Silent Gaming PC build

[invisiblesparta]

Hello there! 
I want to build one of the most silent PC at an affordable price. Trying to cut anything overkill too and no fancy design nor RGB needed! 

 

I'm upgrading my current build (1) to a transition build (2) to eventually complete build (3). (Mainly, I'm waiting to upgrade GPU and extra RAM because of the price)

Problem is mostly the case at this moment: it will greatly help me continue picking my parts when I'll finally have chosen one. There's a great load of information on Gamer Nexus here: https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/3397-best-and-worst-pc-cases-of-2018 and here: https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/3120-best-gaming-pc-cases-of-2017

 

Let's consider my preferences in order:

Noise level > Temperature > Features > Design

 

I have open-back headphones, so yeah, noise is important.

I'm a gamer, photographer (so editing with Photoshop) and do video editing a little bit.

So, with that in mind, I need a great GPU (see monitor), a solid CPU (Photoshop eats my current one) and good RAM (Photoshop and Chrome, ofc, loads them) with rapid HDD (for faster photo loading) with one extra HDD for storage. That's my basic needs.

 

 

Build (1) Current build

• OS: Windows 10
• RAM: 16.0GB Dual-Channel G.Skill Ripjaws @ 1066MHz (15-15-15-36)
• CPU: Intel Core i5 6600 @ 3.30GHz Skylake 14nm Technology
• MOBO: Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd. G1.SNIPER B7-CF (U3E1)
• Monitor: CF791 (3440x1440@100Hz)
• GPU: 2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB (Gigabyte)
• HDD1(boot): 111GB R3SL120G (SATA (SSD)
• HDD2: 931GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA100 (SATA)
• HDD3: 1397GB Western Digital WDC WD15EADS-00R6B0 (SATA)
• HDD4 (backup): 5589GB Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk Device (USB (SATA)
• PS: 500 Bronze 80+ EVGA
• Case: BitFenix Neos

Everything is stock fans/cooler

 

 

Build (2) Transition build

• OS: Same
• RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 2666 C16 4x8GB or Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000 C15 2x16GB to further upgrade to another 2x8GB (feel free to advice on a better choice but remember, unless if it's a better price, no RGB)
• CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K
• MOBO: MSI Z390-A PRO LGA1151 or a better one. Note: I want the fastest SSD, M2 with silent/cooling build in mind. No Wifi, no rgb.
• Monitor: Same
• GPU: Same
• HDD1(boot): M2, according to mobo.
• HDD2: 111GB R3SL120G (SATA (SSD) same as HDD1 from previous
• HDD3: 931GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA100 (SATA) Removing it because of the noise.
• HDD4 (backup): 5589GB Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk Device (USB (SATA) same backup
• PS: be quiet! BN618 Straight Power 11 650W Fully Modular Power Supply 80 Plus, Gold
• Case: be quiet! PURE BASE 600 or 601 or 900 (Rev1 or Rev2)
• CPU cooler: Dark Rock Pro 4
• Fans: Noctua or Silent Wings or anything high-end for silent/cooling. I don't care about RGB or design (looking at you Noctua)

 

 

Build (3) Final build

Same as final choices above but with RTX 2070 or 2080 RTX in mind (no SLI unless proven otherwise), 32GB RAM or more.

I might upgrade to a dual monitor display.

 

Thanks in advance!

-Ben

[Mad153]

I have a pure base 600. It is A DREAM to work with. It's quiet and not ugly. I have tempered glass and RGB. (Which is what I mainly like about this case) but you are mad and apparently don't like RGB.

The included silent wing fans (I think there are two) are amazingly quiet, quieter than my Corsair LL series. Very hard to notice the Corsair and the silent wings are unnoticable. 

 

So I say build 2. 

Note: if you don't want to overclock, buy a b series motherboard as they are better value for money.

[Mad153]

Also, welcome to the forums!

You are one of the best people who join who have questions here for providing all the information so we can helpful you the best.

[invisiblesparta]

18 minutes ago, Mad153 said:

I have a pure base 600. It is A DREAM to work with. It's quiet and not ugly. I have tempered glass and RGB. (Which is what I mainly like about this case) but you are mad and apparently don't like RGB.

The included silent wing fans (I think there are two) are amazingly quiet, quieter than my Corsair LL series. Very hard to notice the Corsair and the silent wings are unnoticable. 

 

So I say build 2. 

Note: if you don't want to overclock, buy a b series motherboard as they are better value for money.

Thanks for the quick reply and the info about your personnal experience,
but I just want to point out that build 2 is the transition build from build 1, which is the one I currently own.

Also, looking at the tempered glass, I'll opt out and go for a plastic/steel panel. I don't want/need to show my build.
Reason behind that is for noise dampening. There isn't much reason from what I've read to go for glass panels other than to show it off.

As for MOBO, i want to OC to make my build last longer regarding the techology required to keep up with most games. The extra GPU power, especially at the current market price, is very worth considering.

[Mad153]

7 minutes ago, invisiblesparta said:

Thanks for the quick reply and the info about your personnal experience,
but I just want to point out that build 2 is the transition build from build 1, which is the one I currently own.

Also, looking at the tempered glass, I'll opt out and go for a plastic/steel panel. I don't want/need to show my build.

