2020 is a great year to be part of the PC master race. You can get well-balanced builds at different price points, based on your budget and needs, and still have excellent performance in AAA games and software. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a content creator in need of a proper editing rig, or a freelancer, you have a lot of options when it comes to your main PC setup.
Building a PC in a silent case is a great idea if you’re bothered by the sound of fans and coils winding, or if you’re planning on using it in a shared space. Given that there is no lack of competition in the PC component market, it’s obvious that plenty of manufacturers have provided us, consumers, with a lot of options for silent PC cases. That being said, let’s take a look at our picks for the three best silent PC cases for gaming and productivity.
Our 3 Best Silent PC Cases – 2021 Picks
Fractal Design is one of the biggest case manufacturers in the PC market. Their Define R5 model is an all-around great, modular case for any build. It’s highly customizable, supports 140 mm fans, has a bottom-mounted power supply, and offers good cable management options to optimize your airflow and case pressure.
If you’re looking for a silent case to build your next system, then look no further. With 140mm fan support both on the front panel and at the top, you can supply your case with optimal airflow, keeping your components nice and cool for both idling and resource-intensive tasks. The top of the case can also house a 420mm radiator, perfect if you’re considering liquid cooling as a solution for your CPU.
The removable drive cage helps improve airflow if you’re planning on mounting additional front-panel fans, and also helps with cable management. The case actually comes with embedded cable management solutions, like velcro straps and grommets to keep your cables tight and snug, well-thought-out cutouts to mask your bigger wires, and an opaque right-side panel to mask it all.
The sound-dampened steel panels help keep your build nice and quiet, and the support for radiators and 140mm fans gives you the option to add more potent cooling. Overall, it’s a good balance of features and soundproofing options.
Both the 100R and Silent Edition seem like pretty solid choices for any build. For a silent system, we’ll be focusing on the later version, since it’s better suited for such use. It does have pros and cons, like every case, so let’s go through these now.
Right off the bat, there’s no top panel support for your radiator. This has been replaced by a soundproofing panel, giving you a good, linear front-back airflow. If you’re not planning on running very power-heavy applications, cooling should be more than adequate.
Both the side panels feature the same treatment, a good soundproofing design for any build. The front panel can accommodate two 120/140mm fans, enough to blow the hot air from your CPU and GPU into the exhaust. The Corsair Carbide 100R Silent Edition already comes with front and exhaust fans, giving you almost optimal airflow straight out of the box.
While cable management options are not great, it’s not a big problem, since this model doesn’t feature a glass panel. The existing options are good enough to provide unrestricted airflow.
At the top of the front panel, the case features two 5.25” bays for optical drives. The case also features 4 x 3.5” slots, which can convert to 2.5” for your SSDs. Overall, it’s a good case for any budget-oriented low and mid-range build, the airflow being sub-optimal for higher-tier components.
The Phanteks Eclipse P400S is a great-looking case with plenty of features for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Coming in three color variants (black, grey, and white), it can fit right in with your existing peripherals, a big plus when compared to the two previous mentions.
This case also supports two 140mm fans on the top panel, which can be masked using magnetic plastic covers if you decide against it. The front panel LEDs are compatible with ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, and GIGABYTE’s RGB Ready drivers provided your motherboard has a compatible connector. The panels are sound-damping, creating an optimal acoustic environment for your build.
The interior is great for any build, very spacious, with a lot of grommets and velcro straps for cable management. The PSU cage doesn’t feature any cutouts, so make sure you route your cables accordingly, especially with such a good-looking case.
The front, top, and side panels are designed with soundproof coating, the steel panels having a glossy finish. If you remove the HDD cage from the front panel, you can mount a 360mm AIO cooler, giving you options for overclocking without having to suffer any extra penalties in the noise department.
Things To Consider
FAQs
Our Verdict
Because of its very sleek aesthetic, modularity, simplicity, and a hefty list of features, we think that the Phanteks Eclipse P400S is the best choice for a silent PC build. Its soundproofed panels are high-quality steel, the case is spacious and easy to work with, and the front LEDs have support for RGB-syncing software, which is always a plus if you want to build an elaborate, visually-impressive setup. You can fit an AIO cooler, and the tempered glass side panel is sure to give you an incentive to put some effort into cable management and get a good, clean, and airflow-optimized build.