Most quiet case?

georgiosd · 18 Dec 2009 at 15:43

Hello,

I've been searching here and there for days but still can't find any sort of comparison between (recent) cases that are supposed to be silent.

Most likely, this will be my setup:
- 1 SSD drive for OS
- 1 2.5" drive for frequent-slow access like music etc

- I will also need space for another 3-4 drives which will be turned off most of the time. However, if I can reduce their noise when they are running that'll be bonus!

So, which case would give me the:
- best noise performance
- smallest size case but can fit as many drives

(Whether OCUK stocks it or not)?

Thanks

EsaT · 18 Dec 2009 at 15:53

Is that PC just for web surfing, music listening ans such light use?
And did you mean 2.5" laptop drives? (instead of 3.5" desktop drives)

georgiosd said:
another 3-4 drives which will be turned off most of the time. However, if I can reduce their noise when they are running

Needs at least soft HDD mounting with rubber grommets and then vibration resisting case structure.
(like in Antec P-serie or then mass damping)

georgiosd · 18 Dec 2009 at 16:04

EsaT said:
Is that PC just for web surfing, music listening ans such light use?
And did you mean 2.5" laptop drives? (instead of 3.5" desktop drives)

Needs at least soft HDD mounting with rubber grommets and then vibration resisting case structure.
(like in Antec P-serie or then mass damping)

Yes, I meant a 2.5" laptop drive - this one will be running all the time but as I don't need fast access, it should help reduce noise/vibration.

So you'd recommend an Antec P183 for example? What's the difference between the P183 and P193??

Any ideas on the Antec Sonata, Coolermaster Sileo, Thermaltake Element S,
Fractal Design Define R2 or Arctic Cooling Silentium T series?

EsaT · 18 Dec 2009 at 16:30

E-ATX depth P193 is actually Antec's most spacious case for long graphics cards but it doesn't have storage space any more than P183.

Laptop drives also consume about one of the power so they are easier to cool.
If you don't have there any hot/high end parts then Sonata Elite would be decent and also quite small.

georgiosd · 18 Dec 2009 at 16:38

I forgot to answer your most important question: I am a power user but I don't do any gaming and I'm NOT going to overclock. My graphics will be a good 2D card, no need for a fancy 3D one.

Hottest part will be CPU - undecided about Intel vs AMD just yet.

Geek. · 18 Dec 2009 at 17:59

i would also recommend the Antec P183 it is a very quiet case!

atomac · 18 Dec 2009 at 18:28

No such thing as a quiet case i am afraid. It is the components that make the noise!

CBJ · 18 Dec 2009 at 20:47

A couple of options no-one else has mentioned are the NZXT Hush and NZXT Whisper. I've got a Hush and it's not bad; it certainly has enough space for drives to meet your requirements, and it's not too huge. My only problem with is was that I put a rather warm gaming graphics card in it originally which resulted in high temperatures because of the insulation, but that shouldn't be a problem you'll encounter.

sir-les-mp · 18 Dec 2009 at 22:06

You may also wish to look into some passive water cooling to further reduce noise that way you shoild only need 2 low rpm fans to keep cool air entering and hot air leaving your chosen case.

georgiosd · 18 Dec 2009 at 22:17

CBJ said:
A couple of options no-one else has mentioned are the NZXT Hush and NZXT Whisper. I've got a Hush and it's not bad; it certainly has enough space for drives to meet your requirements, and it's not too huge. My only problem with is was that I put a rather warm gaming graphics card in it originally which resulted in high temperatures because of the insulation, but that shouldn't be a problem you'll encounter.

Thanks! Any idea how it compares to the Antec P183?

sir-les-mp said:
You may also wish to look into some passive water cooling to further reduce noise that way you shoild only need 2 low rpm fans to keep cool air entering and hot air leaving your chosen case.

That's a great idea - one less fan! Any recommendation on the particular make/model? Will it be possible to fit it inside the case? Are the 2 case fans always necessary?

EsaT · 18 Dec 2009 at 22:29

CBJ said:
NZXT Hush

- Failure to block forward direct noise escape path: check
- Acoustically impotent useless Akasa Crapmat: check
- Cheap stamped restrictive turbulence causing meshes: check
- PSU in thermally bad place (with fan below it restricted) on top: check.
Looking good...

NZXT Whisper.

Still same leaky door, stamped meshes and some cooling failures: no intake for chamber with majority of heat production.
Antec P-serie's design wins these easily.

Thirteen · 19 Dec 2009 at 15:55

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the Silverstone FT01 yet, it's actually one of the quitest cases I've owned. It's the same size as the P183, has 7 HDD bays and doesn't look like a mini-bar.