Helpful Replyquietest computer case/power supply/fans

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HighAndDry
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2015/03/31 14:04:11 (permalink)

quietest computer case/power supply/fans

I am looking to build a new system in the next couple months.  what are the options for a quiet case. I see posts of people tracking in the same room as their computer.  I track a lot of solo acoustic so I need really quiet.  Right now I have my computer downstairs with cable going through the floor.  That is kind of a pain but it does work. 
    What are the quietest cases?  I am looking at nanoxia deep silence models from around 100 to 230.  Then of course a quiet power supply, quiet drives? case fans, quiet cpu fans?  I am really a rookie when it comes to making a computer quiet so any input would be appreciated

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Corsair 330R case Corsair Rm750 ultra quiet power supply
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#1
crawlars
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/03/31 14:41:01 (permalink)
Howdy:
 
Just my opinion :-) I have built several machines and this is what I arrive at:
 
1) use a low power consumption CPU with integrated graphics. Any i3, i5 or i7 Intel CPU with the "S" suffix should work great...the "S' designates a low power consumption selected/binned CPU...low power = low temp = low fan speed=low noise. In the end whatever cooler and fan you specify, if board controlled, will run slower and quieter. BTW, I use a Intel i7-3770S CPU...waaay more that I need but fun to boast of. Almost soundless with:
2) I like Thermalright's lower profile coolers, like the 120 i or M (the 140 might be a bit better/quieter if you have room). I have not found water cooling necessary but that might be an option.  
3) Calculate your power supply wattage requirements (search Newegg for this tool)  and buy something a bit more capable and go fan-less. For example, if you calculate you need 300 watts, buy 500 watts. This is to "derate" the supply so that it runs "cooler"/lasts longer = more reliable. Of course, no fan = no noise.
4) Do run a SSD boot/program drive. If you can, go all SSD = no noise. I run WD Raptor HDD's for data storage but If I had the $$$, SSD all the way.
5) I built with Fractal Design's R4. Huge case (I run multiple hard drives), easy to build, great cable routing...comes with two very-quiet-if-run-on-lowest-speed fans. Case side panels are sound dampened with a heavy rubber-like absorber. You might check their smaller cases.
 
Bottom line, do what you can to go fanless. Low power and non-mechanical/solid state.
 
Cheers
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#2
slartabartfast
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/03/31 16:36:16 (permalink)
If you have your computer set up in a different room, you are going to have to spend a lot to get the same quiet you have now. You do not say which cables are going through the floor or what the source of pain is. Presumably these are at least the audio cables or audio interface to computer cable. You can probably buy extension cables for mouse keyboard and monitors for a lot less than a quiet computer. With those you could control and feed data to your distant computer without ever having to visit the machine while working.
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HighAndDry
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/03/31 18:25:11 (permalink)
I have usb, video, and firewire cables going through the floor.  I know I thought about that price differential
 

ASRock Z97 Pro 4 Motherboard
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Corsair 330R case Corsair Rm750 ultra quiet power supply
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#4
TerraSin
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/03/31 21:20:33 (permalink)
I can't speak highly enough for the Corsair Obsidian Series 550D case. Everything about it is based around keeping it silent.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139012
 
For fans, I use SilenX. They work very well at keeping the case cool while getting good airflow.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226042
 
The new desk I'm building will have an enclosed area for the computer case with two fans on the back to promote airflow through it while keeping sound inside it from escaping as much as possible.
#5
ston
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/01 09:00:57 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby tlw 2015/04/07 18:36:13
I've bought some very quiet CPU coolers and case fans from these people:
 
http://www.quietpc.com/
 
They're knowledgeable and helpful, I'm sure they could give you some good advice.
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HighAndDry
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/01 11:08:51 (permalink)
Thanks for all your input everyone. 

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Corsair 330R case Corsair Rm750 ultra quiet power supply
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#7
HighAndDry
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/01 11:08:52 (permalink)
Thanks for all your input everyone. 

