Fractal Design R3 or Coolermaster Silencio 550

mre15 · 26-01-2012, 5:55 PM

I am looking for a good silent case and have shortlisted the above 2.

Whats peoples preference on these or are there others I should consider.

Also wheres the best place to buy from.

Cheers.

paulktreg · 26-01-2012, 11:02 PM

I have the Fractal case and it's certainly quiet but I think that's more down to the relatively low speed Fractal fans I have fitted, six in all. The graphics card fan is probably the loudest thing I hear when its pushed. I went for the Fractal mainly on it's clean looks and build quality but the foam does keep the noise down a little and it keeps things cool.

andymet87 · 27-01-2012, 1:15 PM

Hi, I'm eyeing up the Silverstone TJ08B-E. Have you thought about this case?

it seems to have glowing reviews everywhere! Silverstone TJ08B-E Temjin Black Tower Computer Case - SST-TJ08B-E - Scan.co.uk

**Greg** · 27-01-2012, 1:27 PM

Fractal R3!

It's a super case!

!!!!

etc!!

mre15 · 27-01-2012, 2:25 PM

The silverstone doesnt have any of the sound deading materials fitted.

The 2 I am looking at are supposed to be super quiet, the only difference between them seems to be the price.

Coolermaster is about £20 cheaper delivered.

shadowboxer · 27-01-2012, 2:27 PM

+1 for the fractal it's a very good case for around £70. Having said that it could be better,

Not much room behind the motherboard tray so fitting the back side panel is a little bit of a pain, I'm using a modular psu and it's still a very very tight fit.

Decent build quality but not perfect. My older CM690 Dominator Pure was much more sturdy. In places it feels cheap and "plasticy"

Cable management grommets are of poor quality. They pop out far to easily and are a right pain in the backside to get back in.

No eSATA on on the front panel.

mre15 · 27-01-2012, 2:43 PM

Although the comments and reviews for the fractal seem better, I am still swaying a little towards the coolermaster.
It has a sata dock at the front which is a nice feature and a small but nice point for the misses is the sd card slot on the top.
The only down point in all the reviews is the fans arent as good as the R3 ones. I have some noctuas kicking about though if that becomes an issue.
Thanks for comments though.

andymet87 · 27-01-2012, 5:38 PM

Have you looked at the Lian Li V354 ??

mre15 · 28-01-2012, 7:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymet87

Have you looked at the Lian Li V354 ??

Too expensive and has quite a few niggly problems, back i/o plate not fitting quite a bad one actually.

andymet87 · 28-01-2012, 8:46 AM

...and the Antec P180?

(as I'm sure you can tell I'm deciding what to buy as well!)

mre15 · 28-01-2012, 1:05 PM

Currently using an Antec and not really impressed, the speed controlled fans are noisey at any speed.

I wont to try a different brand for comparison.

RandomLee · 02-02-2012, 11:21 AM

I was torn between the same two cases. Both seem well reviewed for the money so it was quite hard to decide but I went for the R3 in the end. The main reason is the glossy front panel on the 550 would be a total fingerprint magnet. I would have liked a card reader on the R3, more so than the bundled fan controller, but internal bay mount ones are cheap enough so it's no biggie.

**mraerosmith** · 05-02-2012, 3:28 PM

fractal r3 all the way just moved my media centre into 1 , and it makes my corsair 800d seem noisy and massive

doyll · 29-02-2012, 10:06 PM

Fractal R2 here and love it. I'm running 3x 120mm and 3x 140mm (2 of 140mm are on heatsink) and 140mm fan on PSU... Loudest thing in case is Corsair TX650 v2 until I push the CPU to 80% when case / heatsink fans run up to 70% + speed. i7 920 @ 3.5GHz makes lots of heat.

In normal use the fans run at 35-40% (500rpm). 70% is about 900rpm. Max is 1300 rpm.

danele · 25-03-2012, 10:18 PM

Having owned a fractal myself I was massively unimpressed by its noise (maybe I had high hopes!) but my current case which is a silverstone raven rv02 is quieter. Also found everything ran quite a bit hotter inside my fractal.

PlaybookHero · 10-04-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mre15

Although the comments and reviews for the fractal seem better, I am still swaying a little towards the coolermaster.
It has a sata dock at the front which is a nice feature and a small but nice point for the misses is the sd card slot on the top.
The only down point in all the reviews is the fans arent as good as the R3 ones. I have some noctuas kicking about though if that becomes an issue.
Thanks for comments though.

