Suggestions for silent PC

[IAmAndre]

Hi,

 

I want to get a new case for my PC. All the current specs are listed on my profile. So the thing is I hate cleaning my PC so once I build I never clean it until I build a new once, so that's once every 3-4 years if not more. Now I would like to do it every year or so, which would already be a big improvement, which would coincidence with a hardware upgrade. This year's upgrade will be the case, next year's will either the GPU or the motherboard and CPU. The idea is to get a very silent build at the end.

 

So right now I'm looking for case recommendations. I want something with good sound isolation, good thermals, and that is easy to clean (if that is a thing). Having a lot of space to maneuver would be a big plus. My budget is around $100. Ideally I'd like to spend less, but I can also spend a little more if that's justified.

 

I've been using only air coolers so far and it's been doing the job. Do you think that an AiO would offer a significant performance improvement and lower noise levels? If so, please recommend one for my 2600X that I wish to upgrade to Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 down the road, and a case able to accommodate it easily.

[seban]

12 minutes ago, IAmAndre said:

Hi,

 

I want to get a new case for my PC. All the current specs are listed on my profile. So the thing is I hate cleaning my PC so once I build I never clean it until I build a new once, so that's once every 3-4 years if not more. Now I would like to do it every year or so, which would already be a big improvement, which would coincidence with a hardware upgrade. This year's upgrade will be the case, next year's will either the GPU or the motherboard and CPU. The idea is to get a very silent build at the end.

 

So right now I'm looking for case recommendations. I want something with good sound isolation, good thermals, and that is easy to clean (if that is a thing). Having a lot of space to maneuver would be a big plus. My budget is around $100. Ideally I'd like to spend less, but I can also spend a little more if that's justified.

 

I've been using only air coolers so far and it's been doing the job. Do you think that an AiO would offer a significant performance improvement and lower noise levels? If so, please recommend one for my 2600X that I wish to upgrade to Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 down the road, and a case able to accommodate it easily.

you could try looking for a sound-reducing case - for ex. Gamemax Silent HILL H606 but i believe you can get that only in EU

 

edit: or this one in NA: Fractal Design Define Mini C, a bit pricey but really user friendly IMO

[boggy77]

14 minutes ago, IAmAndre said:

air coolers

which one? if it's a low end cheap one, a good aio would be an improvement.

as for case, getting one with plenty of airflow will make sure things stay cool, fans don't ramp up so you end up with a more quiet system. phanteks p400a digital or meshify C or bequiet 500dx are good options.

[SupaKomputa]

Good isolation, well no case has this. Most of the noise came from fans, you get rid of it, no noise.

Good thermal, in relevancy to the case it should have enough openings, but more opening = no isolation.

"silent" case usually have restricted airflow.

If you want absolute silent, use as few fans as possible, use a low power CPU/GPU with a passive heatsink.

My suggestion is to get a low noise / low rpm fans and silent PSU.

An AIO will have no advantage, because it's also using fans to operate.

 

[Stahlmann]

Closed off silent cases often end up hotter AND louder than airflow focused cases with low-rpm fans. Get something like a Corsair 4000D Airflow, Phantkes P300A/P360A/P400A, Fractal Meshify C. And then spend a bit on some nice quiet fans like ones from be Quiet! and Noctua. Arctic can also be a good value option, but their fans have a bit of bearing noise depending on RPM. If you want no bearing noises whatsoever go for be Quiet! and Noctua.

[Aereldor]

Use the biggest heatsinks possible (that could mean using a CPU cooler on a GPU, more info below), and either purchase as much insulating material as you can - or buy a case that comes with a bunch already. The GPU fans are the smallest ones in the PC, and will often be the loudest. You can solve this by using a CPU cooler on it.

 

Edit: I removed my suggestion for a custom loop, it far exceeds your budget.

 

Also, the PSU can get loud. This is the only time I'll recommend getting a good PSU with a much higher wattage rating than you need, because they run fanless at lower loads.

 

Here's a video detailing the more 'DIY' of the approaches - CPU cooler on GPU, sticking insulating material everywhere etc.

 

 

 

[SupaKomputa]

This guy use a silent case with a dampening foam with bequite fans, still the result is not that great.

