Hey everyone! I'm looking to upgrade my current gaming and music production setup because I'm not happy with the thermals and the noise levels. My performance is pretty lacking temperature-wise, so I'm focusing on functionality over aesthetics for now. A bit about my setup: I have an ASUS ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming motherboard, a Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, 32GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM, an Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360mm cooler, and an RTX 5070Ti GPU. The case is a Phanteks Evolv ATX TG and my PSU is a be quiet! Power Zone 2 1000W. For storage, I have a 2TB Samsung 980 Pro NVMe plus two HDDs (planning to replace them for speed and noise issues).
Here's what I'm looking to improve:
1. Upgrade the case for better thermal management.
2. Get better fans and optimize fan setup for improved airflow.
3. Cable management with sleeved cables for a cleaner look.
4. A bit of lighting for ambiance, nothing too flashy though.
My main questions are:
- Any recommendations for a case that has great airflow and still has a tempered glass side panel that isn't smaller than my current case?
- What's the best fan configuration for the new case?
- Is it worth upgrading my stock fans? If so, which fans should I consider?
Thanks for any help!
2 Answers
Your current setup sounds solid! However, if you're noticing high temps, your case might be the culprit. I would recommend looking at the Fractal Meshify 2 or the Lian Li Lancool 216; both have excellent airflow and a tempered glass panel. For fans, I suggest switching to Noctua or Arctic P14s as they are quiet and good for airflow—aim for a front intake and top/rear exhaust setup. Also, consider replacing your HDDs since they contribute to heat and noise—switching to an NVMe will definitely help!
I was looking into the Fractal Meshify 3 as well. How does that compare? I also like the idea of a clean look with something like the Fractal North XL. For fans, which would be better, 140mm or 120mm Noctuas?
You mentioned you’re getting some high temps, but it would help to know exactly what numbers you’re seeing during use. Even with a great AIO cooler, if your case can't breathe, you might not see much improvement from just a new case alone—it might only drop temps by a couple of degrees. Your fan setup sounds okay with 140mm, but ensuring you have a neutral or positive airflow setup is key. And yes, Noctua fans are great, but don't underestimate the stock fans from Phanteks—they can be decent too!
Sounds like you're on the right path! Lower temps will definitely help with the noise levels. Custom fan curves can be your best friend here!
I've been checking my temps too, and right now my CPU is at 49°C and GPU around 48°C. Do you think I should run a stress test for better insights on load temps? I really want to keep things quieter!
Those HDDs are definitely slowing things down! I feel you on that; going for an SSD will speed things up. Also, the Phanteks T30 fans are great if you're looking for something with a good balance between performance and noise.