Open Case Xproto Build + Quiet fans?

PaulW

PaulW

PaulW

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6 Jun 2005
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Plymouth / Cambridge
Hi All,

i am thinking about my next build. This the first in 10 years, a lot has changed since 2011. what has also changed has been my ideas of a PC. i am seriously thinking of my next build to do away with the PC case and go totally open case and purchase the quietest fans and components i can get. i recently saw a video testing a so called quiet cases VS one with better air flow both using quiet fans.The result was only one decibel in sound reduction, which is not even noticeable when it comes to sound.

in term of cooling and accessibility an open case is the clear winner, cleaning dust would be easy and as it's an open could be done more regularly. i find that even in a closed case dust always accumulates no matter how many filters you have.

So i have been scouting round for a an open Case and the one that is catching my eye is the XTIA Xproto. I love the design of this one. but i have a few questions on it.

1) With this case you need a smaller motherboard. What are the draw backs here when compared to a full ATX MBoard?
2) Which fan Brand is the quietest fans.
3) What is the best way to control fan speed? can this be done via software or a hardware attachment?
4) How loud do Newer Graphics cards get, I will probably get a RTX 3080 when the prices are not ridiculous.

Noise is a thing of me but i will probably make a sound proofing enclosure that i could place around it if i need to but that would be if its unbearable. idling would be fine.

I play games but mostly would use it for 3D modeling and Art work.

Thanks

P
 
Seems contradictory having an open case and quiet as under load fans are going to ramp up and produce noise.

Unless you wear headphones :D

At least in an enclosed case it can dampen the sound but probably slightly higher temps , bit of a trade off.

That case takes a mitx motherboard so less room for expansion and only 2 dram slots on mitx motherboards.
 
1) With this case you need a smaller motherboard. What are the draw backs here when compared to a full ATX MBoard?

Unless you need PCI-E expansion slots, there are none. They are more expensive however.

2) Which fan Brand is the quietest fans.

Best? Noctua AF12x25
Price to performance ratio? Artic P12/P14 PWM
Another one to checkout? Scythe Wondersnail

3) What is the best way to control fan speed? can this be done via software or a hardware attachment?

Honestly? Your bios and setting a good fan curve is all you need.

4) How loud do Newer Graphics cards get, I will probably get a RTX 3080 when the prices are not ridiculous.

As it's open air, most RTX3080s have decent coolers and it will be tolerable/ normal sounding. The real problem with open cases, and where the real noise comes from, is coil whine. If you get unlucky it will be very apparent.

I don't understand the notion that an open air case will be loud, you need no case fans, and all your components have access to fresh, cold air, thus meaning they will not need to ramp up as they would in a case. Again, your problem would be coil whine.

My build in my NCASE M1 I deshrouded my GPU and the fan noise under load was hugely reduced, but then I noticed the coil whine. I'm used to it now but it is annoying and I can't really do much about it.

What I'd recommend is wait until you get your GPU, see how the coil whine is. If its not bad, then get the case and a decent air cooler for it (Noctua is always good, if you have a 5600/3600 a L12S looks smart and you can strap a quiet 120mm fan onto it). At idle, your system would be practically silent as the only fan spinning will be your CPU Fan, and that would be at even lower RPM than in a case as it's open air.
 
Thanks to you both, still on the fence but leaning toward an open case as my thoughts are the same as Pockets, without a case it would mean less hot air in a box so that would be better. atm i have my Rig with the side off and its rather loud but im used to it and its Ten years old. the small form factor of the Xproto will be a bit more expensive but i can always get 2x 32 gigs of ram for 64, which is pricey but pleanty. i haven't bought a new rig in ten years and splashed out then so i dont mind doing the same for the next ten, you get what you pay for and it is somthing i use everyday for work and play. will have to see my budget when Graphics card prices return to earth.

Thanks for the fan reccomendations i have a Noctua in my rig at the moment, its never let me down, but i wish they came in black :( , will probably get a Sea sonic PSU if i can, i like them but may need a Small form factor one if they do them.
 
PaulW said:
Thanks to you both, still on the fence but leaning toward an open case as my thoughts are the same as Pockets, without a case it would mean less hot air in a box so that would be better. atm i have my Rig with the side off and its rather loud but im used to it and its Ten years old. the small form factor of the Xproto will be a bit more expensive but i can always get 2x 32 gigs of ram for 64, which is pricey but pleanty. i haven't bought a new rig in ten years and splashed out then so i dont mind doing the same for the next ten, you get what you pay for and it is somthing i use everyday for work and play. will have to see my budget when Graphics card prices return to earth.

Thanks for the fan reccomendations i have a Noctua in my rig at the moment, its never let me down, but i wish they came in black :( , will probably get a Sea sonic PSU if i can, i like them but may need a Small form factor one if they do them.
Click to expand...

Scythe Wondersnail and the Thermaltake Toughfan12s are good choices if you want a black fan.

Regarding PSU, you really can't go wrong with either a Corsair SF600 or SF750 Platinum (not gold). I have one, it's absolutely silent and the braided cables they come with are great.
 
I had a ATX Corsiar PSU that just made weird sounds and I was the same, but honestly, they are market leading with their SFX PSUs. Everyone swears by them including me. If I was going ATX PSU it would always be Seasonic, but for SFX I love my Corsair.

Some notes if you still do not trust the brand:

- Silverstone SFX and Coolermaster SFX PSUs have some problems with fan curves so be careful
- Lian Li have just launched some SFX PSUs so might be worth having a look
- Seasonic have a SFX-L PSU but I don't think it comes in high enough wattage to handle a 3080. The SF750 Platinum will handle it fine :)
 
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