Quiet gaming slim mini-ITX challenges.
Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 9:20 pm
Howdy all.
I've been researching options for a possible small form factor build for a slim gaming rig... if I can cram everything in it while keeping it quiet. I've been taking a hard look at Silverstone's RVZ02B and similar cases due to their slim form factor. I prefer the aesthetics of Fractal's Node 202, but it's poor thermal and acoustic properties cited in the SPCR review make me reluctant to go that route.
I already have the Core i7 6700k and Samsung 950 Pro M.2 512 GB SSD on order and am still trying to finalize all other component selections.
I'm currently leaning towards the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 as the motherboard to go with since the high-end Asus didn't include M.2 and every search I've done about U.2 shows products being a much higher price without a clearly better speed.
I'd like to include a high-end GPU (such as a Geforce 1080 or 1070), a secondary storage drive (3.5" large capacity preferred, though my backup plan would be a Samsung spinpoint 2TB 2.5" if forced into that form factor), and a good quiet PSU (I'm okay with a SLX PSU if it supports the new 8-pin connector for the new Geforce cards, but am more accustomed to ATX PSUs). I plan on going air cooling since the liquid cooling options I read about continue to sound far to loud compared to a good fan. I've been reading quite a few good things about Reeven, Raijintek, and Be Quiet! brands in addition to my traditionally preferred Scythe.
Have folks had luck keeping acoustics down at full louds on these slim cases? I'm accustomed to my dual Gigabyte Windforce 670 GTX cards in 2-way SLI being inaudible at idle, and no louder than a quiet oscillating fan at full tilt. Is it possible to achieve that with a slim mini-ITX build?
I've been researching options for a possible small form factor build for a slim gaming rig... if I can cram everything in it while keeping it quiet. I've been taking a hard look at Silverstone's RVZ02B and similar cases due to their slim form factor. I prefer the aesthetics of Fractal's Node 202, but it's poor thermal and acoustic properties cited in the SPCR review make me reluctant to go that route.
I already have the Core i7 6700k and Samsung 950 Pro M.2 512 GB SSD on order and am still trying to finalize all other component selections.
I'm currently leaning towards the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 as the motherboard to go with since the high-end Asus didn't include M.2 and every search I've done about U.2 shows products being a much higher price without a clearly better speed.
I'd like to include a high-end GPU (such as a Geforce 1080 or 1070), a secondary storage drive (3.5" large capacity preferred, though my backup plan would be a Samsung spinpoint 2TB 2.5" if forced into that form factor), and a good quiet PSU (I'm okay with a SLX PSU if it supports the new 8-pin connector for the new Geforce cards, but am more accustomed to ATX PSUs). I plan on going air cooling since the liquid cooling options I read about continue to sound far to loud compared to a good fan. I've been reading quite a few good things about Reeven, Raijintek, and Be Quiet! brands in addition to my traditionally preferred Scythe.
Have folks had luck keeping acoustics down at full louds on these slim cases? I'm accustomed to my dual Gigabyte Windforce 670 GTX cards in 2-way SLI being inaudible at idle, and no louder than a quiet oscillating fan at full tilt. Is it possible to achieve that with a slim mini-ITX build?