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So I'm the proud owner of the #1 Tinkering case in existence, the Antec Lanboy Air.
I'm no silent PC fanatic, as evidenced by the case selection, and I'm really more of a tinkerer than an enthusiast. All that said, the case is only above average on cooling performance, and while it's fairly quiet at low fan speeds, I want it more so, with better cooling performance.
Even better, I'm fighting against hardware here, because I run a tinkerer's dream, but most definitely not the ideal setup for fighting noise. Hot, relatively high performance components, in a less than ideal acoustic configuration, on air. I must be crazy.
For those of you unfamiliar with the case, the Lanboy Air sports full mesh construction for the sides, and large numbers of intake fans, with a reverse concept on cooling: Positive pressure. It keeps the dust low, but the undirected airflow makes some unique cooling challenges. You have to have your CPU cooler pulling air from the intake at the back of the case towards the front, where it meets air from the front, and the heat rises out the top, and dust doesn't really get a chance to settle.
Obviously, this isn't peak performance, so your extreme overclockers would hate it. Open mesh isn't super quiet, but the ease of airflow lets you move a lot of air at relatively low fan speeds, keeping noise reasonable if you aren't a regular contributor at SPCR.
Setup:
EVGA X58 FTW3
i7 930 @3.4ghz
CM Hyper 212+
6GB OCZ Reaper
EVGA 460 1GB@763/1526 SLI
Crucial C300 64GB Boot
Spinpoint 7200RPM 500GB Storage
Currently, under low, browsing/watching a stream load, I sit around 45C, and under full P95 load, I hit ~65C, core temps. I never come close to Tcase, so thermal is at least ok right now. My PC is quiet enough that I barely hear it over ambient, until I hit a gaming load or run benchies.
Luckily, the HDD is on the Airmounts, which makes it pretty well silent. The CPU cooler makes some noise at load, as do the 460's, go figure. The fun is trying to get performance, looks, and decent acoustics out of the same PC.
The issue, you ask, is what then? Well, given my utterly incompatible priorities, getting my SLI GPU's to shut up without liquid cooling under load is a neat trick. The method I'm attempting is basically getting my case fans quieter at higher speeds, to push more air into the thin gap between my two fat video cards, letting my primary GPU push it's fan a bit less.
My plan? Today I picked up an Antec LED Tricool, to swap with the generic HSF from the 212+, and some Antec silicone fan mounts. I'm hoping (Haven't checked yet), that I can use some of the silicone fan mounts for the HSF as well, and get a badass look out of the cooler being lit up, shut up the CPU cooler a little, and still get solid cooling performance all at once.
Obviously, the Antec Tricool is only an OK fan for acoustics, but remember, I like the look too, the incompatible goals are half the fun, for tweaking and tinkering.
I'm also going to put the fan mounts into the side and back case fans, to try and shut them up a little so I can push them up to high speed without sounding like a helicopter taking off in a sandstorm, and get that extra air moving toward my CPU cooler and my GPU intake fans (External Exhaust GPU's) so their fans don't have to go crazy.
Anyways, wish me luck, call me crazy, insult my ancestry, and check back later for results!
  
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From what you're describing, I would've gotten the skeleton 
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On June 03 2011 02:49 a176 wrote:From what you're describing, I would've gotten the skeleton
Skeleton is less pet and toddler friendly.
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5930 Posts
Should have just spent the cash on a Silverstone RV02. Nothing beats it in SLI/Crossfire performance, it just so happens that the most effective air coolers are also the quietest.
I've played with an Lanboy Air. Its a really neat idea but how you like the amount of screws haha?
Not sure what's happening at Antec HQ their Computex stuff is pretty bad to be honest. The Antec Solo II doesn't fix the on/reset buttons and the Antec P280 looks bloody terrible going for a more gamer oriented design (and ditching CP-850 support as well?).
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On June 03 2011 02:53 JingleHell wrote:Show nested quote +On June 03 2011 02:49 a176 wrote:From what you're describing, I would've gotten the skeleton Skeleton is less pet and toddler friendly.
Good point :p
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Screw the screws. I hate the screws. They make my soul bleed. And like I said, the case choice was aesthetics, I just verified that noise and performance at least weren't insanely terrible first. Now I'm just planning to try and maximize all three at once, as much for the sake of it as anything else.
Same reason I don't mind having SLI. The end result is only part of it, working toward the end result is fun too.
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Maybe look at the Xigmatec Aegir or the Notcua D14 coolers; both far more expensive than the Hyper 212 you're running now, but shitloads better too.
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I plan to go liquid in a few months, when my wife forgets how much my SSD cost.
Meantime, with the fan on the cooler replaced, slightly quieter, and about 4C cooler idles. Load test when I get home from the doctors in a bit.
As it turns out, all the nonstandard mounting shit in this case makes the silicone grommets nearly impossible to put in.
