SPCR

This is my first post here, and I'm very glad to see a site dedicated to silencing PC's!

I've had MANY cases in the past, and am a big Lian Li fan. My Lian Li cases have all Papst 80mm fans (even the power supplies). But six 80mm fans can add up in noise level. I've learned that bigger fans are quieter. Unfortunately, Lian Li does not have any cases with 120mm fans, so I'm in the market once again.

Here are the mid tower cases I've found with room for 120mm fans in front AND back. A few cases may need larger holes cut, but that's ok. I think we would all be happy if there is room for the 120mm's. Please help me by adding to this list if I am missing some:

Aluminum:
Global WIN YCC-61F1
AMS gTower (front modification needed)
Antec P160
Antec Super LANBOY
Lian Li PC-V1000
Lian Li PC-V1200
Thermaltake Tsunami

Steel:
Chenbro PC610
Chenbro PC611 (front and back modification needed)
Chenbro SR205/SR207 (Junior)
Liteon FS020 (front modification needed)
CompuCase LX-6A19
CompuCase LX-6A21
CompuCase CI-6920/6926
D8000 (based on LX-6A19)
Antec SLK3700 (based on LX-6A19) and SLK3700BQE
Antec Sonata (front 120mm is behind hard drives)
Macase GALAXY II (based on LX-6A19)
Acousticase C6607 (based on LX-6A19)
Chenbro Genie SR104
Ahanix Landrover (front modification needed)
Yeong Yang w101, 5401, 5402, 5405, 5408, 5412, 5601, 5603
Ahanix Black Knight
SilverStone TJ04, TJ06
Evercase 4252/4292(front modification required.)
GMC H-60
Raidmax Virgo 811

The ckw101 is the yeong yang server w101. I think it would look real nice if it was painted ect. Also the ahanix landrover has a 120mm exhaust.

Thanks GamingGod, I've updated the list.

Hm.. I am thinking about getting this case from CoolCases... it has a different front bezel, but I think its otherwise the same.

I'm concerned about the bezel over the front fan.. the review of the Macase Galaxy II says it seems restrictive. Although I do like the filter. I dont see how I can mod the bezel without making the case ugly...

The bezel piece in front of the filter is hinged and is easy to remove, some case mod stores sell sheets of aluminum mesh grillwork which would be easy to bend/match the door opening. I'm thinking about picking up a sheet to experiment with, if I can only remember where I saw the stuff.

pcweltz wrote:The bezel piece in front of the filter is hinged and is easy to remove, some case mod stores sell sheets of aluminum mesh grillwork which would be easy to bend/match the door opening. I'm thinking about picking up a sheet to experiment with, if I can only remember where I saw the stuff.

I believe you're looking for modder's mesh. You can get it here: http://www.mnpctech.com/moddersmesh.html

Happy modding!

Very nice post!

This thread should be a sticky. Lots of people ask about cases with 120mm fans.

Wow, 133 views already. Nobody knows of any other cases? Did I get them all?

I am really looking forward to getting some new cases with 120mm fans. I know first hand how quiet 120mm fans can be. Especially when you run a pair of them in series which drops the voltage to 6volts each.

I'm going to make a rig with all 120mm fans. I've already got my Sparkle PSU with 120mm fan in it. Now I just need to pick the case.

There's the Lite-on case that was talked about for a while: http://www.coolcases.com/catalog/p12.html. Is this different than the models that were mentioned?

Addtronics also has some cases with 120mm fan mounts: http://www.coolcases.com/catalog/p9.html

The Lite on case you mentioned is the same FS020. The Addtronics 6896 only has a 90mm fan in back, so I didn't list that one.

Sonata (although should note that the front 120 is behind the HD's)

AntecRep

All of my new cases (I build many per month) will be 120mm cases from now on. I decided to start with a D8000. I'll give a review and pictures when I'm done. I also bought the AcoustiPack Deluxe for it.

Katana Man wrote:All of my new cases (I build many per month) will be 120mm cases from now on. I decided to start with a D8000. I'll give a review and pictures when I'm done. I also bought the AcoustiPack Deluxe for it.

I'm doing the same thing! (D8000 w/grills cut out + AcoustiPack Deluxe). I'm new to the QuietPC thing (or any kind of modding actually), so I'd be very interested in pictures, comments, and advice from your experience with this. Will you be done fairly soon? I expect to have the case & AcoustiPack by late next week and would be interested on whether you ran into any problems, and what you thought of the results.

Well, I've ordered everything except the 120mm fans. And I think I'm just going to kick back and take my time with this case. I'm going to see how well I can keep the cables organized, install the AcoustiPack as best as I can, I also bought the new zalman fan controller. (That'll be a challenge to keep the cables under control) This case project will be more of a reward to myself for completing another large project. I'll take pics along the way.

