Quiet Case/PSU Recommendations

[jobby]

Hi, my system currently looks like:
AMD64 2800+ (S754)
MSI K8N Neo (Nforce3 Ultra)
IBM/Hitachi 180GB, Maxtor 160GB and Seagate 160GB (I think).
Leadtek 6800 (Vanilla)
DVD-R/W

Unfortunately, this is all trapped inside an el-cheapo Ebuyer case with tawdry LED fans and a skanky loud PSU that will die soon. Just thinking this bordello of a PC gives me The Rage. So, I'd like to get a nice quiet case and PSU for around eighty quid. The Antec Sonata at Ebuyer looks tasty, or should I pay a bit more and get the Sonata II ? Thanks for your help!

[999tigger]

I have a sonata and its beautifully made plus good value. remember you get a quiet reliable wpoer supply as well as a great case. Get the sonata II though as it has a new upgraded power supply. try quietpc.com for the reviews.

[OmarSantiago]

This Antec case looks pretty good though you don't get a PSU. Silent PCReview do a writeup here and here and for comparison the ever-slow HardwareZone. I'd get this over the Sonata which was a nice case but not much fun to work with inside, plus that piano-black lacquer showed up fingerprints like some piece of kit from CSI.

[999tigger]

I thought the Sonata case was great to work with inside, with the screwless caddy system and all. Maybe its because I had previously had a really naff case.

[Tak]

I'd recommend the Antec 3000B over the Sonata, it has better airflow and gives you the choice of using a quieter PSU (the Sonata PSU is not quiet to my ears, YMMV). The 3000B will set you back about £33, spend the £45 on a PSU like the Nexus NX3500 or even a lovely Seasonic S12-430 for £55.

The Antec P180 is great but it goes way over your budget.

Bear in mind that you'll still have some relatively loud components in there so don't expect a huge noise difference.

I'm not familiar with the Sonata II - might be worth looking into.

[oshta]

We have a sonata, its a very nice case, and i certainly like the HDD bays and 120mm, both of which are an absotute god sent, but it was very under impressed my the PSU, it simply isnt that quiet!!
- I have a Nexus NX3000 in this PC and it knocks the socks of it!


Daniel

[jobby]

The 3000B looks really good, and thanks for the info about the Sonata's PSU. Is the single fan that comes with the 3000B enough to provide adequate cooling or is it worth getting a second one?

[Tak]

It should do the job, I suggest you try it with the stock fan first. If it's too loud or you need more cooling then get another.

[oshta]

The 3000B looks really good, and thanks for the info about the Sonata's PSU. Is the single fan that comes with the 3000B enough to provide adequate cooling or is it worth getting a second one?

I use the stock fan, pluged into the 'fanonly' lead from the psu.
- In this operation, its quiter than the psu, and give good enough airflow to keep case down to a good temp.
- If you hook it up to 12v, it defornatly shifts enought, much more than a 92 at each end of the case would.
- The only thing i have to watch is my HDD temps go up about 10c if i leave the side off for a long time!


Daniel