As for MOBO i want to OC to make it last longer. The extra GPU power especially at the current GPU market is very worth considering.

No tempered glass?

Not everything professional has to be completely boring.

 

the Z390-A Pro is sort of meh for overclocking.

the Asus z390 prime A is nearly everyone's favourite. It is  worth the extra money.

[invisiblesparta]

No tempered glass
As I said, noise > pretty much anything else.
Plus, it usually cost less.

Since the case is my #1 problem to solve, I'll be looking for a mobo after the case's chosen.
I was looking at the Prime A too! Thanks for bringing it up again.
 

[Mad153]

For reference, I angered the community before over this topic already, although it is slightly old.

4 minutes ago, invisiblesparta said:

No tempered glass
As I said, noise > pretty much anything else.
Plus, it usually cost less.

Since the case is my #1 problem to solve, I'll be looking for a mobo after the case's chosen.
I was looking at the Prime A too! Thanks for bringing it up again.
 

 

[seagate_surfer]

The Seagate Backup Plus is definitely a good choice! An alternative that I want to show you and that I like (I'm not sure why, maybe the look) is the Seagate Expansion, I'll paste the link to the specifications in case you want to check it out: https://www.seagate.com/consumer/backup/expansion-hard-drive/

[Bearmann]

Have a look at the Fractal design R5 or R6 cases. Very popular for silent computing. Not as familiar with the new Fractal Design S2 cases, but have a look at those too.

[Mad153]

On 3/4/2019 at 7:55 PM, seagate_surfer said:

The Seagate Backup Plus is definitely a good choice!

Something tells me you are slightly biased.

I'm not sure what though.

[invisiblesparta]

13 hours ago, Bearmann said:

Have a look at the Fractal design R5 or R6 cases. Very popular for silent computing. Not as familiar with the new Fractal Design S2 cases, but have a look at those too.

I ordered the Pure Base 600 at 12% off, will test it with a Noctua Nh-D15 and the stock CPU cooler on both my build 1 and build 2 to see if it does make a great change. #timetomonitor

[Bearmann]

11 hours ago, invisiblesparta said:

I ordered the Pure Base 600 at 12% off, will test it with a Noctua Nh-D15 and the stock CPU cooler on both my build 1 and build 2 to see if it does make a great change. #timetomonitor

Sounds good! Let us know how it works out.

[invisiblesparta]

On 3/6/2019 at 2:47 PM, Bearmann said:

Sounds good! Let us know how it works out.

It seems it is a bit hotter in there (runned the benchmark Heaven and it was 5-10C hotter at level 1 for GPU, a little less for the CPU) but it is noticeably much more silent. The GPU is installed at the bottom slot to be away from the CPU. Might reconsider putting it closer to maximize the single front panel fan.

Pure Base 600 is totally absorbing at least 50% more of the stock CPU cooler's sound so that's great! I can hit the front pannel fan button too to maximize the RPM at 3 different levels for the two pre-installed fans (1 at front and 1 at back). Top closed, stock config except I removed ALL the driver's bay except the bottom one for my only HDD.
Level 1: Silent af
Level 2: A little humming that's almost enjoyable and helps hiding the CPU stock cooler higher pitch noise.
Level 3: A bit too much of humming there aha

Looking forward to get my Noctua Nh-D15 and get rid of those sounds.
Also will purchase another SSD (2 can be installed behind the MOBO so it doesn'T restrict airflow) or an M.2 HDD to plug in my Mobo and then, no more spinning HDD.
From there, if necessary, I'll consider buying another fan for the front panel (2 big fans or 3 small one can fit, in this case another big one) to try out the airflow improvement from that upgrade.

Will reply when I get the quietest CPU Cooler!

N.B. I still have the i5-6600 and eventually will improve to a i5-9600k so thermals will change too.
 

[Bearmann]

I'm running an overclocked i5-6600K, GTX 960 and a Noctua D15 (one fan only) myself. I understand that the BeQuiet front panels can be a bit restrictive for airflow. You might want to check temps with the front panel off just for fun. The silentwings fans are optimized for silence over airflow. You should be OK with a single GPU, though.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWuDkKjz6D0

 

[invisiblesparta]

23 hours ago, Bearmann said:

I'm running an overclocked i5-6600K, GTX 960 and a Noctua D15 (one fan only) myself. I understand that the BeQuiet front panels can be a bit restrictive for airflow. You might want to check temps with the front panel off just for fun. The silentwings fans are optimized for silence over airflow. You should be OK with a single GPU, though.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWuDkKjz6D0

 

Yeah I'm going for the Noctua D15 too! Waiting for a discount to happen then I'll buy it
From there I'll consider taking the front panels off to monitor the temps. But right now, sound is an issue with the stock CPU cooler (which even at idle, it runs and makes a ton of noise...) so I won't be removing the front panels in this current set up.

P.S. For people using the Noctua D15 and wondering if RAM will fit, consider buying low profiles RAM (32mm or less) AND/OR single fan AND/OR installing the fan higher (watch out for case dimension, it's VERY tall) OR just putting the fans in pull pull config (which, from what I've read, roughly change the CPU temp to 1-2C hotter)