Hey everyone, I'm trying to reduce the fan noise on my new mid‑tower case without sacrificing cooling performance. I've tried lowering PWM curves, but temperatures spike. Any suggestions on fan selection, curve tuning, or case modifications?
Use fans with a higher static pressure rating and a lower RPM rating. Noctua NF‑S12A runs at 1200 RPM and is very quiet. Pair them with a fan curve that keeps speeds under 1300 RPM most of the time.
Consider adding rubber fan mounts to dampen vibrations. Also, try “negative pressure” setup: more intake than exhaust, which reduces the need for high fan speeds on the exhaust.
Don't forget about the CPU cooler. If you have a high‑RPM AIO, swap the radiator fans for low‑noise models and increase the fan curve gradually while monitoring temps.
Thanks for the tips! I installed Noctua fans and rubber mounts. Temperatures are now 2‑3 °C higher but noise dropped from 38 dBA to 30 dBA. Should I be concerned about the temperature increase?
A 2‑3 °C rise is acceptable if you're still below the CPU's safe limit. You can also adjust the curve to let fans spin up a bit more under load while staying quiet at idle.
If you're using a mesh front panel, consider adding a dust filter with low resistance. This helps maintain airflow without needing higher fan speeds.
Implemented a dust filter. Now the system runs stable. Final question: should I keep the case’s side panel open for extra cooling or stay closed for acoustics?
Keep it closed. Opening the panel disrupts the designed airflow path and can increase turbulence, making fans work harder and louder.
Got it. Thanks everyone for the help! 🎉