Now time has passed and my needs have changed. The current system has actually still more power than I actually need, so it will be more of a modernisation project, getting a fresher and smaller system, which should ultimately actually be quiet. The current fails at that much due to my own laziness. PCs are no longer really that thrilling to me, so I'm not power hungry like FPS playing teenage boys, looking to have the meanest machine on the block. 
I first considered going with a small cube case, but then I realised it will cause too much headache for setting up a good airflow with as little fans as possible. Also there's quite little space for padding the HDDs etc. Now my current mid sized Yesico OpenAir ATX case is simply dull and ugly. Especially as it's at a very visible place in my living room. So that's why I first and foremost want to go as small as reasonably possible. Although I still don't want to compromise too much with the space I have for a good airflow, I've settled with going a small tower case MATX setup.
My first thought was to go with a cube case and a mobile CPU, but the current Socket M MATX mobos are either without PCI-E or then you just simply can't find ones. I've looked at several notable online retailers, also in Germany, so limited availability seems to be a wider issue. So without a good mobo, the Socket M option is a "no go."
As that option is ruled out, I decided to try cut back on the number of fans and hope to find a good fanless graphics accelerator.
I'm not looking for recommendations for all components, rather I'd like to here comments regarding specific cooling, noise and heat issues.
My assumed setup will be something like:
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
- some good non nVidia based MATX mobo, TBD later
- 2 GB RAM
- average ATI graphics accelerator
- WLAN card (the only re-used component)
- 2 HDDs, TBD later
- DVD-/+RW drive, TBD later
- Antec NSK3480 case
- replacement PSU (Seasonic?)
First of all I realise that the CPU might be too much of a hottie for my system, so I can compromise, if needed, and get something less speedy. CPU speed isn't the essential thing here, as you can see from my initial plan trying going Socket M instead.
I have read SPCR's review of the particular Antec case in question, so I'm aware that the included PSU won't be as silent as it's ought to be in a silenced system.
That's why I'll sell it and replace it with something else. My first option was the Silverstone ST30NF, which would be enough in terms of power output. However it was noted already elsewhere here on SPCR that this particular case will be a bit tricky for it, as the thermal zoning will make it run a bit warmer than in more traditional cases. Thus I assume it's better to rule it out? Especially as I won't be adding any fans to the upper compartment, if I'd go with it.Due to the thermal comparment walling, I won't be able to use a Seasonic or Corsair PSU right out of the box, so I was instead planning to use the top vent as an exhaust instead, by either reversing the fan inside the PSU or by reversing the PSU itself. As you can see from my illustration, that'd mean the PSU fan would be drawing cool air from the back instead, rather than venting the hot air that way. Antec's own PSU is fitted with a fan that draws the hot air out, but I'm not aware of any PSU with that kind of airflow solution, which would be comparable to Seasonic or Corsair in terms of noise. Or is there?
One option could of course be that I swap the fan to something else than Adda, which I might do anyway in both scenarios. Recommendations?Now my main gripe is that how I should solve the cooling of the main compartment. I've come up with two different options, but I'm willing to do it different than that, so other suggestions are welcome. Basically there would be just two fans, one 12 cm Yate-Loon/Nexus (TBD) at the back as an exhaust fan, which would be pretty close to the CPU. If the current CPU of choice isn't too much heat generating, I would be having it passive cooled with whatever CPU cooler is right now the "hot stuff." I'm not really up-to-date with what's now recommended, so feel free to suggest.
I've seen people talking about Ninjas, but I guess it ain't Japanese men with swords? 
The graphics accelerator would be a passive cooled ATI, as I have an ich that currently ATI GPUs produce slightly less heat than nVidia's. Some Radeon HD2600 or HD2400 should be sufficient. The mobo chipset will also be non nVidia for the very same reason. Furthermore I'd like to try something else for a change. Been using nVidia for graphics and mobo for the last 2 PCs.
Scenario A
Scenario B
Those yellow rectangles are supposed to be Nexus look-a-like fans. It's just semantics, so don't mind what brand they look like.
I didn't add one to the back, as the picture already contains one fan there. Also please excuse the fact that the airflow arrows aren't in correct proportion to how the air probably moves. They're just to show what moves air from point A to point B.Now the difference between my two different scenarios would come from where the front intake fan would be located. If it's option A, I assume it would be smaller than 12 cm. In option B it would be at least 12 cm. The illustrations don't include the different components, but basically the two HDDs would be located near the top front area of the lower compartment or alternatively at the bottom of the front are. So the intake fan would dragging in cool air either behind the HDDs or in front of them.
Now my question is, taking into regard how I intend to have the CPU and GPU without any direct active cooling, which scenario is better and are they realistic anyway with my components? If not, would a slower CPU (ie. less heat) solve it?
Well, I can try to shorten it, if it makes people more willing to reply. Help would be much appreciated. 
