With the stock case, how is the noise level? Is the noise barely noticeable, or does it sound like a wind tunnel?
That's ATX motherboard, E-ATX is used practically exclusively by
dual CPU socket motherboards.
Never tried at stock but directly started doing few mods and installing damping.
Also I have this for preventing warm air from staying in expansion card area:
http://www.lian-li.com.tw/v2/en/pro...ex=232&cl_index=2&sc_index=34&ss_index=83&g=f
Also I've replaced fans with 1200 rpm Scythe SlipStreams (except mid case fans are 140mm Sharkoon system fan and Yate Loon) which are all connected to Aerocool FP-01 and Zalman MFC2 fan controllers.
At full speed that SlipStream and Lian Li stock fans are very similar (both noisy for my taste) and althought stock fan has slightly lower overall noise there's clear ball bearing "growling" while noise of SlipStream is that of airflow which isn't miracle because airflow is recognizably lot higher. (just compare airflow of
SlipStream to for example
Antec TriCool)
So amount of airflow noise depends on entirely how much of airflow you want.
Door muffles intake fan noise "by about couple hundred" RPMs so those can be kept at slightly higher speed than in case without door. Also it blocks HDD noises very effectively. I've tried WD6401AALS, WD5000AAKS and WD4000KD drives in front cage and their full stroke seek noises can be heard only by listening from very close. (use butterfly read surface test of
HDDScan for that)
That quiet is just very subjective term like these tell:
http://www.nordichardware.com/Reviews/?page=6&skrivelse=532
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/LianLi/PC-A70/5.html
So about only way for comparing that is comparing speeds where different users are running fans.
Isn't 120mm fans really noisy?
That depends on entirely from fan.
Lousy bearing/motor can make lot of noise regardless of speed (
Akasa 140mm ehem...) and in general ball bearing tends to be noisier than sleeve bearing. Sleeve bearing just doesn't tolerate well running in horizontal position so in those ball bearing or some hybrid bearing is required, if case has fans in such position.
Also if fan vibrates that's going to cause additional vibration induced noise, pretty much regardless of speed/airflow noise. (Akasa again... and also Noctua P12)
And considering fans are about always overrated in specs SlipStream 1200 might well have higher airflow (SPCR measured 46cfm) per noise ratio than for example that noisy 140mm Akasa crapola.
Although i like the look of the lian li cases, air flow does concern me. A small fan to bring in it at the front, through closely placed together HDs.
Neither are HDD cages of others less restrictive, often opposite.
For example in Silverstrone Fortress HDDs are packed like sardines in tin and with cage block airflow totally.
If you look height of HDD in its place also ATCS 840 has at least equally restrictive HDD cage:
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...sk=view&id=241&Itemid=61&limit=1&limitstart=5
And commonly used plastic trays probably don't insulate HDD vibration much any while still stopping heat conduction to case and increasing size of airflow obstacle inside HDD cage.
