Will my 10yo case be quieter than what I have planned?

[Ralfi]

Trying to get an idea of how Cases/Fans have evolved, noise-wise, since I put together my original relic of a PC all those years ago.

Old Case & Fans: Coolermaster CM690 II Advanced with; 1 x 140mm front intake (A14025-10CB-3BN-F1) 1 x 120mm front intake (A12025-12CB-3BN-F1) 1 x 120mm bottom intake (A12025-12CB-3BN-F1) 1 x 120mm rear exhaust (A12025-12CB-3BN-F1) 1 x 140mm top-rear exhaust (A14025-10CB-3BN-F1)

I can run the PC at “Quiet” fan profile & it is whispering - hardly noticeable (& CPU/GPU-Junction are happy: 40-45°/42-45° respectively). When playing games it fires up (50°/96°), but I still don’t notice it as the game’s volume drowns it out.

I’ve modified the case in the hope to get the best airflow possible…& I’m pretty happy with it…

https://i.ibb.co/Xsds1Th/5-E26270-C-FE45-4827-8-E03-948127-E03-B8-D.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/3RJ7rPr/4-A51-F4-DE-DD09-4-CE0-B5-DA-68-F99-CE77-F4-A.jpg

What I’m asking here is if I were to modernise the rig by ditching the old Coolermaster fans & slotting my components (list below) into a Corsair 4000D Airflow & using its stock 120mm fans as rear & top-rear exhausts + grabbing 3 x Arctic Bionix P120 as front intakes, would I have a quieter & cooler-temp PC?

Here are the rest of the components.

PCPartPicker Part List: https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/gMtwbh

Thanks.

 

[Chomiq]

Well look at TPU review:

Temps basically match what you're getting right now.

You might throw extra fans into the case but in the end you'll be limited by the performance of cooler on reference 6700 XT. Changing case and adding extra fans won't make a big difference.

Does your 690 Advanced have the side exhaust fan mounts?

This is from another review where they tested with open benchtable:

That's probably not junction temperature but GPU temp, so it still matches TPU results.

 

[Ralfi]

Temps basically match what you're getting right now.

Oh that's good to know. This case has still got it!

Does your 690 Advanced have the side exhaust fan mounts?

It does have the mounts, but due to convenience of not having cables connected to the side cover every time I remove it, i've not mounted fans there.

I've also compared benchmarks with those mounts covered (to maybe improve internal airflow), but there was little to no difference to leaving them uncovered.

 

[Chomiq]

Oh that's good to know. This case has still got it!


It does have the mounts, but due to convenience of not having cables connected to the side cover every time I remove it, i've not mounted fans there.

I've also compared benchmarks with those mounts covered (to maybe improve internal airflow), but there was little to no difference to leaving them uncovered.

Yeah that mounting position is good from airflow point of view but connecting fans to it is PITA. Unless maybe you could try routing a 4-pin extension to the edge of the rear panel so that you would unplug the cable there.

 

[Ralfi]

Yeah that mounting position is good from airflow point of view but connecting fans to it is PITA.

Yeah, but even with nothing there, a lot of the hot air exhausted from the GPU exits the case through those vents, so I think it helps dispel much of the warmth.

With the new case & 3 front fans, there’s probably less need for the GPU heat to escape through the side as there will be more pressure pushing it’s hot air toward the rear exhaust than what I have now…maybe.

edit… Ooh, appreciate your schematics above.

 

[Chomiq]

Yeah, but even with nothing there, a lot of the hot air exhausted from the GPU exits the case through those vents, so I think it helps dispel much of the warmth.

With the new case & 3 front fans, there’s probably less need for the GPU heat to escape through the side as there will be more pressure pushing it’s hot air toward the rear exhaust than what I have now…maybe.

Either way you're limited by reference cooler on the GPU.

 

[Vayra86]

If you want quiet, it requires the right components. No amount of better airflow can create more quiet, you either have a good temp equilibrium or you don't, parts do get hot anyway so air must flow.

