particular type of fans cant be purchased cause they run at 1600rpm (if someone want to) but the fans available for the sale "only" reach 1000 rpm.


TALKING ABOUT CPU COOLERS
in my first post i write about the Noctua NH-D15.
Now thanks to your advice 2 new models have come out: Noctua NH-D15S and NH-U12A.

Searching online it seems that the D15S is 1°C less performant than the bigger brother and the new U12A is even 1-2°C worst in term of pure performance under HIGH load.
On a load of under max 150w they all perform almost the same with a difference only in noise (cauue of different fans RPM).

On the other hand i understand they offer superior versatility for ram and most of all for first PCIex slot.
I dont get where are the differences form the D15S and the U12A in this particular cleareance field.

 

[UsandThem]

seems that the be quiet fans are really good too (so money saved and replacing the DBP900rev.2 in game even in a price/quality ratio).
a minor note on the case and his fans is that this particular type of fans cant be purchased cause they run at 1600rpm (if someone want to) but the fans available for the sale "only" reach 1000 rpm.

Be Quiet sells both their regular PWM "slow" fans, and "high" speed versions in retail channels such as Amazon and Newegg.
https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans/721
https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans/723

https://www.amazon.com/quiet-BL067-SILENTWINGS-1000RPM-59-5CFM/dp/B01JMEMAE8?th=1

TALKING ABOUT CPU COOLERS

in my first post i write about the Noctua NH-D15.
Now thanks to your advice 2 new models have come out: Noctua NH-D15S and NH-U12A.

Searching online it seems that the D15S is 1°C less performant than the bigger brother and the new U12A is even 1-2°C worst in term of pure performance under HIGH load.
On a load of under max 150w they all perform almost the same with a difference only in noise (cauue of different fans RPM).

On the other hand i understand they offer superior versatility for ram and most of all for first PCIex slot.
I dont get where are the differences form the D15S and the U12A in this particular cleareance field.

Why not split the difference, and buy a NH-U14S? It's the middle ground between the two, and only having to use one fan will be the quietest option. It's really not that much larger than the NH-U12S.

 

[MeltingBlaze]

Be Quiet sells both their regular PWM "slow" fans, and "high" speed versions in retail channels such as Amazon and Newegg.
https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans/721
https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans/723
https://www.amazon.com/quiet-BL067-SILENTWINGS-1000RPM-59-5CFM/dp/B01JMEMAE8?th=1

yes. my bad sorry! by the way is a good news. put be quiet in better light for my point of view

Why not split the difference, and buy a NH-U14S? It's the middle ground between the two, and only having to use one fan will be the quietest option. It's really not that much larger than the NH-U12S.

again another good point!
for silence purpose is better to drop the new NH-U12A casue it uses 2x 120mm fans.
we remain with the big king D15 - the little brother D15S (for improved ram and PCIex slot clearance) and the minor one the U14S for even better compatibility with other hardware pieces.
and this is my preference order at the moment if the case and the rest of the hardware can get all along.
(note: the D15 is better under heavy loads - more than 150w. more than 150w it goes 3°C better than D15S and under 150w only 1°C better. between the D15S and U14S there is a similar approach but they are even closer).

@ALL
to be honest at the moment i am looking at the Be Quiet! Silent Base 801. i would like to see some good text with the motherboard ruotated and the GPU above the CPU.
it makes sense cause everything has its own fan for fresh intake air but the GPU exhausted hot air is just going top reaching nothing if not the exhaust fan.
seems a really good idea!
Edit: prob is not possibile to rotate the sistem as i intended..???...
the new bequiet fans pure wings 3 seem a good type of fan too. i prefer noctua on everything but i have to say they seems pretty good (and come preinstalled)

 

[MeltingBlaze]

updating:

BOTTOM / TOP Airflow

Silverstone Fortress FT05
now has been removed form the list cause it can accomodate only 2 hdd and 2 ssd and i will need more in the future, the gpu size limit is so close to actual generation (you have to be kinda picky with GPU lenght) that next generation probably it will be insufficient and it ships with gen 1 fans (now they are at generation 3).

Cooler Master MasterCase SL600M
as said before. for water cooling is ok but for air cooling the cpu is really getting too hot


So this ends the bottom top airflow section.
i'm kinda disappointed to be honest. the glorious FT5 and the even greater FT2 with a "2019 refresh" can still be unbeatable.
and now i see the majority of people is going RGB AIO not really caring about noise level. RGC has great cool factor but rgb + no noise can be truly a win.



FRONT / REAR Airflow

Phanteks Eclipse P600S
not other reviews on the horizon. i have to say i like it ecstatically and the ones that i saw say that is good.
they lack in depth thermal measurement but overall seems really similar to the Evolv X. both in thermal and in noise levels (from these early bird overviews online at the moment).


Fractal Design Define R6
looked at the S2 and similar related cases... it seems that the R6 is the best case from Fractal Design for my purpose.
is really good and well balanced. its a serious contender.
a minor flaw is that the define r5 has a top that can be opened only where needed. with this is all close or with grill top.

