Looking for quiet case

[anttir]

I'm looking for a quiet case for three GPU micro-ATX configuration. This means big quiet fans. Noise insulation and small size is preferred.

 

[lehtv]

Three GPU micro-ATX? You will not find any micro-ATX motherboards that support three discrete graphics cards, there is not enough space. You sure about this? A triple GPU setup is really expensive, really overkill for most users and also really noisy unless water cooled. A silent case won't drown noisy components, the build needs to be designed for silence all-round for a silent case to make sense.

I think this is the best silent case on the market: Fractal Design Define R4. 2x 140mm fans @ 1000 RPM by default, integrated fan controller supports up to three fans and all fan locations support 140mm fans.
http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...&Description=define+r4&x=0&y=0&user=u00000687

 

[anttir]

Three GPU micro-ATX? You will not find any micro-ATX motherboards that support three discrete graphics cards, there is not enough space. You sure about this?

My mistake. I meant normal ATX, like P8P67D PRO.
If it's possible to find an enclosure with the size of about the motherboard+PSU that's even better. I'm not looking 5.25" or 3.5" slots or such.

Don't the enclosure manufacturers ( Antec, Thermaltake etc) manufacture noise insulated cases at all? I guess the big fans let the noise through or something.

 

[anttir]

God bless Anandtech

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph6102/48381.png

 

[danjw]

I'm looking for a quiet case for three GPU micro-ATX configuration. This means big quiet fans. Noise insulation and small size is preferred.

With 3 GPUs, that will be a lot of heat, you should look for a case with a side fan to blow air onto the graphics cards. Lots of stuff out there top brands include Antec, Corsair, Cooler Master and Silverstone. Lots of other brands out there too. Lots of different looks, so you need to decide what you are looking for. Do you want a side window with LEDs inside or something less conspicuous? Cases are worth the time to research and find what you will want to keep around for a while. Personally, I keep cases for multiple builds; So I think they are worth the research.

Particular models that are designed to be quite include: Antec P190 and Corsair 550D. Those are just off the top of my head.

 

[anttir]

With 3 GPUs, that will be a lot of heat, you should look for a case with a side fan to blow air onto the graphics cards.

This is a difficult question.

Another option would be to get a small chassis such as the type of lanbox lite with great ventilation and store it in another room. Lanbox lite however is microATX.

Checking out the Anandtech reviews yesterday the enclosures seem to be divided to those small, quiet and hot inside, and the big and noisy. ALso the hotter inside the bigger fan noise, right?

 

[Rikard]

This is a difficult question.

Another option would be to get a small chassis such as the type of lanbox lite with great ventilation and store it in another room. Lanbox lite however is microATX.

Checking out the Anandtech reviews yesterday the enclosures seem to be divided to those small, quiet and hot inside, and the big and noisy. ALso the hotter inside the bigger fan noise, right?

Yes, and you can see it from the pic you linked to (from the R4 review). If you are not giving the internal components enough air flow (5V) they have to work harder to compensate which generates more noise than if you allow the case fans to give a bit more noise but also better cooling (7V).

With 3 GPUs most of your heat will likely come from the PCIe area, so either a side fan or a bottom fan will likely be mandatory. I interpret the R4 review as without any such fan the GPU is not properly ventilated, so I would definitely put a bottom fan in an R4. Just make sure the intakes are filtered!

 

[lehtv]

Still skeptical about the three GPU rig. Which three GPUs were you planning on and what resolution are you gaming at? What CPU are you planning to get?

 

[blastingcap]

Still skeptical about the three GPU rig. Which three GPUs were you planning on and what resolution are you gaming at? What CPU are you planning to get?

Leave him alone, he's helping the economy with his big spending!

 

[lehtv]

Leave him alone, he's helping the economy with his big spending!

Right...

 

[kleinkinstein]

All cases are quiet, it's the pieces parts and have the dB. Pick quiet parts. Sound dampening foam does wonders too. Pssst, Fractal 1000.

 

[lehtv]

Pssst, Fractal 1000.

He's actually looking for a standard ATX case

 

[danjw]

This is a difficult question.

Another option would be to get a small chassis such as the type of lanbox lite with great ventilation and store it in another room. Lanbox lite however is microATX.

Checking out the Anandtech reviews yesterday the enclosures seem to be divided to those small, quiet and hot inside, and the big and noisy. ALso the hotter inside the bigger fan noise, right?

This website is a great resource for building quiet systems: http://www.silentpcreview.com/

Powerful systems don't have to be loud, the Antec P190 I mention above is designed to run very quiet. Its panels have sound dampening properties. The other option is liquid cooling, but that gets expensive fast. You may find you want to add or change fans for additional cooling; if you go with the P190, I would suggest you get a couple of 120mm fans to add to the front of the case. Case reviews are done with only stock fans, adding a few "optional" fans can really help the cooling situation.

 

[piasabird]

I think the Antec 300 runs pretty quiet, but I am not even using one video card in it and the fans are all set to low and I dont have a fan in the front of the case like the Antec 302 has.

The bigger the fans the slower you can run them.

This is what I am looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811139009

Has a large fan on the side. I think Zion or some other brands use to make cases with large side fans. I like the large fans on top also, but this just has back exhaust fans.

This looks promising 4X140mm fans, and great cable management:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146089

 

[danjw]

Another case to take a look at is the Fractal Design Define R4; It seems to have better availability then the P190. Actually, I just realized there is a P193 that replaced the P190, so that would be the one that would be available.