Hey everyone! I'm planning to build a new PC primarily for gaming and productivity, but I have a serious issue with noise. My current setup, which includes an Intel Core i9-10900KF and an Nvidia RTX 3090, gets pretty loud, especially when I'm playing demanding games. I'd really like to avoid that annoyance and play without headphones. I'm considering a new build with a budget of 5-6k €, and while I want the performance to be top-tier, noise reduction is my main priority. I play on a 4K/144Hz/HDR monitor and want to max out game settings. I've already decided on getting an Nvidia 5080 (the 5090 seems too pricey) along with a decent i9 CPU and 32GB of RAM. I'm eyeing the Fractal Design Torrent case for its airflow and reduced noise, but any suggestions are welcome. I also dual boot between Windows for gaming and Linux for productivity, so I need compatible hardware. Any advice on specific components or manufacturers would be much appreciated!
2 Answers
If you're spending around 5-6k €, I'd suggest maxing out on the 5090; it’ll be a long-term investment. For potential silence, check if there are cases with better sound dampening features. The Fractal Torrent is good, but further researching similar options might reveal something even quieter!
You've got a healthy budget to work with! Go for a full set of Noctua fans. They’re renowned for being super silent, and the Fractal Torrent is a solid pick for airflow. Regarding cooling, consider air cooling over AIOs. Thermalright makes good air coolers, but Noctua is the way to go for reliability and quiet operation. As for the CPU, I'd suggest looking at the AMD 9950X3D; it usually performs better in games while still holding its ground in productivity tasks. Just make sure you grab some quality SSDs from Samsung or Western Digital for silent operation, and running dual NVMe drives will match your dual-boot setup nicely!
Thanks for the detailed feedback! I've mostly used Intel CPUs in the past, but I'm open to considering AMD now, especially since I read they work well with Linux too. The compilation speeds matter a lot to me as a developer, so every bit counts! I'll look into your suggestions for fans and CPUs.
I can spend that much, but the performance leap from a 5080 to a 5090 seems minimal based on some online info. I'm thinking it might be smarter to save a few bucks unless there's a huge gain!