Case fans:
- Low-speed optimized case fans (1200 RPM is about as much as you'll want, and that's on full load)
- 140mm over 120mm fans
- Identical fans/motors.

GPU and CPU cooling:
- large heatsinks, open air (gpu) coolers work with the lower RPM range of fans. Blowers (radial fans) will kill your acoustic profile right then and there.
- undervolting can massively impact GPU temps and allow lower RPM

Case:
- heavy cases eliminate resonance from mechanical parts like HDD. Well built lighter cases do it too. HDD cages and proper mounting also help.
- Cases can come with noise insulated panels but often gain you a few degrees celcius on the interior under load, even so, they're still much quieter for all parts inside, regardless of what you put in.
- You want all airflow OUT to be at the back, away from your listening position. Top exhaust will be more noisy unless you need it to keep low fan speeds. More exhaust = less sound dampening from panels

 

[Ralfi]

you either have a good temp equilibrium or you don't

Nice way to put it. I like the balance in the case in its current setup so it’ll be a shame to see it go, but I’m due for an aesthetic upgrade after completing the innards.


Appreciate the info, Vayra.

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

I see lots of people hold on to old Cooler Master cases and recycle them to this day, man cooler master must have made very nice cases back then, cant say the same for some of there new releases.

 

[Ralfi]

man cooler master must have made very nice cases back then,

This particular case was the bees knees back then. It was one of the earlier, if not the first, ’airflow’ type cases (that implemented it well anyway). Very customisable & generous with the possible fan layouts.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Coolermaster CM690 II Advanced

My 2 cents;
Your case is still an excellent case. If you do not need to replace it for some reason, don't.

This particular case was the bees knees back then.

It still is. Well designed and built cases always age well. Keep your case and upgrade the components in it. It'll also be one less expense you need to work into your budget.

 

[Ralfi]

My 2 cents;
Your case is still an excellent case. If you do not need to replace it for some reason, don't.

I feel like it’s due, as mentioned - aesthetically, I’d like to make the PC tower more of a centrepiece in the room as opposed to a plain box.

It still is. Well designed and built case always age well. Keep your case and upgrade the components in it. It'll also be one less expense you need to work into your budget.

The components are done (bar the PSU), & money is no issue at the moment. Feels like the job’s not done yet with all new components inside, but a dated exterior casing.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I feel like it’s due, as mentioned - aesthetically, I’d like to make the PC tower more of a centrepiece in the room as opposed to a plain box.


The components are done (bar the PSU), & money is no issue at the moment. Feels like the job’s not done yet with all new components inside, but a dated exterior casing.

Fair enough. Dated though it may be, it's a very good case. Give it to a good home.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Arctic PWM P120 and 140mm fans might be what you want. They are pretty cheap and really good. PWM means that the fans will keep a low RPM when your system is idle then ramp up when things start heating up.

 

[Keullo-e]

I see lots of people hold on to old Cooler Master cases and recycle them to this day, man cooler master must have made very nice cases back then, cant say the same for some of there new releases.

I hate that I threw my old Cosmos S away few years ago. Would still be fine for watercooling.

 

[Space Lynx]

keep a low RPM when your system is idle then ramp up when things start heating up.

didn't know this forum was rated r

my oh my

 

[Ralfi]

Arctic PWM P120 and 140mm fans might be what you want. They are pretty cheap and really good. PWM means that the fans will keep a low RPM when your system is idle then ramp up when things start heating up.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm looking at Arctic, specifically these. I'm hoping to add some colour that matches that of my desk lighting (not rainbow!)…



So I don't mind spending more on the front-facing fans. These are PWM controlled, but what I want to know is if these are all daisy-chained & running off the one PWM Fan Header, will I still be able to see each fan speed in my motherboard's software & be able to tweak the fan curves as I do now? (I've only connected fans to individual fan headers up to now).

 

[freeagent]

I see lots of people hold on to old Cooler Master cases and recycle them to this day, man cooler master must have made very nice cases back then, cant say the same for some of there new releases.

