Looking for a very quiet case

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:07 am

I'm searching for a case that is not too big because I really like lanparties

(A very big case is not very handy). It has to be very quiet. I will change all the standard fans for noctua and scythe fans so that doesn't matter but the hard drives etc.

It needs to be big enough for all the new videocards

(they really are way too big these days

) and has to fit my Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme cpu cooler

.

So make me happy

thanks in advance

Shaman · Post by **Shaman** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:31 am

The NSK3480 is pretty much the smallest quietest case you can get that fits tall cpu coolers and long video cards with large gpu coolers like the Accelero S1/S2.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:56 am

But it can only handle mATX motherboards and not ATX motherboards. And I have a ATX motherboard. So that will not fit

.

And I have a Corsair HX520 PSU with a 120mm fan so it needs to get fresh air beneath the psu or above it so don't think the my corsair will fit that case. And I want 120mm fans only

if possible

JaYp146 · Post by **JaYp146** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:18 am

Lian-Li PC-A05B: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811112130

Would be an excellent solution.

Relatively quiet. Very high quality case (Lian Li = the best).

thejamppa · Post by **thejamppa** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:33 am

Lian-Li's cost arm and leg and are pretty hard to make really silent... Solo would be good, but its still pretty heavy case.

Shaman · Post by **Shaman** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:42 am

Destroyertje wrote:But it can only handle mATX motherboards and not ATX motherboards. And I have a ATX motherboard. So that will not fit .

It would have helped if you mentioned that in the 1st post.....

A05B is the smallest ATX case that fits all that. Either that or buy an mATX board.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:57 am

srry

It doesn't matter if it's heavy as long it's doesn't have huge sizes

. Midi towers are ok but big towers are ehh to big.

It is difficult to find a case where a nvidia 9xxx card or 8xxx card easily fits but it still very small. And the problem with antec cases is that I think that my Corsair HX520 PSU doesn't fit because there is no hole or fresh air for the 120mm fan :S

theycallmebruce · Post by **theycallmebruce** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:10 am

I hear ya man, bigger than mid-tower is too big for LANs.

for what it's worth, I have a Thermaltake Matrix.. one of the budget mid tower thermaltake cases (<$100). I know Thermaltake isn't the most popular brand on these forums..

Anyway, if you replace the PSU, and swap out the case fan (both of which you will probably be doing anyway if you are making a silent build), it should run quiet and cool. It's pretty light, feels sturdy, no sharp edges.. I like it!

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:09 am

The most important thing is silence

. And with Scythe S-Flex fans for my cpu and videocard and Noctua NF-S12 casefans. But with my current case (big tower) my hard disks are pretty noisy and I don't like the size of my case.

But it's difficult to find a case that is not huge, has enough space for my Thermalright 120-Ultra eXtreme and a high-end videocard and is very silent.

Jeff Cutsinger · Post by **Jeff Cutsinger** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:20 am

All of my cases are 100% silent. In fact I've never run into a case that made any noise.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:29 am

..... I think you know what I mean. That with all my hardware installed I don't hear a lot

Calgarian · Post by **Calgarian** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:36 pm

I'm using a Corsair 620 in a P150 (same as Solo)

It has two 92mm in the front, although I've read here of folks adjusting things to fit in 120's.

I would suggest that Solo/Sonata Designer is the best for the fit, carrying weight would be the main issue for you.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:11 pm

The Antec P182 (http://www.antec.com/ec/productDetails.php?ProdID=09182) is kinda big isn't it

because the case looks great with enough space for fans (all 120mm fans) and is silent and looks great

but it's kinda big

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:23 am

it's difficult to find a case that is not huge, has enough space for my Thermalright 120-Ultra eXtreme and a high-end videocard

somebody has to say this: you have an ATX MB, a TRUE and a large videocard but you want a small case. your components aren't small! you will either have to downsize your components or resign yourself to a big case, because your components are big. trading down to a mATX motherboard would be an essential step. most cases that are smaller than mid-tower only take mATX.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:56 am

At this moment my current case is huge (Cooler Master Stacker 810). I don't need a mATX case or a mini tower or something like that. I just want a high quality midi tower case that is very quiet

. The Antec P182 looks great.