[IAmAndre]

21 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

Closed off silent cases often end up hotter AND louder than airflow focused cases with low-rpm fans. Get something like a Corsair 4000D Airflow, Phantkes P300A/P360A/P400A, Fractal Meshify C. And then spend a bit on some nice quiet fans like ones from be Quiet! and Noctua. Arctic can also be a good value option, but their fans have a bit of bearing noise depending on RPM. If you want no bearing noises whatsoever go for be Quiet! and Noctua.

I currently have 3 Arctic 120mm fans in the front (F12 I believe) and an Arctic CPU cooler. The only fan I hear is the one of the CPU cooler. I made a stupid mistake while ordering and only got the version with one fan.

 

I'm considering buying a $70 from Lian Li, the one recommended by GamersNexus as the best case from 2020 as it comes with 2 140mm fans at the front. I could then use my two 120mm fans as exhaust fans on the top and the remaining one as a second fan on the cpu cooler.

[IAmAndre]

7 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

Use the biggest heatsinks possible (that could mean using a CPU cooler on a GPU, more info below), and either purchase as much insulating material as you can - or buy a case that comes with a bunch already. The GPU fans are the smallest ones in the PC, and will often be the loudest. You can solve this by using a CPU cooler on it.

 

Edit: I removed my suggestion for a custom loop, it far exceeds your budget.

 

Also, the PSU can get loud. This is the only time I'll recommend getting a good PSU with a much higher wattage rating than you need, because they run fanless at lower loads.

 

Here's a video detailing the more 'DIY' of the approaches - CPU cooler on GPU, sticking insulating material everywhere etc.

 

 

 

I don't have either the budget or the skills required for a custom loop. However I have a good 750W PSU so I'm good at this level. I think the main noise comes from my CPU cooler, and of course the GPU when I'm playing. I would still want a good airflow and more room overall because everything is super cramped on my current case.

[Aereldor]

2 minutes ago, IAmAndre said:

I don't have either the budget or the skills required for a custom loop. However I have a good 750W PSU so I'm good at this level. I think the main noise comes from my CPU cooler, and of course the GPU when I'm playing. I would still want a good airflow and more room overall because everything is super cramped on my current case.

Yeah, I edited my post to remove the custom loop option. Theoretically it's possible buying used and using 'other stuff' for tubing instead of real tubing, but yeah too much hassle.

 

I would consider my 'biggest heatsinks possible' option again, which includes strapping a big CPU cooler to the GPU, even the best GPU coolers are pretty anemic compared to even budget CPU ones. Watch that video I linked.

[Argyris A]

10 hours ago, IAmAndre said:

Hi,

 

I want to get a new case for my PC. All the current specs are listed on my profile. So the thing is I hate cleaning my PC so once I build I never clean it until I build a new once, so that's once every 3-4 years if not more. Now I would like to do it every year or so, which would already be a big improvement, which would coincidence with a hardware upgrade. This year's upgrade will be the case, next year's will either the GPU or the motherboard and CPU. The idea is to get a very silent build at the end.

 

So right now I'm looking for case recommendations. I want something with good sound isolation, good thermals, and that is easy to clean (if that is a thing). Having a lot of space to maneuver would be a big plus. My budget is around $100. Ideally I'd like to spend less, but I can also spend a little more if that's justified.

 

I've been using only air coolers so far and it's been doing the job. Do you think that an AiO would offer a significant performance improvement and lower noise levels? If so, please recommend one for my 2600X that I wish to upgrade to Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 down the road, and a case able to accommodate it easily.

I recommend the cpu coler : Noctua NH U9S. Its is max 22dB wich is the average noice in a quiet room so it is basically silent. Also, it is fairly priced.

 

[boggy77]

11 minutes ago, IAmAndre said:

The only fan I hear is the one of the CPU cooler. I made a stupid mistake while ordering and only got the version with one fan.

just get a bigger cpu cooler and that should solve your problem. no need to change case and case fans. a nh-d15 size cooler should be quite silent.

i have a gelid phantom on my 2600x and I can't hear it even under stress test.

[IAmAndre]

1 hour ago, boggy77 said:

just get a bigger cpu cooler and that should solve your problem. no need to change case and case fans. a nh-d15 size cooler should be quite silent.

i have a gelid phantom on my 2600x and I can't hear it even under stress test.

That's interesting. But also this case really sucks. The cable management options are terrible so taking the pc apart to change the CPU cooler would be a daunting experience. So I'd want a big one with plenty of room to maneuver.