Yes indeed. I love my old Stacker STC-01. Its solid, has a ton of space, and the best part..? It has castors

I had a 690II as well. It was an ok little case. I had to toss it as my apartment was getting too full of stuff.

It is a bit too slim for my tallest cooler.. the pipes scraped the side panel.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm looking at Arctic, specifically these. I'm hoping to add some colour that matches that of my desk lighting (not rainbow!)…

View attachment 201144

So I don't mind spending more on the front-facing fans. These are PWM controlled, but what I want to know is if these are all daisy-chained & running off the one PWM Fan Header, will I still be able to see each fan speed in my motherboard's software & be able to tweak the fan curves as I do now? (I've only connected fans to individual fan headers up to now).

If you daisy chain them, i dont think all of them can be controlled individually nor will you see all the fans in the bios. The only one you will see is the first fan and the speed of all the fans will match whatever speed the first one is going at.

 

[Ralfi]

If you daisy chain them, i dont think all of them can be controlled individually nor will you see all the fans in the bios. The only one you will see is the first fan and the speed of all the fans will match whatever speed the first one is going at.

Hmm ok. So I may lose individual control over the fronts compared to how I use them now - I have the front/upper governed by the CPU temp & the front/lower governed by the GPU temp.

Maybe it’s not a huge problem to have all three spinning at the same speeds all the time & not worth worrying about?

I just liked setting things up using the Gigabyte fan control software…

 

[Icon Charlie]

My 2 cents;
Your case is still an excellent case. If you do not need to replace it for some reason, don't.

It still is. Well designed and built cases always age well. Keep your case and upgrade the components in it. It'll also be one less expense you need to work into your budget.

I agree with this comment as I just bought a brand new Corasir 400r. The 400r and 500r are cases I swear by in being able to get the heat out of your case without using any water blocks.

One thing I will bring up is the db (for noise) numbers for the parts shown on this posting.

1. They are reference and nothing more. It might be helpful as a starting point but...
2. Just remember... we do not know where the distance, angle or the type of sound meter that were being used when getting these reference numbers. Also when measuring with a sound meter, where you place your rig and type of room makes a difference as well.


I'll use my rig and my room (11 x13sqf) as an example. It's 1 foot away from a wall and because of that and my work station is placed I get a chimney effect where sound rattles around and upwards thereby increasing the decibels.

At 6 inches away from my case at 45 degree angle, the db rating is at 52.
At 2 feet away from my case at 45 degree angle, the db rating drops down to 44 . Where I sit is around this range.
At 6 feet away from my case at 45 degree angle, the db rating drops down to 39.

So if I was in marketing I could say with market speak that my computer set up is 39+db, which is technically correct. Get what I'm saying?

These db numbers are lower than my Alen's Breath Smart (large) air purifier which is at 50db+ from where I am currently sitting. So the noise from my computer is really a non issue in my case.

So you can see that depending on your room, your setup, where the sound meter is taking its measurements ( and really the quality of sound meter as well) can effect your data.

 

[Ralfi]

Just remembered this YouTube video where they compared the temps of the 690 II Advanced to the 4000D & some other modern cases, & it faired well considering its age...

Ahh maybe it deserves to live on for a little longer...

 

[Totally]

Yeah that mounting position is good from airflow point of view but connecting fans to it is PITA. Unless maybe you could try routing a 4-pin extension to the edge of the rear panel so that you would unplug the cable there.
View attachment 201031

Doesn't that board have a couple fan connectors along the bottom edge?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Just remembered this YouTube video where they compared the temps of the 690 II Advanced to the 4000D & some other modern cases, & it faired well considering its age...

Ahh maybe it deserves to live on for a little longer...

A kick-ass case is always a kick-ass case.

 

[The red spirit]

I see lots of people hold on to old Cooler Master cases and recycle them to this day, man cooler master must have made very nice cases back then, cant say the same for some of there new releases.

Cooler Master or not, but there's almost no reason to upgrade a case if your old one is fine. It's just a metal box.