What Size Case???

johnwillyums · 10 Oct 2010

Agreed. Good fans are essential. I have 3 200mm and 6 120mm. If you include the GPU fan and the PSU fan thats 11 fans inside the case. These are all in my Cooler Master ATCS 840.
Yet the computer is very quiet in operation. It's audible but not intrusive at all. This is pretty much down to choice of fan. I have used Akasa Apache 120mm in this build.
In my previous pc (now in bedroom doing media centre duty) I had LED fans in a Cooler Master Cosmos S case and it looked like a space ship taking off and sounded like one.
I replaced the LED fans with Sharkoon Silent Eagle fans. They shift more air and are virtually inaudible. The pc now runs considerably cooler.
Sadly, for lovers of flashing lights, I haven't found an effective LED fan that is quiet.
Thing is good, effective, case fans cost around the same money as noisy ineffective ones. I would recommend Sharkoon Silent Eagles, Akasa Apache or those from Noctua.
Hope this helps.
Another thought I have is that you are building a dream pc. Don't scrimp on a crappy TN monitor. Look for IPS or PVA panels. This seems to be very good value- NEC Multisync EA231WM or the Dell 24" IPS screens

Cheers, John

linnemeyerhere · 10 Oct 2010

I've settled on Noctura fans they are really ugly but they are so quiet and can push through fins and drives very well. I've heard great things about Akasa fans and will hopefully check one out in time. Oh and a good fan controller can be a cool addition as well but they are not all created equal. I find in the summer I'm always at max and in the winter I can dial them back, the good news is with the Noctura's there always silent!