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In Pictures: Six Low-Noise Performance-Oriented Cases

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  • Hardware
  • Performance
  • Cases
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May 20, 2011 4:00:03 AM

Have you ever wished you could fit four Radeon HD 6970s in your chassis? We love the idea of large cases with room for our deluxe hardware. But we also despise loud components. These cases are designed to house lots of hardware, while minimizing noise.

In Pictures: Six Low-Noise Performance-Oriented Cases : Read more

More about : pictures low noise performance oriented cases

May 20, 2011 4:47:27 AM

There are some beautiful cases in this article. The Colossus and Raven are not two of them :p 
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Anonymous
May 20, 2011 4:56:28 AM

I couldn't have asked for more.
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May 20, 2011 5:12:12 AM

All different shades of ugly.

It's surprising case makers don't understand these ugly boxes don't inspire, and something a bit different, and attractive would sell very well.

This is all junkyard material. Unimaginative rubbish.
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-6
May 20, 2011 5:22:29 AM

Lian-Li reminds me an awful lot of Apple...and the Porsche design team.
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Anonymous
May 20, 2011 5:33:26 AM

These cases aren't the best solutions for low-noise performance at all... ok maybe 2 of them are ok but not the best choices. Where are the specs by the way?
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May 20, 2011 5:47:19 AM

SHARCRASHThese cases aren't the best solutions for low-noise performance at all... ok maybe 2 of them are ok but not the best choices. Where are the specs by the way?



This isn't a review of the cases, that is forthcoming. This is just a bunch of pictures of the cases that will be in the review.

I'm guessing the Raven was picked because it is a new release, not necessarily because it is a top performer. The FT-02, also by silverstone, is a much better looking case, and does have acoustic foam on the side panels. Cooling is outstanding. As far as cooling to noise ratio goes, the FT-02 should be quite near the top.
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May 20, 2011 8:05:30 AM

I was not impressed with this batch of cases. Doors on the front panel? Gimme a break.
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-1
May 20, 2011 8:15:49 AM

The Fractal Design XL is a great case! Good cable management, great airflow, and good noise reduction. That would be my first choice out of this list. The Antec Sonata IV wasn't a bad case at all. Looks very good for a small "budget" oriented case. Second choice for me.
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May 20, 2011 8:23:26 AM

JohnnyLuckyI was not impressed with this batch of cases. Doors on the front panel? Gimme a break.
SilverStone and Lian-Li didn't have them...
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May 20, 2011 8:26:53 AM

I recently got the RV02-E. The 180mm intake fans are very noisy at full speed. At the reduced speed they are still audible but much quieter and still provide enough airflow for my 2x GTX 570s. The hard drive dampening cage isn't so hot. I had to permanently remove one of my 7200 rpm drives to stop a very annoying resonance between two of the drives.
I am currently building a wooden case holder that will go around my case and provide room to install thick sound damping foam. My hope is that I can get a very very quiet computer while still getting enough cooling.
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May 20, 2011 11:13:54 AM

I'm soo interested in learning more about the test methods used to get a relevant comparison with emphasis on low noise.
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May 20, 2011 11:27:10 AM

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Learning to speak in terms of "I" ( "I think there are some beautiful cases in this article" as opposed to "There are some beautiful cases in this article", or "I think these cases are all different shades of ugly" as opposed to "All different shades of ugly") does 2 things:

1) it helps you to remember that your opinion is your opinion and other people may have different ones that are valuable too, and

2) you don't sound like some jerk to others trying to tell them what they should and shouldn't like.

Also, if you have a specific reason for calling an item junk, then spell it out - otherwise you just sound like an ignorant douche. Flatulence has given rise to the fart joke, which goes a long way to redeem the often strong odor associated with it, but there is no redemption for your stinky opinion, which no one cares about.

;) 
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May 20, 2011 12:21:26 PM

The Sonata III I used for my wife's PC is built like a tank. I don't care for the absence of cable management, and the front door, but the solid quality is unmistakable. It definitely is quiet too, with the fan on low. It is definitely not an extreme overclocker's case due to limited cooling, but it would take a 120mm CPU cooler if desired. It included an Earthwatts EA-500D, making it a good deal for the $130 I paid for it in 2008.
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May 20, 2011 1:42:21 PM

The Antec case looks nice. I look forward to the review. :) 
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May 20, 2011 2:02:11 PM

Not sure why the "-1." The Antec case is definitely a keeper; my wife isn't a gamer so her GPU is a HD4650 and there aren't a lot of cables to try and hide. I want the under-tray cable runs for my own system and have an Enermax Hoplite just waiting for next month's [re]build. Should I ever need to rebuild or upgrade my wife's PC, we'll definitely be keeping the case.
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May 20, 2011 3:03:55 PM

Have an older CoolerMaster Sileo, and it works great. metal front bezel, sound dampening foam, bottom mounted power supply, no frikkin door on the front. been chugging along as a video editing machine for quite a while with no problems.
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May 20, 2011 3:12:30 PM

i vote for the fractal and the raven :) 
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May 20, 2011 4:47:49 PM

Might I also suggest the Antec P183 or P193 cases. These look alot like the Fractal define XL and the fractal might actually be a bit superior. The P193 with side mounted _200mm fan_ could change things as far as performance goes, cant tell about noise tho.