I have the earlier 500 model and it's a gem.

LiverBlow · 27-04-2012, 2:24 PM

Third contender is the Corsair 550D, a quiet case... but not great on cooling...

WildgooseUK · 06-05-2012, 6:07 PM

I for one would give the Fractal R3 the thumbs up

Am looking to buy this to replace my Antec 900 due to having cable management and it's a cracker to look at too.

doyll · 06-05-2012, 7:56 PM

Will be replacing my Noctua nh-u12p with 3 fan Phanteks PH-TC14PE in my R2 later this week. Won't have any room left to wiggle after that.

pilsburypie · 15-05-2012, 11:10 AM

Seems you have to choose between noise and cooling..... what case is the perfect balance? Corsair Obsidian 550?

doyll · 19-05-2012, 11:13 PM

Phanteks installed. Fantastic.. CPU is 9c cooler @ 100%

i7 920 @ 3.55GHz idle 750rpm @ 35-34-38-34 100% Handbrake encode 1300rpm @ 57-57-59-55c ambient 21c
i7 920 @ 3.55GHz idle 1300rpm @ 33-31-36-31c

doyll · 24-05-2012, 1:30 PM

Changed ET6 10% rpm @ 30c & 100% rpm @ 50c.
Temps are now @ 21c ambient
Idle 680rpm @ 37-35-39-34c 30-30-42c
Encoding 1170rpm @ 59-58-60-56c mobo 33-43-44c

In normal use the only sound is PSU fan... and fans @ 1170rpm are not at all loud... even full speed @1300rpm isn't loud.

26-01-2012, 5:55 PM	#1
mre15 Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gloucester Thanks: Gave 0, Got 21 Posts: 476	Fractal Design R3 or Coolermaster Silencio 550 Advertisement Want to Advertise? I am looking for a good silent case and have shortlisted the above 2. Whats peoples preference on these or are there others I should consider. Also wheres the best place to buy from. Cheers.
	Quote

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

26-01-2012, 11:02 PM	#2
paulktreg Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Clitheroe Thanks: Gave 1, Got 93 Posts: 742	I have the Fractal case and it's certainly quiet but I think that's more down to the relatively low speed Fractal fans I have fitted, six in all. The graphics card fan is probably the loudest thing I hear when its pushed. I went for the Fractal mainly on it's clean looks and build quality but the foam does keep the noise down a little and it keeps things cool.
	Quote

27-01-2012, 1:15 PM	#3
andymet87 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Thanks: Gave 13, Got 5 Posts: 178	Hi, I'm eyeing up the Silverstone TJ08B-E. Have you thought about this case? it seems to have glowing reviews everywhere! Silverstone TJ08B-E Temjin Black Tower Computer Case - SST-TJ08B-E - Scan.co.uk
	Quote

27-01-2012, 1:27 PM	#4
Greg Moderator & Reviewer Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Jennifer Lawrenceville, Kristen Bellshire Thanks: Gave 365, Got 2,345 Posts: 13,503	Fractal R3! It's a super case! !!!! etc!!
	Quote

27-01-2012, 2:25 PM	#5
mre15 Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gloucester Thanks: Gave 0, Got 21 Posts: 476	The silverstone doesnt have any of the sound deading materials fitted. The 2 I am looking at are supposed to be super quiet, the only difference between them seems to be the price. Coolermaster is about £20 cheaper delivered.
	Quote

27-01-2012, 2:27 PM	#6
shadowboxer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Staffordshire Thanks: Gave 13, Got 192 Posts: 1,411	+1 for the fractal it's a very good case for around £70. Having said that it could be better, Not much room behind the motherboard tray so fitting the back side panel is a little bit of a pain, I'm using a modular psu and it's still a very very tight fit. Decent build quality but not perfect. My older CM690 Dominator Pure was much more sturdy. In places it feels cheap and "plasticy" Cable management grommets are of poor quality. They pop out far to easily and are a right pain in the backside to get back in. No eSATA on on the front panel.
	Quote

27-01-2012, 2:43 PM	#7
mre15 Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gloucester Thanks: Gave 0, Got 21 Posts: 476	Although the comments and reviews for the fractal seem better, I am still swaying a little towards the coolermaster. It has a sata dock at the front which is a nice feature and a small but nice point for the misses is the sd card slot on the top. The only down point in all the reviews is the fans arent as good as the R3 ones. I have some noctuas kicking about though if that becomes an issue. Thanks for comments though.
	Quote

