Silent PC Case with good cooling for under 200$ needed

Jorg · 21st July 2005, 05:15 PM

HI,
Here's my next problem:
I need a silent PC Case for under 200$.
So please do not post any fancy cases for 1399$ which exceed the budget anyway.

I have a ASUS A7N8X Mainboard and would like to be able to fit that in the new case. The case should come with all the cooling that is needed. I don't want to spend additional 200$ on fans.
Since I live in the UK it would be great if the product was available here

Does anybody own a case like that or can anybody recommend one???

I've looked at those Arctic ones! They look nice! Anybody know anything about them?

Arctic Case 1

Arctic Case 2

Thanks a lot

tINY · 21st July 2005, 06:53 PM

You should look for Antec cases too. The Sonata is reported to be good and the P160/P180 look interesting.

-tINY

qtuner · 21st July 2005, 06:59 PM

Antec Sonata 2 and zalman cpu cooler for teh win.

I currently have this, and it is silent

bpape · 21st July 2005, 07:09 PM

I'll third the Sonata recommendation. It's VERY quiet, cools well, and is easy to work on. I've built several machines using this case - it's a winner.

Jorg · 21st July 2005, 08:10 PM

Those Antec do look very nice indeed.
Thanks for the tip.
The price difference between the Sonata and the P180 isn't that big.
Which is the better one?
What about the cooling?
My current PC has such a bad cooling that I have to leave the case open, otherwise it keeps crashing on me.
Do those cases provide a decent internal cooling?

What about PSUs?
Which one to take for my Mainboard? (Asus A7N8X
On this page (UK retailer) u can choose between different ones.
X Case
Which is the right one?

tINY · 21st July 2005, 08:38 PM

I believe the Sonata II comes with a quiet 450w power supply. And it's designed with those 105w Intel heaters in mind.

The P160/180 do not come with power supplies.

-tINY

Jorg · 21st July 2005, 08:54 PM

Do u know which one to choose for the P180?

Jorg · 1st August 2005, 04:43 PM

I just got my Antec Sonata Case and build all my components into it:

IT IS LOUDER THAN IT WAS BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats probably due to the additional case fan which I didn't have before.
But there is no absorbtion at the case whatsoever. And the holes at the side (Antec Font) certainly don't help making it quiet.
Can I cover them without getting cooling problems?
Maybe I should also change my CPU fan...
What about additional padding??

Damn it.....

tINY · 1st August 2005, 06:30 PM

I'm not sure what you mean about holes in the side (unless the design has changed).

Adding another case fan can make a computer louder, but it should be at the back and you can build a chamber at the back of the case to quiet it down. You need to turn a corner or two and line the inside with a thin layer of insulation (but leave enough space for the air to move freely.

You should definately look at quieter CPU coolers. This is often the loudest component (especially if you have one that is enough to cool a Prescott CPU).

It is also good to identify the different sounds: Can you hear the hard disk? Does the CPU fan add a little or a lot of noise? Is the case fan making noise by the fan blades, or are vibrations coupling into another part of the case?

-tINY

cdog · 1st August 2005, 06:53 PM

You will rapidly realize if you want total silence that just putting the CPU in a remote closet or machine room is the way to go.

Otherwise, there will always be SOME heat and noise, how much you can live with is the question.

If you're recording next to a loud CPU, aiiii no es bueno. Get an extender KVM cable.

If you're mixing in the same room, a little low level noise shouldn't matter - unless you monitor at super low levels.

Jorg · 1st August 2005, 07:59 PM

I definately dont have the space for moving the PC into another room.

The Case can be seen here:

http://www.antec-inc.com/images/400/...view_final.jpg

The font on the side are actual holes.

I just found a couple of additional products for the case which might solve the problem.
There is a special padding kit (I guess since it is made for the case, it won't eliminate the cooling):

http://www.quietpc.com/uk/materials.php
Look for the Antec pad kit

The fan I found (which has been recommended here) can be seen here:

http://www.quietpc.com/uk/amdcooling.php?#7000b

I hope this additional things will solve the problem. It definately is the CPU fan that is the loudest. The harddrives are within reason.

David Lee · 1st August 2005, 08:20 PM

after i bought my new computer which was put into an Antec Sonata, i had my other machine moved into one of these. I have two sitting next to my desk and they're very quiet...