These are the case dimensions: 52cm (H) x 21cm (W) x 51cm (D). But Antec site says it's a Advanced Super Mid Tower. So is that a normal midi tower or a big midi tower or a small midi tower :/

Jeff Cutsinger · Post by **Jeff Cutsinger** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:23 am

If you think the components will fit, the solo would be a better case for you-- it's smaller than the P18x.

ntavlas · Post by **ntavlas** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:23 am

NSK4480, 8 kilos
Solo, 9,2

The p180 is a bit too big in my opinion, I you can can make sure the vga fits the solo it might be the best solution. On the other hand, if you don`t use the disk drive suspension the slightly lighter nsk is pretty good.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:54 am

I have
-Gigabyte P35-DQ6
-Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (B3)
-Geforce 8800GTS (640mb) with 1 Scythe S-Flex 120mm fan (900 RPM)
-4x1GB Team Xtreem Dark 800mhz
-2x500GB Hitachi Hard Drives (Raid 0)
-Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic
-Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme with 1 Scythe S-Flex 120mm fan (900 RPM)
-2 Noctua 120mm fans (600 RPM)
-Corsair HX520
-Lite-On 20A1S
-Floppy Disk Drive

This configuration has to fit

and i want a good airflow because the Q6600 gets pretty hot so that's why I was thinking about the P182

It has place for enough fans (and 4 noctua fans @ 600rpm is quiet in my eyes). But maybe this all fits in a SOLO

Shaman · Post by **Shaman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:01 am

You want to carry a P182 to LAN parties? I hope you have a strong physique.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:35 am

It has smaller dimensions then my current case

But I can't find a good case which is smaller :/ Antec only have or mini towers or kinda big towers

And silence is 1st priority, 2nd size

Shaman · Post by **Shaman** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:35 pm

The P182 may be smaller but it's only 1kg lighter than the Staker. Weight should matter as much as size when it comes to lan parties.

Destroyertje · Post by **Destroyertje** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:28 am

hmm

-The P182 is the most quiet case with the best airflow available but heavy
-SOLO case makes moire noise but is smaller and not that heavy

Are there more great cases available?

or are these 2 my best options

My hardware isn't a problem with both cases? (thermalright ultra-120 eXtreme and 8800gts)

kaange · Post by **kaange** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:25 am

The Solo will be fine and really isn't noisier than the P182. The P182 was designed to stay quiet with more components than would fit in a Solo.

Deiz · Post by **Deiz** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:49 pm

I'm just finishing up a P182 build and, uh, I would not use this case if I planned to move it often.

My P180 is bad enough, but the P182 build has a TRUE instead of a lightweight Zalman, two more HDDs, and a heavier PSU. I've yet to get it on the scale for a weigh-in, but it's certainly over 60 lbs.

I'll be carting it up two flights of stairs into my office when I'm done building. Since you're a LANer you may have a shoulder-strap system or something. If you do, and choose to build in the P182, you'll have a nice flat-black case that feels like a suitcase full of bricks.

I assure you, your back will thank you many times over if you choose the Solo - The ten pound difference between it and the P182 is substantial. That, and the Solo is smaller.

P182 = 30.9 lbs / 3433 cu. in. = 111 cu. in./lb
Solo = 20.3 lbs / 2547 cu. in. = 125 cu. in./lb

According to the above, the Solo is also less dense.

Granted, the Solo does use some 92mm fans, but two good 92mm fans will be just an inaudible as one good 120mm fan.

PhilW · Post by **PhilW** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:12 pm

thejamppa wrote:Lian-Li's cost arm and leg and are pretty hard to make really silent... Solo would be good, but its still pretty heavy case.

I have a Lian Li V1000 and it's pretty quiet if you use the right components. It's also relatively affordable in Asia, too.

Check out my rig here -> viewtopic.php?p=399060#399060

Phil

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:14 am

Hello,

The case itself does not make any noise at all.

The Solo would be far better for LAN parties, than the P18x, and with the same components, it would be the same noise level -- or possibly quieter, if you need the HD suspension. (Though steps would have to be taken if you use the suspension, and carry it around.)

dhanson865 · Post by **dhanson865** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:54 am

I'd go with a Solo and a couple of YATE LOON 92mm - D90BM-12 hardwired to 5v on the front (or Scythe 92mm - DFS922512L if you can find em, also hardwired to 5 volts).

On the back if the Tricool on Low isn't quiet enough for you then grab a Scythe KAZE-JYUNI "SLIP STREAM" 120mm - SY1225SL12L - 800rpm and try it at 12v. It should be quiet enough and you'd still have the option of undervolting it if you wanted.

Dunno what Scythe and Noctua fans you have already but that'd be my plan...