27-01-2012, 5:38 PM	#8
andymet87 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Thanks: Gave 13, Got 5 Posts: 178	Have you looked at the Lian Li V354 ??
	Quote

28-01-2012, 8:46 AM	#10
andymet87 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Thanks: Gave 13, Got 5 Posts: 178	...and the Antec P180? (as I'm sure you can tell I'm deciding what to buy as well!)
	Quote

28-01-2012, 1:05 PM	#11
mre15 Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gloucester Thanks: Gave 0, Got 21 Posts: 476	Currently using an Antec and not really impressed, the speed controlled fans are noisey at any speed. I wont to try a different brand for comparison.
	Quote

02-02-2012, 11:21 AM	#12
RandomLee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aberdeen Thanks: Gave 899, Got 505 Posts: 5,065	I was torn between the same two cases. Both seem well reviewed for the money so it was quite hard to decide but I went for the R3 in the end. The main reason is the glossy front panel on the 550 would be a total fingerprint magnet. I would have liked a card reader on the R3, more so than the bundled fan controller, but internal bay mount ones are cheap enough so it's no biggie.
	Quote

05-02-2012, 3:28 PM	#13
mraerosmith Moderator Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Burnham On Sea Thanks: Gave 23, Got 191 Posts: 3,181	fractal r3 all the way just moved my media centre into 1 , and it makes my corsair 800d seem noisy and massive
	Quote

29-02-2012, 10:06 PM	#14
doyll Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brixham Thanks: Gave 7, Got 5 Posts: 272	Fractal R2 here and love it. I'm running 3x 120mm and 3x 140mm (2 of 140mm are on heatsink) and 140mm fan on PSU... Loudest thing in case is Corsair TX650 v2 until I push the CPU to 80% when case / heatsink fans run up to 70% + speed. i7 920 @ 3.5GHz makes lots of heat. In normal use the fans run at 35-40% (500rpm). 70% is about 900rpm. Max is 1300 rpm.
	Quote

25-03-2012, 10:18 PM	#15
danele Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: West Yorks Thanks: Gave 15, Got 38 Posts: 493	Having owned a fractal myself I was massively unimpressed by its noise (maybe I had high hopes!) but my current case which is a silverstone raven rv02 is quieter. Also found everything ran quite a bit hotter inside my fractal.
	Quote

27-04-2012, 2:24 PM	#17
LiverBlow Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Thanks: Gave 11, Got 2 Posts: 50	Third contender is the Corsair 550D, a quiet case... but not great on cooling...
	Quote

06-05-2012, 6:07 PM	#18
WildgooseUK Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Robin Hood County Thanks: Gave 153, Got 74 Posts: 1,039	I for one would give the Fractal R3 the thumbs up Am looking to buy this to replace my Antec 900 due to having cable management and it's a cracker to look at too.
	Quote

06-05-2012, 7:56 PM	#19
doyll Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brixham Thanks: Gave 7, Got 5 Posts: 272	Will be replacing my Noctua nh-u12p with 3 fan Phanteks PH-TC14PE in my R2 later this week. Won't have any room left to wiggle after that.
	Quote

15-05-2012, 11:10 AM	#20
pilsburypie Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Thanks: Gave 8, Got 22 Posts: 486	Seems you have to choose between noise and cooling..... what case is the perfect balance? Corsair Obsidian 550?
	Quote

19-05-2012, 11:13 PM	#21
doyll Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brixham Thanks: Gave 7, Got 5 Posts: 272	Phanteks installed. Fantastic.. CPU is 9c cooler @ 100% i7 920 @ 3.55GHz idle 750rpm @ 35-34-38-34 100% Handbrake encode 1300rpm @ 57-57-59-55c ambient 21c i7 920 @ 3.55GHz idle 1300rpm @ 33-31-36-31c
	Quote

24-05-2012, 1:30 PM	#22
doyll Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Brixham Thanks: Gave 7, Got 5 Posts: 272	Changed ET6 10% rpm @ 30c & 100% rpm @ 50c. Temps are now @ 21c ambient Idle 680rpm @ 37-35-39-34c 30-30-42c Encoding 1170rpm @ 59-58-60-56c mobo 33-43-44c In normal use the only sound is PSU fan... and fans @ 1170rpm are not at all loud... even full speed @1300rpm isn't loud.
	Quote

Member Log In

Not a Member Yet?

Fractal Design R3 or Coolermaster Silencio 550