Silence - antec/fractal or others?

^Thanks for that, right then p180 off the list!

But as a general question (because I've not yet run a rig with that layout) - is it a problem with the soundcard being sandwiched between the psu and graphics card? I'm guessing no, or negligable (or use an external solution! :D), but would like clarification.

------------------------

Edit: Final decision - R3 or mini?
Size difference isn't that much, so not really factoring it into the decision.

R3 pros:
- more colours (I like the white and grey options)
- room for expansion
- FLAT side and top vents

Mini pros:
- fits what I currently have
- usb 3 on front
- removable hard drive cage
- bottom dust filter slides out as one piece

R3 cons:
- no front usb 3
- no removable hard drive cage
- bottom fan filter is screwed in

Mini cons:
- Lack of colour choice (at the moment)
- The top and side vents are raised! (not liking this)
- Less room for airflow around soundcard (not really a con, just me being picky)
- can fit long graphics cards, only if the pci-e x16 slot is the top one (some matx boards might have a x1 slot at the top, which means the card would sit lightly lower and again the bottom hard drive cage would interfere). The thing is I doubt I'd ever buy a top end card (ie 590/6990), mainly staying mid range like GTX460/560. BUT I could conceivably go for something slightly longer (10.5-11 inches), which wouldn't fit in the above scenario (pci-e slot second, bottom hdd cage not removable). The R3 would have no problem with this.
 
Last edited:
You have a GTX 260 with the intake fan at the rearmost of the card? assuming the soundcard isn't ridiculously long it won't overhang the intake fan, and there should be very limited impact on temperatures. Some warm air escapes from the side of the graphics card, but that has to be vented through the case anyway so I don't think that will make much difference. PSU won't be affected.

My graphics card has a fan in the middle, so I got a P7H55D-M Evo just in case I wanted a long sound card in the upper x1 PCIe slot. So far there is no similar µATX for LGA 1155 (I have asked an Asus rep if there might be on future, waiting for a reply)

If you do have an expansion card that blocks/overhangs the intake fan of the graphics card inevitably the airflow is restricted and the fan has to spin faster to compensate, so I wouldn't run such a configuration for a silent/very low noise system.
 
Last edited:
At the moment a gtx 260, although that style of intake is noisy anyway, so planning to change either the cooler or the card at some stage.

I suppose with the R3 the extra room in between cards (considering I use nothing other than sound/graphics cards and a usb3 expansion card) might be beneficial for airflow, even though I have no need for the extra slots on an atx board.
 
Bite the bullet and go with the R3 then in my opinion. Regarding the USB 3.0, you could probably find and upgrade kit or fit your own USB 3.0 for the front panel.

Good luck on the choice :)
 
Ooh, I come back in here pretty much decided on the mini, and then you post that! :p

Well it's pretty much the white R3, or the black mini.

The odd thing is my attention has been mainly caught by the white R3 - I haven't even given a thought to the black one. So I was thinking, if the mini was available in white would I even look at the R3? :D
Ok, maybe the grey one as well...


Edit: saw this on another forum:
I had sent Fractal Design an email a few days ago asking if they plan to offer an upgrade or retrofit to USB 3.0 for the Define R3 case since it only has USB 2, as the Lian Li PC-9F case that I was looking at (for my upcoming i7/SB build) has USB 3.

Here is their response this morning:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello,

Thank you for your mail, and thank you for interest about our products.
Very soon we will be able to offer USB3.0 upgrade kit for Define R3.
We are now working to find a technical solution for upgrade,
but unfortunately for now I can´t tell you exactly date when upgrade kit will be available on the market.

Best regards
Fractal Design

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought they had ignored my email and almost given up.. but at least it's good to know that there is a possible USB 3 retrofit or upgrade in the future.
Click to expand...
Well that's one less problem!
 
Last edited:
Ah, couldn't take it any longer - I've gone for the define mini! :D

I thought it was most suitable for what I have now, and not to big a deal to change case as well when I upgrade components (it's not a £200 case!) which won't be for a while because they're still flying.

Thanks for all the comments, they've definitely (see what I did there...) helped.

Will try to post some pictures of transfer between ft03 and this case once I receive it and have time to do it.
 
Good choice I think, looks like a very solid design for µATX.

Curunen said:
Will try to post some pictures of transfer between ft03 and this case once I receive it and have time to do it.
Click to expand...
will be keeping an eye out for comments and phots, quite interested in the define mini as well.

btw there are problems for case makers with USB 3.0 - the case and motherboard manufacturers are finding it extremely difficult to get adequate cables and sockets for internal motherboard headers, hence all the bodged looking extension cables the motherboard I/O sockets.
 
Just a quick update. Received it this morning, with priority being to check for defects (after what I've read regarding broken fractal cases).
Pleased to say no major problems.

A few small things like the cloth on the side panel damping material was peeled off a bit (maybe due to heat), and the lower pop out door on the front is a little loose (hope it doesn't cause any vibration), but at least no cracked plastic or bent steel!
 
Thanks. :)
At least they're only "soft" problems - things I can fix myself (glue on the cloth if necessary; stick some foam or something under the pop out vent).

But being the first non-silverstone case I've owned in 5 cases, it's easy to see the difference in quality.

Having said that, this should be a lot more practical and functional. I like to think of silverstone cases as rough, uncut diamonds; you've got to do the final polish to make them shine.

Anyway, camera battery needs charging - will get back to it. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom