"Absolute Silence" A mid-range Intel R4 build, with loads of Noctua. (FINISHED)

[Demos]

In December last year I built my first gaming rig, with graphic design capabilities. Here is the imgur album with original build pictures. It performs just as I'd like, works great in games at mid-high settings and handled Photoshop and Illustrator like a champ. My only issue with it was that it was loud when it was idle, and insanely loud at load.

 

In an effort to curb this, I bought a PWM Fan for my Antec Kuhler 620, which minimised my noise levels by a small amount, but the pump on the Antec was still the loudest part of my system. I put up with this for a few months until I could afford new parts, having just spent $1600NZD on my build.

 

Here's a video of the build as well.

 

 

Current Parts List

• Intel i5 3570k
• Noctua NH-U12s
• 3x Noctua NF-A14 FLX
• Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H
• Corsair Vengeance 8gb DDR3 1600mhz
• Sapphire Radeon 7870 OC Ghz edition
• Antec HCG-M 620w PSU
• Samsung 830 120b (Boot drive)
• Samsung 840 120gb (Games drive)
• Fractal R4.

 

Current Status

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future Plans

My plans are:

• Install more sound dampening material around the case.
• Install a fanless 500w Seasonic PSU

If anyone has any suggestions, please do post, I'd love some encouragement and some good ideas, as well as something I may have overlooked

Thanks for reading!

Demos

 

 

[ilikemacandpc]

Actually looks really nice!

 

Is the PSU modular?   Edit: Nvm...

 

Edit 2: Why not undervolt the 3570k if you are not overclocking? 

 

Edit 3: Why not place the PSU fan down to avoid dust, get some dedicated airflow, and get a little better cable management? 

[NeCoNLive]

Absolutey Silence

Its quiet with fans NEVER SILENT..

[nsyedhasan]

1208GB SSD?!

[Demos]

Actually looks really nice!

 

Is the PSU modular?   Edit: Nvm...

 

Edit 2: Why not undervolt the 3570k if you are not overclocking? 

 

Edit 3: Why not place the PSU fan down to avoid dust, get some dedicated airflow, and get a little better cable management? 

 

The fan on the PSU is stupidly loud, so it's inside to try and get less noise to me. My plan is to replace it with a Seasonic Fanless unit when I have the time

I am planning to OC the CPU, as I have spare time this holidays to learn.

Thanks for the kind words :)

 

Absolutey Silence

Its quiet with fans NEVER SILENT..

 

It's pretty darned quiet at the moment, the only loud component is the PSU. Which is being replaced by a fanless unit.

 

1208GB SSD?!

Spelling mistake ;D

[IATESLICK]

In December last year I built my first gaming rig, with graphic design capabilities. Here is the imgur album with original build pictures. It performs just as I'd like, works great in games at mid-high settings and handled Photoshop and Illustrator like a champ. My only issue with it was that it was loud when it was idle, and insanely loud at load.

 

In an effort to curb this, I bought a PWM Fan for my Antec Kuhler 620, which minimised my noise levels by a small amount, but the pump on the Antec was still the loudest part of my system. I put up with this for a few months until I could afford new parts, having just spent $1600NZD on my build.

 

 

 

Current Parts List

• Intel i5 3570k
• Noctua NH-U12s
• 3x Noctua NF-A14 FLX
• Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H
• Corsair Vengeance 8gb DDR3 1600mhz
• Sapphire Radeon 7870 OC Ghz edition
• Antec HCG-M 620w PSU
• Samsung 830 120b (Boot drive)
• Samsung 840 120gb (Games drive)
• Fractal R4.

 

Current Status

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future Plans

My plans are:

• Install more sound dampening material around the case.
• Install a fanless 500w Seasonic PSU

If anyone has any suggestions, please do post, I'd love some encouragement and some good ideas, as well as something I may have overlooked

Thanks for reading!

Demos

looking good! :D

[nsyedhasan]

Spelling mistake ;D

Would be pretty awesome thought.

[KikoHQ]

Should add more storage because to me 120 is not enough for anything. I don't think more dapening material is needed. Instead you should get another noctua fan for your cooler and just add in a fan controller. I also think the psu is fine, it shouldn't make too much noise since you're not drawing nearly 620 from it. Writing this after a 4 hour car ride on my iPhone at Denny's so bear with me LOL

[Ymac]

probably will be next build of the week.

because of two reasons:

1. Good pictures qualitiy - It makes it look better.

2. Noctua fans all over the place! - Linus love those

 

But it looks sooooo god!

R4 is an awesome case to build in, good job!

[Demos]

Should add more storage because to me 120 is not enough for anything. I don't think more dapening material is needed. Instead you should get another noctua fan for your cooler and just add in a fan controller. I also think the psu is fine, it shouldn't make too much noise since you're not drawing nearly 620 from it. Writing this after a 4 hour car ride on my iPhone at Denny's so bear with me LOL

I've got 2 120gb SSD's :)

I've been thinking of lining the top and the bottom, just so any vibrations don't get out.

Ooh yes, fan controller is necessary at this point.

The Antec is suuuuper loud, it's so frustrating. I'm quite sure a fanless unit will fix this. Plus the Antec is not very efficent vs something like a Seasonic Platinum unit.

