Silence and airflow.

[format]

Currently the biggest source of noise is my two ancient HDDs, which will be replaced soon with a single 500GB Samsung spinpoint or WDAAAKS, and probably then supported by elastic (and support on how to do this would be a good help)
My case ( Coolermaster Black Widow) has two 80mm intakes at the front, and 80mm top fan (should this be in or out?), and an 80mm exhaust at the back. I two old and rather noisy akasa fans at the front, a very quiet Sharkoon that doesn't shift much air at the top, and a standard blue led Casecom that is also noisy.
Basically I'm looking for advice on which fans to buy for what bits of my case, the only stipulation is that my rear exhaust has an LED, and that all fans connect via the 3 pin connecter to the mobo so I can controll their speed.

Thanks in advance

[kmac]

Top fan should also be exhaust (i.e out) so that air flow is from front going up and out and back and out.

Look here for fan listings/reviews Recommended Fans | silentpcreview.com and also here Quiet PC UK - Quiet Computer Hardware for a Quiet PC

If you are looking at 80mm fans the main silent ones are Noctua, Nexus and Scythe.
However, if you can get larger fans in you'll move more air for a given level of noise. (i.e. you can have a quieter pc)

Most top end (silent) fans should come with both types of connector so should not be an issue. In any case you can get a converter.

[kmac]

I've also just been advised that you can use a 80mm to 120mm fan adaptor so you can use larger fans. These cost about £3 in the UK but make sure you have enough wdth in you case for a 120mm fan before going down this route.

I wish water cooled systems were cheaper...been waiting for ages for them to come down in price....

[format]

Cheers guys, I'll look into the adapter although I'm not sure I have the room.

[donkiddik]

For supporting your hard drive I would look at these :-

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

don't hear my hard drives at all now I've installed them with these.

[dc72]

I've been looking for something like that. Drive vibration seems to be the major source of noise in my system.

Have to work out if they will work with the mountings in my Coolermaster Elite though.

[kmac]

DC72 check out the attached link also - many have found that suspending the Hd using strong elastic to be quiter than using rubber washers

silentpcreview.com | View topic - HDD Elastic Suspension... Show your pics!