Be Quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev. 2
seems a great case (100$ above the competitor here). but is probably an overkill and i'm currently looking at this Be Quiet! Silent Base 801.
The 801 lacks the bottom fans (not really enough space to use them properly imho) and 1 front fan (which it hurts) but this one has no dust filter (cause it goes to occupy the 5 inch bays.
i dont really care about the adjustable motherboard tray in high the 900 rev.2 has (not going to use radiators) and not really care about the inverted position too (BTX or how is called) that both have. Cause with fan inverted i will have one "front" fan only in intake in this BTX setup (probably the 900 rev.2 works much better using the bottom fans too).

btw all in all it seems to me the 801 is better suited for my needs if i am not missing something (am i?)

i also looked at a couple of video using this 801:

of course they are sponsored videos but the results seems pretty good (even if not perfect in both execution and results).

i know this is not really a fresh case (speaking of thermals - 10°C with open front panel..) but i would really like to hear what do you think about it!

thanks again for your help!

 

[MeltingBlaze]

another update:
i let go the Be Quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev. 2 cause is really big and expensive compared to others. i have no problem in paying it but it is worth for a lot of versatility this case offres, but i dont need that things. so is ok.

the next one i am probably going to drop is the Fractal Design Define R6 . and i am thinking to do it ONLY cause it doesnt have a top that can expel the air out when is closed. not the best reason, not even a solid one to be realistic.
the other two here can install 2x140mm top on the P600S and up to 3x140mm on BQ 801 exhausting top fans without open the top, thanks to their ventilation holes.
of course these holes are not the greatest airflow ever but they claim the are enough for work well if setted to low rpm.

I remain with

Phanteks Eclipse P600S

Be Quiet! Silent Base 801



now the main point is WINDOW or not to WINDOW?
looking at some video they said that the special absorption material they use is great for high frequency noise but not for lower ones.
so great for coil whine etc not for uhm et similar.
they also said that 5mm steel or alluminium it the best way for cases to suppresses the lower frequency.
Does a 4mm tick Tempered Glass panel may be worth of consideration for this aspect?

Dimitry form Hardware Canucks has done his test with the windowed version casue was the sponsored one. but was it the best version to use?

 

[okewidge]

Hello,

Sorry to reopen this thread after more than a year, but I'm in the same case (pun intended) as you MeltingBlaze. I went through the exact same reasoning because I need a silent case (it will be always up in a bedroom), but with a decent airflow, because I intend to get a Ryzen 3950x.

So my choice is now between the Phanteks P600s and the BeQuiet Silent Base 801 too...

The Phanteks seems to be more focused on airflow than the Be Quiet, but I didn't find any comparison between these two cases (thermals, noise) so it's difficult to judge... I only found a review about the P600s that showed almost no difference in noise between closed vents and top/front covers removed

I'm also curious abut the possibility of "inverted" motherboard layout on the 801, but I didn't find any review of this feature either.
It should be interesting because the graphics card would be on the top, directly pointing at the exhaust fans on the top of the case. But on the other side, the rear fan will be at the bottom of the case, so the airflow should not be that great there for the CPU... but in fact I just don't know.

So now after a year, could you tell us the one you did eventually choose, and why ?
I'm eager of your feedback

Thanks !

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Hello,

Sorry to reopen this thread after more than a year, but I'm in the same case (pun intended) as you MeltingBlaze. I went through the exact same reasoning because I need a silent case (it will be always up in a bedroom), but with a decent airflow, because I intend to get a Ryzen 3950x.

So my choice is now between the Phanteks P600s and the BeQuiet Silent Base 801 too...

The Phanteks seems to be more focused on airflow than the Be Quiet, but I didn't find any comparison between these two cases (thermals, noise) so it's difficult to judge... I only found a review about the P600s that showed almost no difference in noise between closed vents and top/front covers removed

I'm also curious abut the possibility of "inverted" motherboard layout on the 801, but I didn't find any review of this feature either.
It should be interesting because the graphics card would be on the top, directly pointing at the exhaust fans on the top of the case. But on the other side, the rear fan will be at the bottom of the case, so the airflow should not be that great there for the CPU... but in fact I just don't know.

So now after a year, could you tell us the one you did eventually choose, and why ?
I'm eager of your feedback

Thanks !

You are EXACTLY where I was in October.
I got the phantex p600. Mainly because it looks sexier imo than the be quiet.
My case is pretty quiet but I wasn’t going for most quiet possible.
I really like how well thought out the case is, everything just works and fits together well.
I like the hinged doors and I do mean doors both sides have hinges held by strong magnets
I like the magnetic top and front covers

Only super minor things I don’t like are:
Top power button gets pushed by my car jumping on it occasionally
I wish it had more front usb options, not because I need it but because I want it.

If I remember my research correctly the p600 is marginally cooler and the be quiet is marginally more quiet but each is by a tiny margin.

 

[beatle]

Edit: Dang, not just the wrong thread, but the wrong forum altogether!