Still, the Antec might be good for the upcoming review. I own a P183 and coupled with noctua fans all over, it is difficult to hear anything from this case and I would love to be able to compare it to the Fractal!
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May 20, 2011 5:09:27 PM

I've built a number of Antec Sonatas over the years for friends/family. Those cases have a good build quality and come with an adequate PSU for non-enthusiasts. I highly recommend that case for any mid-range PC. The main downside of the Sonata is that almost everyone I know that has one has had the front door break off. I haven't used this latest version so hopefully they've beefed up the hinge.

My current case is an Antec P183 that, while not a quiet as the Sonata, has vastly better cooling performance. It also has great build quality.

I don't understand why people dislike having a door on the front of a case. It makes the front look cleaner. Depending on the design it can slightly limit cooling, but its better than having to look at a DVD drive that I've only used to install Windows.
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May 20, 2011 5:10:37 PM

I have the Lian-li BC-B20, its pretty quiet
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May 20, 2011 7:09:16 PM

Why was Antec 900 not listed?
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May 20, 2011 9:18:47 PM

yes, the best way to review LOW NOISE cases is with a bunch of pictures.
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May 20, 2011 9:53:12 PM

ATMinsideWhy was Antec 900 not listed?
Why would it be?
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May 20, 2011 10:28:43 PM

Looking forward to this review. I personally have the original Sonata (with blue LED lights on the front) and I love the way it looks. It has enough room for most 120mm CPU coolers. My case also currently houses an HIS H577QT1GD next to an additional 120 mm fan mounted by the hard drives. The added vent on the Sonata IV will really help the airflow.

I hope I can find a similar looking case with the features of gaming cases like the Raven series, Antec 900-series, or CM HAF-series.

BTW, will you guys be reviewing the RV03 anytime soon?
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May 20, 2011 10:53:32 PM

JohnnyLuckyI was not impressed with this batch of cases. Doors on the front panel? Gimme a break.

For some of us with young (very curious) children, having the power/reset buttons hidden behind a door is very useful. :D 
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May 20, 2011 10:58:24 PM

I like the white one, very clean & sleek!
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May 20, 2011 11:34:40 PM

ChromeTusk said:
Looking forward to this review. I personally have the original Sonata (with blue LED lights on the front) and I love the way it looks. It has enough room for most 120mm CPU coolers. My case also currently houses an HIS H577QT1GD next to an additional 120 mm fan mounted by the hard drives. The added vent on the Sonata IV will really help the airflow.

I hope I can find a similar looking case with the features of gaming cases like the Raven series, Antec 900-series, or CM HAF-series.

BTW, will you guys be reviewing the RV03 anytime soon?
Yes
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May 21, 2011 12:01:48 AM

ATMinsideWhy was Antec 900 not listed?

because it is NOT quiet.

The fractal R2 with the right fans is quiet.

Also the new Sonata should be much better with the new side intake(the first one was very limited on intake).
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May 21, 2011 11:30:30 AM

jtt283Not sure why the "-1." The Antec case is definitely a keeper; my wife isn't a gamer so her GPU is a HD4650 and there aren't a lot of cables to try and hide. I want the under-tray cable runs for my own system and have an Enermax Hoplite just waiting for next month's [re]build. Should I ever need to rebuild or upgrade my wife's PC, we'll definitely be keeping the case.


It could easily be a mis-vote. I've done that myself in the past, intending to vote down the post I just finished reading and clicking at the bottom instead of the top. It's just one person's opinion if it's a "-1", so I wouldn't worry about it.

;) 


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Anonymous
May 21, 2011 10:38:59 PM

This is very timely for me as I'm shopping a case for my current build. I have used three generations of Antec Sonata cases in previous builds. I agree with the other comments that the Sonata I/II/II are built like a tank all around. I have always added a range of acoustic and cooling modifications including lining the sides, top, bottom, front door and some internal cavities with high density foam rubber to make them acoustically dead. I add a 120mm front intake fan mounted on the interior side of the drive bay to increase the air flow and replace the stock exhaust fan with a quieter state-of-the-art after market fan. The result has been a truly silent case that's not gigantic or a gaudy eye sore.

I did have to insert dropping resistor to reduce the childish high intensity front panel blue LEDs to being useful indicators rather than being annoying blue room lighting. I also toss out the PSU in favor of a modern modular low noise supply. (Note: cost efficiency isn't my highest priority, this is a hobby for me).

