Making my PC quieter

[Englander]

Right, I've ordered the PSU and GPU cooler from Ebuyer (yay!). I'll wai for more feedback on the side panel case fan before getting the Xigmatek from Scan (so I can buy them together and exploit the free shipping).

[lego batman]

Just to rock the boat a bit, my antec 300 has a side panel fan option but it added a lot of noise and didn't do much for cooling. I've now got it running happily as just an open intake (dusty possibly though) and things are cool and quiet without the fan.

[mac124]

Side panel fans are usually set to blow air into the case, iirc the Akasa Zens side panel fan mount is situated over the cpu, or there abouts, so will help keep the cpu cool. If you add a tall tower cooler it might interfere with said side fan though.

[Englander]

Thanks you two for your input. I'm still swaying around about the issue, currently I'm not in favour of the extra fan.

I'm going to play squash in a bit so after lunch, I'll check back here and cast a final decision, before ordering the last bit, or bits, from Scan.

[cigbunt]

just to rock the boat abit... i looking for a best gpu for around 120... (ati 4xxx) whats the best quiet 1 to go for? i dont mind uping the budget if its a really difference to stock models

[Jonnster]

just to rock the boat abit... i looking for a best gpu for around 120... (ati 4xxx) whats the best quiet 1 to go for? i dont mind uping the budget if its a really difference to stock models

If you want quiet and don't want to mess around with putting fanless heatsinks (like the accelero) on yourself, Gigabyte do a fanless 4850 for about £120.

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Pr...ard-DDR3-PCI-E


To the previous question, the quietest PSU on the market is the Nexus Value 430W. It isn't modular though but is around the £50 mark.

[cigbunt]

If you want quiet and don't want to mess around with putting fanless heatsinks (like the accelero) on yourself, Gigabyte do a fanless 4850 for about £120.

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Pr...ard-DDR3-PCI-E

looks good but i cud get a 4870 for that money.. whats the performance difference? i dont mind it having a fan long as it dont sound like a plane taking off

[Jonnster]

looks good but i cud get a 4870 for that money.. whats the performance difference? i dont mind it having a fan long as it dont sound like a plane taking off

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts...d[2397]=on

A fair difference admittedly.

[lego batman]

I've got a powercolor 4870 and I have no problems with the noise - it's pretty quiet although if you fold on it it emits an irritating whine (this is despite the antec 300 not being a particularly quiet case). There are loads of 4870s with different coolers out there so I think review-trawling is called for.

[Englander]

Going to skip out on the fan, I think, and save a few squid. Order from Scan has been placed

Thanks for all the help and advice, guys

[thejimbo]

What about water cooling?

[Englander]

What about water cooling?

Considered it but it's quite expensive, hence I opted for the air route instead.

[JordanWillis]

The HAF is a surprisingly quite case due to the larger fans that spin slower. Also corsair power spullies are pretty quiet. Along with Sharkoon Golfball fans. you can get much quiter. It's what I use, although i have two GTX260 with fans relatively high Rpm's. So mine is only loud due to them

[Englander]

Just thought I'd report back for those who are interested.

Graphics card is silent even when the GPU is folding and the temperatures are a staggering 20*C cooler.

Modular PSU is awesome. Quiet and very convenient for making the case tidy. I've yet to install the Xigmatek but I'm already seeing temperatures a good 3-5 degrees lower just because I don't have 7 million wires blocking every fan.

Very pleased so far