looking for cool quiet midtower case..mini p180/define r3? help :)

Vranaxxas · 1 Feb 2011 at 21:10

Hi im new to these forums looking at building a new pc soon now that sandybridge is out

but im really unsure on what case to go for. I have pc in my room and like to have something relatively quiet but with decent cooling for a high end machine.

The 2 cases i have in mind at mo are mini p180 and fractal designs define r3 are they any other good midtowers that offer both noise insulation and good cooling that ive missed?

Ino theres nzxt hush and cm sileo but both of them look like there might struggle to cool a high end gfx/cpu config.

Currently have a coolermaster pratorian 732 and although i do still like the aluminium chassis it is always toasty inside but fairly quiet with the front door shut. im worried that a case without a front door is gonna be annoyingly loud this ones door makes a big difference.

kinda spec im looking at right now:

depending on case
Asus P8H67-M PRO Intel H67 Express Socket 1155 Motherboard (m-atx)
Asus P8P67 Intel P67 Express Socket 1155 Motherboard (atx)

Corsair Memory XMS3 4GB DDR3 1333 Mhz CAS 9 x2
Intel Core i7 2600, Socket 1155, Quad Core 3.4GHz
1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 Hard Drive
OCZ 60GB Vertex 2E SSD - Solid State Drive
Samsung Blu-Ray Combo, SH-B123L/RSBP
1GB Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti OC, 40nm, 4000MHz GDDR5

oh and cost below £100 approx
thanks for any advance

KiiYzOo · 1 Feb 2011 at 21:30

I'd say the fractal design r3 is your best bet, although it supposedly has sub par cooling, but you may be able to improve this by buying better performing fans.

Vranaxxas · 1 Feb 2011 at 23:17

not overclockin just gonna run at stock thought id add

isnt build quality lot higher on antec cases not to much the mini 180 comes with a 200mm fan on the top vent

Gripen90 · 2 Feb 2011 at 07:44

I'm running with Fractal Define R3 and I love it. Yesterday I added a new PSU and another GFX for SLI. The temperatures are very good. It's the GFX's that makes the most noise in load. I got 3x120mm intake fans and 1x120mm exhaust all fans running 7v.

Vranaxxas · 2 Feb 2011 at 10:51

Are the mod u vents easy enough to open then looks nice, is that the White case?

infernox · 2 Feb 2011 at 11:14

KiiYzOo said:
although it supposedly has sub par cooling, but you may be able to improve this by buying better performing fans.

The cooling is the best of a case that ive ever had.

Although i have packed mine full of fractal 140's its still whisper quiet.

Gripen90 · 2 Feb 2011 at 12:42

Vranaxxas said:
Are the mod u vents easy enough to open then looks nice, is that the White case?

Yea you can easily unscrew them

Yup and it's the Arctic White version.

Vranaxxas · 2 Feb 2011 at 18:06

Ah cool I'll prolly go for define r3 then the xl looks like got some nice changes bit big though, I like the black/grey case heard the paint ain't as good as White could be just people unlucky or Moanin for sake it also lol?

Vranaxxas · 3 Feb 2011 at 23:40

can u remove the 120 and add 140 to front or wont they fit?

Tynie · 4 Feb 2011 at 16:57

Vranaxxas said:
can u remove the 120 and add 140 to front or wont they fit?

No, only 120s in the front and back. You can use 140s in the bottom, top (x2), and side.

Vranaxxas · 4 Feb 2011 at 20:40

ah k i dont wanna open them vents dont like noise unless tis a good beat ;p

you reckon its worth changin the default 12's apparently there 1.2k rpm and the quiet ones sold on own are 1k are is that just a bit too picky lol? might only drop db by 1-2

Tynie · 4 Feb 2011 at 21:20

Hard to say, they are extremely quiet but don't move much air. I've got my case temporarily set up with an Akasa 120mm amber fan in the bottom, an Antec Tri-Cool 120mm and a Fractal Design 120mm in the front all sucking in air while a Fractal Design 120mm exhausts air out the back. They are all turned down to minimum speed with the fan controller that comes with the case. The Tri-Cool is also on minimum speed. It's pretty quiet - not completely silent but hardly noticable. Compared to my old case (Antec Sonata III) it's a lot quieter and also considerably cooler.

Vranaxxas · 6 Feb 2011 at 13:35

i might fit with Coolermaster SickleFLow 2000 rpm and only 19db, seen videos on youtube look pretty quiet yet powerful ;p

Evil^ · 7 Feb 2011 at 12:26

Gripen90 said:
I'm running with Fractal Define R3 and I love it. Yesterday I added a new PSU and another GFX for SLI. The temperatures are very good. It's the GFX's that makes the most noise in load. I got 3x120mm intake fans and 1x120mm exhaust all fans running 7v.

Whats the clearance from the tip to the side panel mate?

Skellig · 7 Feb 2011 at 14:18

The Fractal's do look pretty damn slick.

Remember to post pics of your new Fractal case when you get Vranaxxas.

I like my P182 but I do want a R3!

Vranaxxas · 9 Feb 2011 at 21:19

will do wont be til march onwards though think ill go with scythe gt15's over sickleflow actually so quiet!