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21st July 2005, 05:15 PM	#1
Jorg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Liverpool Posts: 480	Silent PC Case with good cooling for under 200$ needed HI, Here's my next problem: I need a silent PC Case for under 200$. So please do not post any fancy cases for 1399$ which exceed the budget anyway. I have a ASUS A7N8X Mainboard and would like to be able to fit that in the new case. The case should come with all the cooling that is needed. I don't want to spend additional 200$ on fans. Since I live in the UK it would be great if the product was available here Does anybody own a case like that or can anybody recommend one??? I've looked at those Arctic ones! They look nice! Anybody know anything about them? Arctic Case 1 Arctic Case 2 Thanks a lot

21st July 2005, 07:09 PM	#4
bpape Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis(Wildwood), MO Posts: 436	I'll third the Sonata recommendation. It's VERY quiet, cools well, and is easy to work on. I've built several machines using this case - it's a winner. __________________ I am serious, and don't call me Shirley Bryan Pape Lead Acoustical Designer GIK Acoustics

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21st July 2005, 06:53 PM	#2
tINY Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 6,208	You should look for Antec cases too. The Sonata is reported to be good and the P160/P180 look interesting. -tINY

21st July 2005, 06:59 PM	#3
qtuner Gear addict Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 302	Antec Sonata 2 and zalman cpu cooler for teh win. I currently have this, and it is silent

21st July 2005, 08:10 PM	#5
Jorg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Liverpool Posts: 480	Those Antec do look very nice indeed. Thanks for the tip. The price difference between the Sonata and the P180 isn't that big. Which is the better one? What about the cooling? My current PC has such a bad cooling that I have to leave the case open, otherwise it keeps crashing on me. Do those cases provide a decent internal cooling? What about PSUs? Which one to take for my Mainboard? (Asus A7N8X On this page (UK retailer) u can choose between different ones. X Case Which is the right one?

21st July 2005, 08:38 PM	#6
tINY Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 6,208	I believe the Sonata II comes with a quiet 450w power supply. And it's designed with those 105w Intel heaters in mind. The P160/180 do not come with power supplies. -tINY

21st July 2005, 08:54 PM	#7
Jorg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Liverpool Posts: 480	Do u know which one to choose for the P180?

1st August 2005, 04:43 PM	#8
Jorg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Liverpool Posts: 480	I just got my Antec Sonata Case and build all my components into it: IT IS LOUDER THAN IT WAS BEFORE!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats probably due to the additional case fan which I didn't have before. But there is no absorbtion at the case whatsoever. And the holes at the side (Antec Font) certainly don't help making it quiet. Can I cover them without getting cooling problems? Maybe I should also change my CPU fan... What about additional padding?? Damn it.....

1st August 2005, 06:30 PM	#9
tINY Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 6,208	I'm not sure what you mean about holes in the side (unless the design has changed). Adding another case fan can make a computer louder, but it should be at the back and you can build a chamber at the back of the case to quiet it down. You need to turn a corner or two and line the inside with a thin layer of insulation (but leave enough space for the air to move freely. You should definately look at quieter CPU coolers. This is often the loudest component (especially if you have one that is enough to cool a Prescott CPU). It is also good to identify the different sounds: Can you hear the hard disk? Does the CPU fan add a little or a lot of noise? Is the case fan making noise by the fan blades, or are vibrations coupling into another part of the case? -tINY

1st August 2005, 06:53 PM	#10
cdog Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2,219	You will rapidly realize if you want total silence that just putting the CPU in a remote closet or machine room is the way to go. Otherwise, there will always be SOME heat and noise, how much you can live with is the question. If you're recording next to a loud CPU, aiiii no es bueno. Get an extender KVM cable. If you're mixing in the same room, a little low level noise shouldn't matter - unless you monitor at super low levels.

1st August 2005, 07:59 PM	#11
Jorg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Liverpool Posts: 480	I definately dont have the space for moving the PC into another room. The Case can be seen here: http://www.antec-inc.com/images/400/...view_final.jpg The font on the side are actual holes. I just found a couple of additional products for the case which might solve the problem. There is a special padding kit (I guess since it is made for the case, it won't eliminate the cooling): http://www.quietpc.com/uk/materials.php Look for the Antec pad kit The fan I found (which has been recommended here) can be seen here: http://www.quietpc.com/uk/amdcooling.php?#7000b I hope this additional things will solve the problem. It definately is the CPU fan that is the loudest. The harddrives are within reason.

1st August 2005, 08:20 PM	#12
David Lee Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Santa Monica CA Posts: 237	after i bought my new computer which was put into an Antec Sonata, i had my other machine moved into one of these. I have two sitting next to my desk and they're very quiet...