My biggest dilemma is that the Sonata IV changed the air flow pattern drastically from the previous generations by eliminating the possibility of adding an intake fan. That is a show stopper for me as the single 120mm fan just doesn't cut it for any type of performance build.

For those who took exception to the front door I will say that it does a lot to reduce noise! This is quite evident when you open the door. I have also never had one break off. Exposed drives and fans are big noise sources. However, I'd prefer not to open the whole front the case every time I change a DVD so the half door is good compromise.
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May 21, 2011 10:53:26 PM

ribbitsfootMy biggest dilemma is that the Sonata IV changed the air flow pattern drastically from the previous generations by eliminating the possibility of adding an intake fan. That is a show stopper for me as the single 120mm fan just doesn't cut it for any type of performance build.
Wrong, if you have a good CPU cooler, your graphics cards blow out the back of the case and your hard drives don't run hot, you can rely on a single fan behind the CPU cooler even if that CPU is a top-model quad-core and that graphics card is a GTX 580. Overclocking, server-style drive configurations, and poorly designed graphics cooling are causes for the need of additonal fans.
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May 21, 2011 11:49:43 PM

I think that front doors on a case is a very bad idea.
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May 22, 2011 2:17:09 AM

Crashman said:
Wrong, if you have a good CPU cooler, your graphics cards blow out the back of the case and your hard drives don't run hot, you can rely on a single fan behind the CPU cooler even if that CPU is a top-model quad-core and that graphics card is a GTX 580. Overclocking, server-style drive configurations, and poorly designed graphics cooling are causes for the need of additonal fans.

Good point, I have no front fans on my Antec 900 and 300 cases since there is enough air leaving the case to avoid hard drive heat issues.

My sonata was a hot case, but i put allot into it, so it was to be expected. When i gave it media center hardware, it was cool and quiet. The new larger side opening should stop the case from having such a hard drive pushing air out since there was very little intake vents on the older ones.
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May 22, 2011 1:11:01 PM

Articlethis passive vent is not likely to get much use with the front-mounted intake fans running.


Not with me. I will be installing at least 1 140mm fan as a bottom intake. I found that this lowers VGA card temperature greatly. This is because the fresh, cool intake air blow directs towards my VGA card blower and outside the case.
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May 22, 2011 1:16:27 PM

ArticleAdditional photos should be searchable by double clicking an image to bring up our photo album view.


And why don't you save us time by including an extra photo showing the fan controllers.

Weird,huh?
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May 22, 2011 7:30:45 PM

i like my antec 902 its quiet enough for me and cool enough i actually feel the cool exhaust from the top fan
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May 23, 2011 2:35:55 AM

imo, the best case for cooling and quietest would be a steel case, very sturdy, and several large 140mm low rpm fans to blow pleanty of air in through the front, than one or two fans to help exhaust that air out the back.. people have their own opinions on what a good looking case looks like.. my opinion? i think a solid black, meshed front, no door computer case made of anodised aluminum or steel would be the most attractive. it could look heavyduty and live up to its looks. much like my lian li PC-A71f.. i would prefer it doesent have lian li at the bottom of the door. but i cant complain its by far the best case i have ever used.. wish some of the parts of the case were steel though, like the hardrive rack.. although its the most sturdy one i have ever used. i think the hardrives are the one thing that case manufacturers need to pay the most attention to.
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May 23, 2011 6:48:15 PM

JohnnyLuckyI was not impressed with this batch of cases. Doors on the front panel? Gimme a break.


Needing access to the front panel? Gimme a break!
Honestly, these days I have 99% of my stuff on harddrive. I even do re-install of my OS from USB thumbdrives. I need access to a DVD drive maybe once every 3 months, and when I do I just plug in an external USB Blu-ray.

I would imagine that as time goes on that more and more people will be in the same boat - especially with incredibly large a hard drives being incredible cheap.

Cheers,
CList
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May 23, 2011 6:49:55 PM

BTW, the most valuable thing I got from these pics was an introduction to Fractal Design who I'd never heard of. The case in this pictorial is too large for my tastes, but their R3 model in "Artic White" looks sweet!
http://www.fractal-design.com/?view=product&category=2&...

Cheers,
CList
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May 24, 2011 6:17:14 PM

clistBTW, the most valuable thing I got from these pics was an introduction to Fractal Design who I'd never heard of. The case in this pictorial is too large for my tastes, but their R3 model in "Artic White" looks sweet!http://www.fractal-design.com/?vie [...] =2&prod=53Cheers,CList


...actually I take that back, I see the case looks nice on close inspection I realized it's all steel... blech. I'll stick w. Lian-Li...
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May 25, 2011 12:07:14 PM

Some of the specs on the Fractal Design Define XL are wrong. The rear exhaust fan is 140mm, not 120mm, and the top exhaust fan is 180mm, not 140mm. I just received this case last week and so far it is living up to being a great case. And quiet too.
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May 9, 2012 12:07:03 AM

they should have reviewed the r3
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!