If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Quiet, cheap case...besides Sonata
I'm looking for a nice quiet case for a new quiet system I'm building. I've
read through silentpcreview.com and all the cases they recommend are expensive ($200+) like the Lian Li PC-6070 or have a loud PSU like the Antec Sonata. Has anyone encoutered a sub-$120 case that has good construction, sound-proofing, and comes with features like a quiet PSU or 120mm case fans? A front-door would be best since my DVD-ROM is as loud as a jet taking off. Thanks a lot, Mitchua |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Are you wanting to build an AMD or Intel system? I have been building AMD
for several years and this last weekend built a P4 system. Wow, the system temps were lower and the noise so much lower. Alan in Boise "Mitchua" wrote in message able.rogers.com... I'm looking for a nice quiet case for a new quiet system I'm building. I've read through silentpcreview.com and all the cases they recommend are expensive ($200+) like the Lian Li PC-6070 or have a loud PSU like the Antec Sonata. Has anyone encoutered a sub-$120 case that has good construction, sound-proofing, and comes with features like a quiet PSU or 120mm case fans? A front-door would be best since my DVD-ROM is as loud as a jet taking off. Thanks a lot, Mitchua |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I know what you mean. I'm trying to escape a 1800+ right now on an Asus
board that runs pretty hot (at least 49Celcius). A friend told me that the P4's run a lot cooler, and hence, don't need the huge noisy heatsinks/fans. Actually, I saw a P4 running with an undervolted stock heatsink/fan quite comfortably. However, checking out temperature readings online, they still seem to run above 40Celcius. That's why I thought for the extra $100 that a P4 would cost me, I might as well buy a nice case and a Zalman 7000CU quiet heatsink or something. Make sense? --Jonathan "Alan W. Blackmon" wrote in message ... Are you wanting to build an AMD or Intel system? I have been building AMD for several years and this last weekend built a P4 system. Wow, the system temps were lower and the noise so much lower. Alan in Boise "Mitchua" wrote in message able.rogers.com... I'm looking for a nice quiet case for a new quiet system I'm building. I've read through silentpcreview.com and all the cases they recommend are expensive ($200+) like the Lian Li PC-6070 or have a loud PSU like the Antec Sonata. Has anyone encoutered a sub-$120 case that has good construction, sound-proofing, and comes with features like a quiet PSU or 120mm case fans? A front-door would be best since my DVD-ROM is as loud as a jet taking off. Thanks a lot, Mitchua |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 00:20:38 GMT, "Mitchua" wrote:
I'm looking for a nice quiet case for a new quiet system I'm building. I've read through silentpcreview.com and all the cases they recommend are expensive ($200+) like the Lian Li PC-6070 or have a loud PSU like the Antec Sonata. Has anyone encoutered a sub-$120 case that has good construction, sound-proofing, and comes with features like a quiet PSU or 120mm case fans? A front-door would be best since my DVD-ROM is as loud as a jet taking off. Thanks a lot, Mitchua Wow that's an awesome site - thanks for just asking the question now I have some reading to do. Are you considering getting a full tower case? My understanding is they are better for cooling. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 02:28:12 GMT, "Mitchua" wrote:
I know what you mean. I'm trying to escape a 1800+ right now on an Asus board that runs pretty hot (at least 49Celcius). A friend told me that the P4's run a lot cooler, and hence, don't need the huge noisy heatsinks/fans. Actually, I saw a P4 running with an undervolted stock heatsink/fan quite comfortably. However, checking out temperature readings online, they still seem to run above 40Celcius. That's why I thought for the extra $100 that a P4 would cost me, I might as well buy a nice case and a Zalman 7000CU quiet heatsink or something. Make sense? A P4 may idle at lower temp but a properly designed system will have enough cooling for the CPU's full-load state. Through careful selection of thermally-controlled fans the P4 system can be quiter at low-load, but if the system is hardly ever running near full-load, the better solution might be a slower CPU (even within same family of CPU) and reducing the CPU core voltage if possible. Manufacturers spec the default cpu voltage to cover a range of speeds and yields to make implentation easier for motherbaord manufacturers, but the particular specimen of CPU dictates the actual voltage needed to retain stability at a given frequency of operation. Given the willness to test the stability and a motherboard with CPU core voltage options (or modding the CPU and/or board to accomplish same end result), heat ouput can be reduced by only using enough voltage to keep the CPU stable, but of course the closer you come to the bare minimum voltage, the more extensive (and lengthly) the stability testing process must be. When considering prices, first budget for a well-designed case and optimal 3rd party fans for that case, or have a willingness to mod a less-optimal case. Then budget for a good aftermarket heatsink (and 3rd party fan if 'sink doesn't come with EXACTLY what you want). These items make the most difference, would allow use of either (P4 or Athlon) without cooling issues, at relatively low-to-quiet noise levels except in the most extreme of conditions. Always provide adequate case & heatsink for the system to be running 24/7 at full load. If they system hardly ever runs at full load then careful selection of thermally-throttled fans (or add-on fan controller) might be worthwhile, and/or reduce CPU speed and core voltage as forementioned. 49C isn't all that hot for a CPU, they are designed to operate fine at this temp given a stable motherboard (power). More significant might be the other components subject to lifespan reduction at higher temps, like hard drives, motherboard power regulation circuits (capacitors). Dave |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Thunder9" wrote in message
... On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 00:20:38 GMT, "Mitchua" wrote: I'm looking for a nice quiet case for a new quiet system I'm building. I've read through silentpcreview.com and all the cases they recommend are expensive ($200+) like the Lian Li PC-6070 or have a loud PSU like the Antec Sonata. Has anyone encoutered a sub-$120 case that has good construction, sound-proofing, and comes with features like a quiet PSU or 120mm case fans? A front-door would be best since my DVD-ROM is as loud as a jet taking off. Thanks a lot, Mitchua Wow that's an awesome site - thanks for just asking the question now I have some reading to do. Are you considering getting a full tower case? My understanding is they are better for cooling. I'm not sure if that's necessarily true. The main thing for cooling is getting a stream of cool air from the bottom-front of the case to the top-back going across the motherboard over the CPU. That's why cases with vents in the side, etc. (like the one I have now) are bull****. All they do is leave more holes for noise to travel out of. I've seen a lot of full towers that would require at least 2 120mm fans to exhaust all the air in them :-) I'm looking for a mid-tower. --Mitchua |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Thermal pad or Thermal paste? | Vin | General | 68 | September 17th 03 05:38 AM |
Cooling Questions | Peter Cavan | General | 35 | September 2nd 03 06:42 AM |
Case Reset Button Woes | rcm | General | 5 | July 25th 03 06:02 PM |
How is this case? --> Fudin ATX-228P 350W Mid Tower ATX Case | phantom | General | 0 | July 13th 03 02:49 AM |
Antec Sonata case front panel firewire port | online | General | 1 | July 11th 03 01:32 AM |