How much louder are Cases with a windowed panel?

[kajetan]

The question is in the topic name. So.

I want to buy define r5 but I can`t because my motherboard will be ssi eeb size. Phanteks Ethoo Primo supports this kind of format but it is Windowed and I want a really silent PC Case.

Would I reach the quitness of a Define r5 if I added custom dampening to the Phanteks Enthoo Primo and how much difference a windowed panel makes?
thanks.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Placing foam in a case will help both Windowed and non-Windowed cases... metal has more sonic resonance to it.

 

[kajetan]

Hello... Placing foam in a case will help both Windowed and non-Windowed cases... metal has more sonic resonance to it.

thanks, but I dont think you understood my question completely.I wanted to know if a windowed version panel(with foam around the window) will be significally louder than a full foamed/dampened panel?

thanks

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... I think it would be better because " metal has more sonic resonance to it."... What sounds louder a steel can or plastic bottle when dropped? and what frequency's do you hear the most? (which is more pleasing to your ear).

 

[Karadjgne]

There's no right answer to this question. Many non-window cases have fan ports on that side, sometimes 2 or large enough to accommodate a 230mm fan. Even some window versions have fan ports, either holed or slotted. I happen to have an R5 window, and it's quiet. There's also quality of build. Many cheaper cases use strictly rivets to hold frames together, which when paired with crappy fans, tend to buzz. Some cases the side panels have been removed so many times, the catches are loose, allowing buzz. Windows are thicker than side panel metal, but about the same as the abs panels, and metal transfers vibration and therefore sound much more effectively.

And then there's insulation types. Solid styrene is lousy for sound, the cheap black see-through foam is much better, as vibrations bounce off the myriad edges and get lost, so type of insulation is a factor too, as well as placement and amount, thickness, solidity and composition.

Either way, there are simply just way too many variables to offhand make a blanket statement that a window panel is or isn't louder than a non-window.

 

[giantbucket]

acrylic will vibrate just as well as metal - but you can place foamy sticky crap on the inside of a metal panel to dampen the vibrations, which you cannot do on a window. so, left raw, both could be similar. treated, metal will be quieter.

by how much? who knows. depends on what's generating the noise in the first place! usually it's moving parts - fans & drives. mount them both using rubber or silicone isolators and you're back to an even playing ground.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Typically a 1/4 -3/4 inch piece of foam on the panel I would try, if going fan less on it... and all the the high freq refections should be eliminated on that face... with either case type.

Your computer case can act like a Speaker BOX and amplify freq's... so you need to basically stop the reflections of it the best you can.

Typically High freq Pro Audio equipment use Plastic horns due to the Bad "ringing" characteristics of metal horns... and lower cost?

I made Metal screens for some Pa gear 15's... I had to pull them... due to resonance... Chicken fence next?

 

[kajetan]

thanks boys.
well.... i am a music producer so I am very picky about this.

I am deciding between the Phanteks Enthoo Primo, Phanteks Enthoo Pro and Enthoo Luxe.

Only enthoo pro comes in a no window case but I really like the new titanium green case with a window.
I cant buy Define r4/r5 pc case, because they are not compatible with server mainboards.

so which one you advice me to buy?
no mather what i will buy, i will add a dampening kit. because the phanteks cases are not dampened like Defines.

and also I will buy the best and quetiest pc case fans. I am no gamer so i can drive them at 700 rpm. which ones do you think are the very best? price does not mather until its under 35€ for a single fan.

I want a dead silent system. (no watercooling)

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... Any One of those can be made quiet... Typically your GPU, PSU and CPU fans will be High Freq annoying sounds... and Foam ( thin layer) will work best for refection's, you should all ready know.
You got SSD's yet... HD drive spin is not very loud... but there.
Fans can have a "ring" to them too... some say Sleeve vs ball bearing makes a difference... along with blade design or speed they run at.
Some people just put the PC into their closet or another room for Quiet... use USB/HDMI/DVI extension's for keyboard and mouse... etc.