Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Enclosures and acoustic damping to help quiet them.

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Tilltech
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:09 am

Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by Tilltech » Fri May 01, 2020 4:16 am

For example, given these 3 cases:
  • Silverstone RL06
  • Pure Base 500
  • Pure Base 500DX
Which one would you pick? Only Pure Base 500 is specifically designed for silence.
However, the higher the temps the more noise from fans will take place.

Perhaps replacing all Silverstone RL06 fans with Silent Wings 3 would yield the best result?

Abula
Posts: 3662
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:22 pm
Location: Guatemala

Re: Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by Abula » Fri May 01, 2020 7:37 am

Tilltech wrote:
Fri May 01, 2020 4:16 am
For example, given these 3 cases:
  • Silverstone RL06
  • Pure Base 500
  • Pure Base 500DX
Which one would you pick? Only Pure Base 500 is specifically designed for silence.
However, the higher the temps the more noise from fans will take place.
Out of the list you posted, I would take the Pure Base 500DX, has gotten good reviews. But I would consider also the Phanteks Eclipse P600S, really nice case that can be open up to achieve better airflow, to me its the case that i would build.
Tilltech wrote:
Fri May 01, 2020 4:16 am
Perhaps replacing all Silverstone RL06 fans with Silent Wings 3 would yield the best result?
Imo the best would be to replace them with Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM, although changing the fans would end up more expensive than the case itself.

Tilltech
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:09 am

Re: Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by Tilltech » Mon May 04, 2020 12:43 pm

Phanteks has indeed some very interesting cases.
After looking into them, I'm waiting to see what P500A will bring, it should come in June.

Abula
Posts: 3662
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:22 pm
Location: Guatemala

Re: Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by Abula » Tue May 05, 2020 5:54 am

Tilltech wrote:
Mon May 04, 2020 12:43 pm
Phanteks has indeed some very interesting cases.
After looking into them, I'm waiting to see what P500A will bring, it should come in June.
While this is not the P500A, a review just came up, maybe it interest you, Phanteks P300A Cheap Airflow Case Review: Thermals, Extra Fan Tests, & Noise

Tilltech
Posts: 86
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:09 am

Re: Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by Tilltech » Fri Aug 07, 2020 2:31 pm

It looks like an ideal option for a silent machine is to fill Phanteks P500A with 4 beQuiet Pure Wings 2 140mm fans. This way, you get the best cooling with least noise.

Olle P
Posts: 711
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:03 am
Location: Sweden

Re: Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by Olle P » Thu Aug 20, 2020 5:47 am

My short answer to the headline question: No!

My priorities:
  1. Affordable
  2. Acceptable outer dimensions and weight.
  3. Fit/hold all components.
  4. Sufficient airflow.
  5. Filtering of intake air.
  6. Visual appearance.

Exel
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:25 am
Location: Finland

Re: Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by Exel » Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:32 am

Do not get the Silent Wings 3 as a case fan if there's going to be a dust filter directly in front of them.

The SW3 is a great fan in open air and as a heatsink fan, but placed against a filter it creates a lot of turbulence. Its measured dBA may still be low but the quality of the noise is really jarring.

Pure Wings 2 may actually be a better case fan than Silent Wings due to the different intake shapes, but I haven't tested them.

lb_felipe
Posts: 270
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:21 pm
Location: São Paulo, SP, Brasil

Re: Should airflow be prioritized with cases?

Post by lb_felipe » Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:59 am

Incredible an air flow oriented case to be so noise dampening -ish!

1: https://www.cybenetics.com/index.php?op ... s_14-36-33

2: https://www.cybenetics.com/index.php?op ... &manfID=22

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