Question Looking for a discreet, silent case with good airflow

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athorod

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Jul 31, 2011
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Hi!
I am looking for a new case which is silent (with padding etc.) and good airflow. A plus if it already includes silent case fans. No rgb (will turn off if it has...)
I want to have good space as well for future proofing in regards to GPU and CPU-tower cooling.
Preferably not too expensive, but if something is really worth it, I might consider spending the extra buck. But as far as I can understand, it would be better getting really silent non-stock case fans instead...?
Suggestions?
 
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My suggestions:

Update your post with a list of the components that you plan to install. Now and in the future.

Include PSU and Disk drive(s).

What "really silent non-stock case fans" are being considered? "Silent" has an inherent meaning but likely subjective to different ears.

Quantify "not too expensive". What is your budget?
 
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athorod said:
Hi!
I am looking for a new case which is silent (with padding etc.) and good airflow. A plus if it already includes silent case fans. No rgb (will turn off if it has...)
I want to have good space as well for future proofing in regards to GPU and CPU-tower cooling.
Preferably not too expensive, but if something is really worth it, I might consider spending the extra buck. But as far as I can understand, it would be better getting really silent non-stock case fans instead...?
Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Silent and good airflow don't really work together. Silent would be with no moving parts at all in the PC. So change that to a acceptable noise level.

Most of what I would suggest would depend on the parts your going to use because you must have adequate cooling for the parts.
 
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Ok, I'll give this another shot.

I am currently using these components:
CPU: 3600x (stock cooler, but want to get a Noctua NH-D15 or similar)
GPU: 2070 super
RAM: 32gb DDR4
MB: B450-F gaming
M2 SSD 2tb
CASE: Fractal Node 605 (w/3 Noctua 120mm, 3-pin fans).
PSU: 750w

It's practically soundless when idle, but the cpu-fan is noisy on full load. The case is also a tad small for a larger cooler and not great airflow.
So I want something larger, for the large CPU aircoolers (as I understand it, liquid coolers are more noisy with full load). And there is often full load when gaming.

I had a Noctua NH-U9B with the 3 current Noctua fans, that was silent enough. 😀

First off, I'm planning on getting a new CPU cooler, but my current case have little room for that (about 140mm I think). But I will probably upgrade CPU before too long and possibly GPU as well. CPU would be something similar to i5-13600k (I might wait for next gen either amd/Intel).

I might have to get new fans for new case, if included fans are not silent enough, as I might use the current case and fans with some other stuff I have laying about.

I know I'm difficult when it comes to sound, but I want it as silent as possible for several reasons.

I'm located in Norway, and I would prefer to pay about $100, but could stretch it to $200 if really worth it. Maybe the Fractal Design Define 7, if it's on sale and worth it? Or is there something similar for half the price?

And if you also have suggestions for cheap, comparative coolers to NH-D15 when it comes to thermals/sound, I'm all ears!
 
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Fractal Node 605 spec sheet says this about CPU cooler height max:

"Approx 125 mm with side-mounted fans. For coolers with top-mounted fans, Fractal Design recommends that you add at least 30 mm clearance for decent airflow."

Not sure how to interpret that, but D15 Noctua appears to be OUT.

Look at U9S? I think it is 125 mm tall?

The D12L I think is 145 mm?

Or various Noctua L series, although these will be noticeably inferior to standard tower coolers.

I think DeepCool and Thermaltake (Thermalright?) have some decent competitors to D15, but they are probably too tall also.

Cooler height is a big problem on cube type cases.
 
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Lafong said:
Fractal Node 605 spec sheet says this about CPU cooler height max:

"Approx 125 mm with side-mounted fans. For coolers with top-mounted fans, Fractal Design recommends that you add at least 30 mm clearance for decent airflow."

Not sure how to interpret that, but D15 Noctua appears to be OUT.

Look at U9S? I think it is 125 mm tall?

The D12L I think is 145 mm?

Or various Noctua L series, although these will be noticeably inferior to standard tower coolers.

I think DeepCool and Thermaltake (Thermalright?) have some decent competitors to D15, but they are probably too tall also.

Cooler height is a big problem on cube type cases.
Click to expand...
Yes, which is why I am looking for a new case that has room for a tall cpu-cooler. The Fractal Node 605 is the one I have, so I need a larger case. Both for a new air cooler today, but that's also a bit future proof so I can use it in case I want to upgrade some more in a few years.

The question about the cooler was that I am planning on getting a NH-D15, unless I can find something cheaper that has about the same thermals/sound. :)

I'm sorry if not all that was clear in my previous post (which was a follow-up on the first post...) :)
 
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Can you link to the 2 or 3 sites from which you might buy a new case?

Standard candidates would be Lian Li; Fractal; a few models from a few other brands...maybe Corsair or Phanteks?

Lean toward 140 mm case fan mounts if possible.

Any fan might be annoying at 1500 rpm.....easiest cure for that is to move the case another foot or two away from you, maybe higher or lower.....if at all possible.

Do a lot of experimentation with your BIOS fan curves. I don't run anything above 800 rpm (all Noctuas), but maybe you don't think you can get away with that. Diminishing returns set in rather quickly.

You may have to decide which is more annoying....temps higher than you might otherwise like or noise you'd rather not have.

I'm not, but a lot of people are borderline terrified of temps and therefore endure noise. Don't know about you.
 
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