I really enjoy building quality cases. Although the D8000 quality will certainly be a step down from what I'm used to (Lian Li). But by the time I add all of the quieting features, this is going to be more expensive than a Lian Li case.

I "almost" bought the Global WIN YCC-61F1 at computernerd.com. On sale for only $145 right now! What a georgeous price for that aluminum case.

Yeong Yang does have many mini-tower cases with 120mm fans. The new YY-5412 looks nice with the front door and simple desing. The cases with 120mm fans can be found under the "Performance Chassis" category.
http://www.yeongyang.com/

Thanks Landroval, I've updated the list.
Francis, which 120mm fans are you going with?

Other cases which have 120mm fans both front and back are Compucase CI-6919 and LX-6A21.

Thanks, I've updated the list, although I did not add the Compucase CI-6919 since it's a full tower.

Hello:

The Compucase LX-6A19 is the same thing as the "D8000" that CoolCases sells, and the other interesting thing is Compucases PS's are made by Heroichi. Some of these at least are supposed to be quiet, and it is an old brand with a decent/good reputation.

Addtronics 6896A: In my experiance with this case it is not a good case for a quiet PC. Keep away.

Yes, it does have some nice features 120mm front intake fan (which I am not using), easily accessed with hinged doors, good looks if you are into the "computer" style.

Downside;
It very easily starts vibrating, before dampening the case it sounded like a jet engine under the desk, this with a low speed papst fan in the back. It however still resonates quite a bit when the drives are running.

Only two harddrives bays unless you want to use the 5.25 inch bays. If you do stick two drives in there they will be sandwiched together resulting in very high tempatures. I modded it to accept five drives. Did not make it any quieter...

Only three 5.25 inch bays (visible). This in a very large case...

A plate bellow the PSU to stop the airflow.

It has however given me a new hobby trying to silence my computer... Anyway I have given up on this case and resently ordered a new one; an Antec 3700, a True Power PSU and a new 120mm Papst fan (will be running of the fan only line from the PSU).

After dicsovering this site and the forum (seems that I did not go all wrong in selection of case after reading the post here), a couple of mods will be done as well; punching out the grills and removing the fan holders... And if necassary dampening it...

An important thing to note:

Some cases that say they take 120mm front mounted fan will only take one that is 25mm thick. I found that out first hand with an AMS gTower.

Panaflo only makes 120's in 38mm thickness, and the quiet pabst 120mm is also 38, so neither of the 2 most popular quiet fans will fit in the mount.

Might be a good idea to specifically ask what thickness's of fans will fit up front before you buy.

The Papst 4412FGL is 120*25mm @ 55CFM and 26dB

Hey Katana Man!

I should recieve my two D800's this week and will be chompin' at the bit to get started rebuilding two P4PE systems currently in ANtec SX1030's. I've been reading everything I can here bout "state of the art" power supplies, and like you, was intrigued by the sparkle/fortron with the 120mm fan. While I like the idea of the larger fan at lower RPM, there is some concern in my mind that incorporating this model in such close proximity to the rear 120mm fan of the D8000 would have the two working att odds with each other.

What do you think, as you actually have both at hand. Do you have a solution in mind, or are you just going to give it a try. I had thought that a 45 degree single plane baffle might force airflow from different regions but I'm not sure if this would be the wisest approach.

Hey nocturnal!

I'm almost done with my D8000 project. Loaded with silencing goodies. I've been taking pictures, and will have a full report on the case (possibly a secondary report to Mike's upcoming report).

I can tell you that you need not worry about the exaust 120 and the PSU 120 conflicting. They work just fine together. The airflow is excellent, and the Fortron/Sparkle still has not had to step up it's fan speed (although I haven't tested with a full load yet).

Well I'll certainly look forward to hearing of your experiences then!
The slow spinning "BIG" fans don't pester me as much even if I can hear them doing their job.
Exposure to loud music has left me with whine induced tinnitis, giving me plenty enough reason to seek out silence or at least approach it.

(resubmitting this post, lost during the server move)

My D8000 quiet case project is now posted on this site. Thanks Mike.

nocturnal, I notice that you're in BC too. Where did you order your D8000 from? I'm looking to get the D8000, but the only place I've found is coolcases.com. But with exchange, shipping, and taxes, it would be cheaper to pick up a SLK3700 locally (w/PSU) for $120CDN+tax.

The more I read, the more I keep thinking I will avoid the Sonata....

Is the Sonata really that well designed for silencing?

Would I be better off with an SLK3700 and a Zalman ZM400A-APF than the Sonata ?

EDIT: note I have found a supplier that stocks the SLK3700 without PSU

where? You found the 3700 without a power supply?

http://www.scorptec.com.au/index.php?prdid=00005563

AU $110= US$70