ASRock Z97 Pro 4 Motherboard
Chipset : Intel Z97
Intel i7 4790k
32 gb Ballistix (crucial) 1600 DDR3 ram

Corsair 330R case Corsair Rm750 ultra quiet power supply
Win 10 64 bit

Motu 1248 AVB
Mackie Onyx Blackbird 16 x16 FW
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#8
Kev999
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/03 04:50:12 (permalink)
Most fans that are supposed to be quiet are anything but.  The only brand of case fan that I would recommend is Papst. I once fitted two of these in a computer and when I initially switched it on they were so silent that I thought they were not working at first. They remained quiet for the life of the computer. I wanted to fit similar ones in my later computer builds but none of the online stores I was using seemed to stock this brand.

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#9
HighAndDry
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/03 13:02:25 (permalink)
yeah I don't recall seeing papst

ASRock Z97 Pro 4 Motherboard
Chipset : Intel Z97
Intel i7 4790k
32 gb Ballistix (crucial) 1600 DDR3 ram

Corsair 330R case Corsair Rm750 ultra quiet power supply
Win 10 64 bit

Motu 1248 AVB
Mackie Onyx Blackbird 16 x16 FW
Sonar Platinum

#10
HighAndDry
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/07 15:35:34 (permalink)
TerraSin
I can't speak highly enough for the Corsair Obsidian Series 550D case. Everything about it is based around keeping it silent.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139012
 
For fans, I use SilenX. They work very well at keeping the case cool while getting good airflow.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226042
 
The new desk I'm building will have an enclosed area for the computer case with two fans on the back to promote airflow through it while keeping sound inside it from escaping as much as possible.


Does that case include a power supply?  It didn't seem to.  what power supply are you running with it?  Also, did you replace the fans that came with the case or did you add the silenX?
Thank you
post edited by HighAndDry - 2015/04/07 16:09:25

ASRock Z97 Pro 4 Motherboard
Chipset : Intel Z97
Intel i7 4790k
32 gb Ballistix (crucial) 1600 DDR3 ram

Corsair 330R case Corsair Rm750 ultra quiet power supply
Win 10 64 bit

Motu 1248 AVB
Mackie Onyx Blackbird 16 x16 FW
Sonar Platinum

#11
HighAndDry
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/07 16:03:05 (permalink)
Anyone have any experience with this?
http://www.microcenter.co...X_Modular_Power_Supply

ASRock Z97 Pro 4 Motherboard
Chipset : Intel Z97
Intel i7 4790k
32 gb Ballistix (crucial) 1600 DDR3 ram

Corsair 330R case Corsair Rm750 ultra quiet power supply
Win 10 64 bit

Motu 1248 AVB
Mackie Onyx Blackbird 16 x16 FW
Sonar Platinum

#12
interpolated
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/07 16:11:43 (permalink)
GPU fans are the biggest source of noise, along with noisy chassis fans. 120mm chassis fans have a higher CFM rate at a lower speed i.e. they can dissipate hot air by shifting more air with less rotation. If you are serious about silence I would look into getting a corsair case and a gpu with passive heatsink.

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#13
tlw
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/07 18:48:58 (permalink)
My DAW is very quiet indeed - measuring under 21dB at 1 metre. I actually can't get an accurate reading because neither my cheap sound meter or the very expensive UK-government issue one my wife has access to reliably read that low. Any noise picked up by mics pretty much disappears into the general noise floor.

Cpu is cooled by a big Noctua heatsink with a 140mm Noctua fan I can switch to run at 5 volts (PC standard fan voltage is 12 volts).
Fanless Seasonic PSU.
Fanless Sapphire-branded AMD gpu.
Two very quiet HDDS, two silent SSDs.
The cpu isn't particularly power-hungry, the 6 core upwards ones with a disipation of 140 watts would be a much tougher challenge to cool as quietly.
The only fan besides the cpu is another Noctua 140mm also switchable to 5 volts as a case exhaust fan.

I usually run the fans at around 7.5volts, but when I need near silence I drop them to 5. Having them permanently at 5 isn't good because that's approaching the point where the fan won't have enough power to start up.

The case makes surprisingly little difference to noise. Noise will escape the PC case if there is a hole in it and there have to be holes. What does help is a solidly built case with deadening material on the panels to help stop the case itself from resonating in sympathy with the fan noise.

