Question Does a bigger case actually run quieter if you’re using the same number of fans?

[QuestionAsker2030]

For my silent-focused, air-cooled music production PC I'm building:

I’m debating between two cases — the Fractal Define 7 and the Define 7 XL — and I keep seeing claims that the XL is quieter. But here’s where I’m confused…

If I’m using 140mm fans (which both cases support), the total number of fans I can install is the same in both. So wouldn’t the smaller Define 7 actually have better airflow (higher air pressure per volume), and therefore potentially run cooler and quieter at the same fan speeds?

Or is there something about the XL's larger internal space — more room for sound to dissipate, lower turbulence, etc. — that actually makes it quieter, even with the same fans?

Curious what others have experienced or measured here. Anyone done noise or thermal comparisons between the two with identical fan setups?

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SPECS / NOTE:

(air-cooled, trying to get it as quiet as possible at idle and light-usage. I don't mind higher noise / temps if I'm gaming or doing higher-intensive tasks... just need it as quiet as possible when recording with microphones and light usage)

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Include PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

List of all connected peripherals.

 

[LordVile]

If you want quiet for music production then get a Mac. They are inaudible and you even get to use Logic.

Overall it depends, you can go with a case that’s got more airflow and will allow fans to operate at a lower RPM if the fans are of sufficient quality or you could get something like a be quiet pure base 600 which has sound dampening panels.

 

[USAFRet]

For my silent-focused, air-cooled music production PC I'm building:

I’m debating between two cases — the Fractal Define 7 and the Define 7 XL — and I keep seeing claims that the XL is quieter. But here’s where I’m confused…

If I’m using 140mm fans (which both cases support), the total number of fans I can install is the same in both. So wouldn’t the smaller Define 7 actually have better airflow (higher air pressure per volume), and therefore potentially run cooler and quieter at the same fan speeds?

Or is there something about the XL's larger internal space — more room for sound to dissipate, lower turbulence, etc. — that actually makes it quieter, even with the same fans?

Curious what others have experienced or measured here. Anyone done noise or thermal comparisons between the two with identical fan setups?

-------------------

SPECS / NOTE:

(air-cooled, trying to get it as quiet as possible at idle and light-usage. I don't mind higher noise / temps if I'm gaming or doing higher-intensive tasks... just need it as quiet as possible when recording with microphones and light usage)

Larger does not automagically equal quieter.

And 'more fans' is not always the answer.

 

[bill001g]

I would think there is not a lot of difference. The fans are pretty much mounted on the outside of the case anyway. Sure there is a mesh screen but there is nothing to really block the sound since something that blocks sound would also block air. You would think the case they are mounted to would make little difference.

Now if you could reduce the speed of the fans on one case over another because air flows more easily that might make a difference. Other than testing the cases against each other I suspect there is no way to predict something like this.

There was a long thread just a couple days ago discussing the passive cpu coolers that use no fans. If you were to run it with a open test bench style case you likely could run with no fans at all.