 

probably will be next build of the week.

because of two reasons:

1. Good pictures qualitiy - It makes it look better.

2. Noctua fans all over the place! - Linus love those

 

But it looks sooooo god!

R4 is an awesome case to build in, good job!

D'aww I hope so. But there are much better builds out there! This is only an i5 and a 7870 :D

Thanks for the kind words :) I loved building in the R4, so much nicer than the Arc Midi.

[SSOB]

Why not take a look at the Zalman FX100  http://us.hardware.info/reviews/4086/11/zalman-fx100-review-passive-ivy-bridge-cpu-cooler-conclusion

 

Nice build btw

[losinator501]

 

 

D'aww I hope so. But there are much better builds out there! This is only an i5 and a 7870 :D

 

It's not the components that make a build good or bad, it's the asthetics, practicality, and original touches :D

[Demos]

Why not take a look at the Zalman FX100  http://us.hardware.info/reviews/4086/11/zalman-fx100-review-passive-ivy-bridge-cpu-cooler-conclusion

 

Nice build btw

I was actually thinking about that awhile back, but I would like to do some OCing at some point, and I wouldnt feel comfortable OCing on a passive cooler.

Thanks for the link and kind words though :)

[Demos]

Quick Update,

Finally got my windowed-sidepanel from Fractal Design, only took a month to get here. I've also installed some NZXT White LED's until I can afford to buy an NZXT hue, they are $80 here in New Zealand.

 

[Demos]

So I've added a Corsair 750W PSU, Overkill I know, but I got it for $100NZD, so it was an absolute steal!

I'm finally finished! This computer is incredibly quiet, I can literally have it on overnight in my bedroom. It is so quiet, you only know its on by the LED's. During gaming it's practically inaudible, the loudest component when gaming is the GPU. Honestly I'm so pleased with how this came out.

 

 

[Homicidium]

What a lovely build! Has almost everything I love. And dat bokeh in those pictures

[Demos]

What a lovely build! Has almost everything I love. And dat bokeh in those pictures

 

Thanks! I see your an R4 and Noctua enthusiast as well. Good taste!

Cheers ;D I plan on taking some more tonight in my studio, these were just update pics. Fun fact, the camera used was a Fuji X100

[Nit3Rid3R]

It's a very well balanced build, very sharp looking and very clean. The one downside I have of it, is the color of the motherboard, I find it eye scorching to look at. 

[JAKEBAB]

wish the mobo was black other than the colour of that board it looks great nice job.

[Demos]

wish the mobo was black other than the colour of that board it looks great nice job.

Thanks! Yeah, I built it in December last year, now it's nigh impossible to get my hands on a Z77 Board in New Zealand -.-

 

It's a very well balanced build, very sharp looking and very clean. The one downside I have of it, is the color of the motherboard, I find it eye scorching to look at. 

Thanks See above!

I'm thinking of downsizing to mATX or mITX, but it'll likely be in March next year, so I might do a complete rebuild!

[Eddprzz]

In December last year I built my first gaming rig, with graphic design capabilities. Here is the imgur album with original build pictures. It performs just as I'd like, works great in games at mid-high settings and handled Photoshop and Illustrator like a champ. My only issue with it was that it was loud when it was idle, and insanely loud at load.

In an effort to curb this, I bought a PWM Fan for my Antec Kuhler 620, which minimised my noise levels by a small amount, but the pump on the Antec was still the loudest part of my system. I put up with this for a few months until I could afford new parts, having just spent $1600NZD on my build.

Here's a video of the build as well.

Current Parts List

• Intel i5 3570k
• Noctua NH-U12s
• 3x Noctua NF-A14 FLX
• Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H
• Corsair Vengeance 8gb DDR3 1600mhz
• Sapphire Radeon 7870 OC Ghz edition
• Antec HCG-M 620w PSU
• Samsung 830 120b (Boot drive)
• Samsung 840 120gb (Games drive)
• Fractal R4.

Current Status

Future Plans

My plans are:

• Install more sound dampening material around the case.
• Install a fanless 500w Seasonic PSU

If anyone has any suggestions, please do post, I'd love some encouragement and some good ideas, as well as something I may have overlooked

Thanks for reading!

Demos

I wudd say go for a be quiet psu and why go noctua fans for case that was waste there are plenty of case fans that are quiet like cougar or gelid or corsair enermax etc

[ZiggyManSaad]

Oh man does that look good lit up. I can't wait till my DR4 gets here. Now I need some LEDs...

[Demos]

I wudd say go for a be quiet psu and why go noctua fans for case that was waste there are plenty of case fans that are quiet like cougar or gelid or corsair enermax etc

Well if you read the build-log, I've already bought a new PSU, its a Corsair AX750w that I scored for $100NZD. Absolute bargain, and the fan doesn't even ramp up until 30-40% load.

Gelid, Cougar and Enermax I've tried and didnt like, they were too loud. Corsair fans are a complete joke, they push fuck-all air and are very loud. Noctua are expensive for a reason, they're the best.

 

[AntarticCash]

What are the temps like with the noctuas? Build looks good mate!

[Ham1234]

I love the noctua fans they are awsome