Building a quiet PC can be done, but it takes careful selection of components and a willingness to experiment and test. Before running fans at low voltage for example, stress test the cpu and gpu and check their temperatures. Lower fan voltage and repeat. Tests need to be several minutes duration with components at 100% or as close as possible. A willingness to run cpus and gpus at higher than 'normal' temperatures (but still well within their rated thermal range) helps.

Then try shifting the case fan around, say from the front blowing in to the back blowing out and see if it makes a difference. Vents in the case top to let out hot air can help.

www.silentpcreview.com is a useful site, as is the already mentioned Quiet PC.

Oh, finally, regard manufacturer's claims about 'low noise' products with a bit of scepticism, unless that manufacturer is Noctua or Scythe. Zalman are best avoided altogether.

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#14
LJB
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/15 09:51:36 (permalink)
I can HIGHLY recommend this case: http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/silencio-550/ 
 
It's the one I use in my control room and it's dead quiet. Also really cool is the sideways-fitted plastic pressure-fit HDD clamps so you can pop drives in and out in seconds.

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batsbrew
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/15 13:22:35 (permalink)
when i built my own DAW, i used this for a case:
 
Antec Solo Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
 
and power supply:
Thermaltake TR2 RX W0134RU 550W ATX12V Ver2.2 SLI Ready Modular Passive PFC PFC Power Supply
 
 
very quiet, without going overboard.
 

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#16
Eddie TX
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/15 15:03:15 (permalink)
I like tlw's advice here ... if you choose quiet internal components to begin with, the case becomes less of a factor.  Key elements:  big CPU cooler with quiet fan (e.g. Noctua), fanless PSU / GPU, SSDs or 2.5" HDDs in vibration-reducing 3.5" adapters (e.g. NoVibes), quiet case fans.    A PC can be practically silent even with the case wide open.
 
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Sycraft
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Re: quietest computer case/power supply/fans 2015/04/15 15:56:02 (permalink)
If you want the most silent power supply, go with a fanless one. There are a number out there you can find and so long as you aren't doing high end gaming, they'll all be more than fine for your computer. As ever, I'm a Seasonic fanboy so the Seasonic Platinum Series Fanless is what I'd look at. No fan noise, only some very minor electronics noise (all electronics make a bit of noise just in operation).

 
For fans the key is large and slow spinning. If you keep the system with just the CPU in it (no discrete graphics card) one case fan should be fine. I'd look at Noctua and Phanteks. The Noctua NF-P14 FLX is my top pick, so long as it is mounted on the side of the case, not a top (they have trouble spinning in that alignment). Their noise is low and the profile is unoffensive, and the static pressure they have is quite good. For CPU cooling, you want to get something with a nice large fan on it again so it can spin slow. Arctic Cooling is my go-to company for CPU coolers. A Freezer 13 is probably what I'd look at. Very overkill, but because of that the fan should rarely, if ever, spin above minimum.  A Freezer i11 would work fine too.
 
You can get cases that do purely passive cooling, but I think it is more effort and expense than it is worth. Good fans are quiet enough.
 
Next issue is harddrives. Those suckers make more noise than you might think. If you have the money and can go all SSD, problem solved. If not, then you want to try and keep them dampened, if possible. I'd stay away from WD drives and go with Seagate or HGST, they make less noise in my experience (even though HGST and WD are the same parent company).
 
A case can of course help keep all the noise in. My top quiet case is an Antec P183B. They do a really good job with isolation in that case, building it out of multiple layers in a metal-plastic-metal configuration to attenuate noise, and they have dampening on everything including some nice silicone grommets for the HDDs.
 
If you want to attenuate it further, you can get acoustic foam for the inside of your case. Putting it on the walls will help stop the higher frequency fan noise from going anywhere and make it a little quieter.
 
Also make sure to consider your monitor. If you get a really quiet room, monitors can become an audible noise source in some cases. I love my PA301W, but it buzzes audibly. It isn't loud, but you can hear it when the room is silent since the ambient noise level is down around 20dB. TFTCentral does a good job reporting on monitors making noise so check on that before you get one. In general, LED monitors that do not use PWM dimming tend to make less noise than CCFL monitors or monitors that use PWM.
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