Quietest Case with a Window?

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invertedbottles

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Jun 15, 2012
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Hello all, planning a low to mid range gaming build sometime during summer. There will be no overclocking.

I'm looking for a very silent computer. I've really liked the features and minimalist looks of the Corsair 550D, Fractal Arc Midi, and Antec Sonata SOLO II, but I really want a window that will let me view the components. Would also like USB 3.0 front panel, as well as fan filters and/or panels covering unused fan slots. I wouldn't be running that many fans, and would also like to keep as much dust out as possible. Sound dampening material would obviously be helpful.

If there's no silent case with the window, I'll probably buy one of the 3 from above and throw the side panel under some kind of cutter and stick some clear plastic where the metal used to be.

Thanks!
 
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InvalidError

InvalidError

Titan
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A quiet case with a window would be self-defeating: covering the enclosed perimeter with sound-dampening material is one of the defining characteristics of quiet cases and no such material can be applied to windows.

If you are going to buy a 'quiet' case only to un-quiet it by throwing away large areas of sound-dampening material, you may as well use a regular "noisy" case.
 
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invertedbottles

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I see your point, so maybe a more productive question would be if there are any cases out there with windows that have at most 1-2 intake and 1-2 exhaust fan mounts? That would allow less noise pollution out as well as less dust in. Of course I'll be pairing them with quiet fans, looking at Cougars or the new Corsair quiet editions. I might get something like an H70 core mated with quiet fans because the computer must be quiet for around a year, but after that I'll be looking to overclock (probably with a different case).
 
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invertedbottles

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Never actually heard or thought of that, is it just like foam that you can cut to whatever size is needed? Won't affect heat dissipating too well? I would hope case manufacturers would have tested the air flow or heat characteristics of the cases, and that wouldn't affect it too much?

Edit: Just looked at that case, forgot to mention I would prefer a mid tower.
 
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InvalidError

InvalidError

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Most of the noise-dampening material is applied to case walls. If you have an intake and exhaust fan(s), the bulk of heat is moved through forced convection, there is little to no "dissipation" through the case's walls themselves.

Gluing acoustic foam/wool onto steel/aluminum panels might help with acoustic noises but not be quite as effective at 'deadening' case vibrations as factory-laminated stuff.
 
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bigcyco1

bigcyco1

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Case:COOLER MASTER CM Storm Series Trooper (SGC-5000-KKN1) Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119245#top

Case:NZXT SWITCH 810 Matte Black CA-SW810-M1 Steel / Plastic ATX HYBIRD Full Tower Gaming Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146095#top

Case:COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KXN1-GP Black Steel, ABS Plastic, Mesh bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194#top

Case:COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225#top
 
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invertedbottles

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I'm probably going to do this, as well as pick up some sound dampening stuff to block all unused ports as well as line the sides.

@InvalidError: Does aftermarket stuff work as well as the stuff they use from the factory? I know Silverstone has some sound foam on Newegg for around $22 for two sheets, would the auto store stuff be a better buy?

Of course I'll also go for anti-vibration gaskets or mounts for HDs and fans. Was considering buying something like a Corsair H70 Core or a H100, and sticking some of Corsair's Static Pressure Quiet fans on it. I haven't really read all the threads about the grinding noise, but should I be worried? Having this will allow me to overclock after a few years when I don't require quiet anymore.

I'm guessing I'll have to budget more money than I intended for quiet.
 
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invertedbottles

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Haha it's no problem, thanks for trying to help :D


I was thinking it would be useful for future overclocking, but if that's the case, what would you recommend? Of course I'll be trying to mount some quiet fans on it (at least for now).


That sounds good. Will the auto store have the thinness that I see some of the computer ones at (4mm for one of them)? I'd assume they are as dense to absorb sound.
 
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RedJaron

RedJaron

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You might want to also check out the Raven 3. It's not exactly minimal looking, but I don't think it's ostentatious either. It's not dead silent, but it is rather quiet and all the drive mounts have rubber grommets to reduce vibration. The rotated board mounting makes it very efficient at cooling, and the bottom intakes have magnetically mounted filters. I haven't found it necessary to add any fans to it, though I did swap out the 120s on the case and CPU cooler with Scythes.

My only complaint about it are the front drive cages. They're not exactly easy to remove, though you don't often need to do that.
 
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invertedbottles

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That is a very interesting case. I'll do some more reasearch on it. (edit: after taking a look, I could live with the styling but it is a full tower, a little too big for me. Thanks though!)

What do you fella's recommend for a CPU cooler? I know a lot use the CM 212 (Evo or Plus?), should I look at that? Replace the stock fan with a quiet one, or two?
 
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bigcyco1

bigcyco1

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CPU Cooler:THERMALRIGHT SILVER ARROW DUAL14CM ROUND FAN HEATSINK
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CF4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTHERMALRIGHT-SILVER-ARROW-DUAL14CM-HEATSINK%2Fdp%2FB003XRAKLQ&ei=_JPhT5fBNOaw2QW7pdjmCw&usg=AFQjCNHI-MZYKU2ahV-tLWOMvRskh3fg6Q&sig2=B0mUpnS6kbDfAS79npKCCQ

CPU Cooler:Noctua 6 Dual Heatpipe with 140mm/120mm Dual SSO Bearing Fans CPU Cooler NH-D14 - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820148410

:
PHANTEKS PH-TC14PE_BL 5 x?8mm Dual Heat-Pipes Dual 140mm Premium Fans and Quiet CPU Cooler with Patented P.A.T.S Coating
by Phanteks
http://www.amazon.com/PHANTEKS-PH-TC14PE_BL-Heat-Pipes-Premium-Patented/dp/B005OQJVP0/ref=pd_cp_pc_1/178-7594657-4819959

CPU Cooler:COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 Continuous Direct Contact 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler Compatible with latest Intel 2011/1366/1155 and AMD FM1/AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099
 
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invertedbottles

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I've browsed through a bunch of these before, but the problem is choosing a single one to use. What do you guys personally use?
 
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bigcyco1

bigcyco1

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Most the guy's use COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO i however am addicted to Overclocking and it doesn't get the job done for my extreme oc i use a rasa kit on my main rig and i use the NH-D14 on my secondary rig but i dislike the looks so i am thinking of switching over to PHANTEKS PH-TC14PE_BL but can't make up my mind because despite the NH-D14 ugly looks it's whisper quiet and keeps my CPU cool even on high overclocks.
 
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RedJaron

RedJaron

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It is a full tower, but it it shorter than most towers, under 21". If that's still too tall, then yeah, you may not have space for it.

The 212 and Noctua will be most common response. I'm pleased with my Xigmatek Gaia. Similar to the 212, it's great cooling for the price. I swapped the fans for a couple Scythes and it's probably way more cooling than I need ( I rarely overclock, and even then it's not by much. )
 
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invertedbottles

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For the $35 for the Cooler Master (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099) vs the $90 for the Noctua (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018), seems like the CM is the better bang for the buck.

Is the NH-U12P (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608014&Tpk=nh%20u12p) very different from the NH-D14 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018)? Newegg doesn't list the NH-U12P as working with LGA1155. Both are a lot more than the CM though.

The Xigmatek Gaia and the 212 Evo seem very similar, at least in terms of price. I'll read comparisons, but I'm wondering how you mount push/pull on either one. Do you plug both fans into the cooler, and then the cooler into the CPU fan header on the mobo (like how the Corsair Hs work), or does only one of them plug into the mobo header and the other into a different fan controller/header?
 
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