I'm planning a new gaming PC and would like to get an idea of how loud it will be at idle and during gaming before buying the parts. The build includes an NZXT H6 Flow RGB case, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, NZXT Kraken Plus 360mm liquid cooler, MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi 6E motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 memory, an ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT, a WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB NVMe drive, and either a Corsair RM850e or RM850x power supply. Is there a reliable way to estimate the final noise level, and which power supply would be the better choice?
4 Answers
The RM850x is generally the nicer option compared with the RM850e. It typically comes with a better fan, a longer warranty, and a more refined semi-passive cooling mode, depending on the exact generation. The RM850e can still power this system, but if the price difference is small, I’d lean toward the RM850x. Either way, verify the exact model and included graphics-card power connectors before ordering.
The fan curves will probably matter more than the component list. With a 360mm radiator and a 9800X3D, you should have enough cooling capacity to run the case and radiator fans fairly slowly during normal use and gaming. A reasonable starting point would be around 40% fan speed, then ramping to roughly 70% around 80°C and 100% near 85°C. The exact values depend on your temperatures and how much pump or fan noise you find acceptable.
That sounds good. The Kraken model I’m considering is the 360mm version, so I’ll set up curves like that once everything is installed.
FanControl is useful for tuning this after the build is complete. You can adjust case, radiator, and graphics-card fan behavior in real time instead of repeatedly changing settings in the BIOS. Start with quiet curves, monitor CPU and GPU temperatures while gaming, and only increase fan speeds if the temperatures or noise become a problem.
There isn’t really a reliable calculator that can predict the finished system’s noise. Fan curves, room noise, case airflow, cooler settings, and even your own hearing make a big difference. You can look up independent decibel measurements for the graphics card, cooler, and power supply, but those tests are usually done in different conditions, so treat them as rough comparisons rather than an exact total.
Got it, I’ll probably choose the RM850x if the price gap isn’t too large. I mainly wanted to know whether the difference was meaningful.