GPU is also cooler idle, with not too much noticeable difference in noise running one side fan hi, one low.
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Load temps are running cooler, about 1-5C on CPU cores, and much quieter under P95 load. GPU temps also 2-3 lower under Furmark load. Overall system noise idle is slightly higher, load noise is slightly lower, and temps improved. Not bad, I'd say.
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So I finally got around to hooking the new fan up to the motherboard controller, and now it's running about 200 RPM slower under full load, it's quieter, cooler, and prettier, all in one.
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I was going to get that case, but I found it quite ugly, and despite the airflow pattern, it's all mesh with no dust filters, I think im going to go with the antec 1200, or something similar. There was one case i saw that has a built in SSD slot at the top, hot swappable, which is good for my needs.
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On June 06 2011 06:33 TadH wrote:
I was going to get that case, but I found it quite ugly, and despite the airflow pattern, it's all mesh with no dust filters, I think im going to go with the antec 1200, or something similar. There was one case i saw that has a built in SSD slot at the top, hot swappable, which is good for my needs.
Yeah, this case has the single most hit or miss aesthetic of any case out, from what I've seen. There's nobody that feels neutral about the way it looks.
The positive pressure no dust thing actually works fairly well, crazy as that may sound. The cooling performance is only slightly above average, nowhere near on par with other cases in the price point.
You pay for a combination of features, including an aesthetic and a (rather awkwardly implemented) modularity. The screws are annoying as hell, too.
The airflow actually works out fairly well if you think outside the box. You can use the rear intake to push air straight into your CPU cooler, which actually lets you have shorter distance and more direct airflow from an intake to the cooler than standard. The drawback is that you then have hot air aimed at your memory, which could cause issues if you don't use heat spreaders.
The side fans let you dump air straight into your graphics cards, which is handy for keeping air moving into the top card in an SLI configuration.
Antec, of course, at least has fairly quiet fans for stock ones, as long as you don't crank them all to top speed.
The one place I do wish there was a dust filter is under the PSU cage, but hey, there's a nice little gap under there at least, so you have some clearance if you're over carpet.
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On June 06 2011 06:45 JingleHell wrote:Show nested quote +On June 06 2011 06:33 TadH wrote:
I was going to get that case, but I found it quite ugly, and despite the airflow pattern, it's all mesh with no dust filters, I think im going to go with the antec 1200, or something similar. There was one case i saw that has a built in SSD slot at the top, hot swappable, which is good for my needs. Yeah, this case has the single most hit or miss aesthetic of any case out, from what I've seen. There's nobody that feels neutral about the way it looks. The positive pressure no dust thing actually works fairly well, crazy as that may sound. The cooling performance is only slightly above average, nowhere near on par with other cases in the price point. You pay for a combination of features, including an aesthetic and a (rather awkwardly implemented) modularity. The screws are annoying as hell, too. The airflow actually works out fairly well if you think outside the box. You can use the rear intake to push air straight into your CPU cooler, which actually lets you have shorter distance and more direct airflow from an intake to the cooler than standard. The drawback is that you then have hot air aimed at your memory, which could cause issues if you don't use heat spreaders. The side fans let you dump air straight into your graphics cards, which is handy for keeping air moving into the top card in an SLI configuration. Antec, of course, at least has fairly quiet fans for stock ones, as long as you don't crank them all to top speed. The one place I do wish there was a dust filter is under the PSU cage, but hey, there's a nice little gap under there at least, so you have some clearance if you're over carpet.
This is the case with those "air ride" HDD suspension right?
Do you find that at all useful? or more of a gimmick?
I mean if the tower ever falls over, you're safe, but I mean I can't see it being a make or break feature. Thoughts?
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On June 06 2011 09:23 TadH wrote:Show nested quote +On June 06 2011 06:45 JingleHell wrote:On June 06 2011 06:33 TadH wrote:
I was going to get that case, but I found it quite ugly, and despite the airflow pattern, it's all mesh with no dust filters, I think im going to go with the antec 1200, or something similar. There was one case i saw that has a built in SSD slot at the top, hot swappable, which is good for my needs. Yeah, this case has the single most hit or miss aesthetic of any case out, from what I've seen. There's nobody that feels neutral about the way it looks. The positive pressure no dust thing actually works fairly well, crazy as that may sound. The cooling performance is only slightly above average, nowhere near on par with other cases in the price point. You pay for a combination of features, including an aesthetic and a (rather awkwardly implemented) modularity. The screws are annoying as hell, too. The airflow actually works out fairly well if you think outside the box. You can use the rear intake to push air straight into your CPU cooler, which actually lets you have shorter distance and more direct airflow from an intake to the cooler than standard. The drawback is that you then have hot air aimed at your memory, which could cause issues if you don't use heat spreaders. The side fans let you dump air straight into your graphics cards, which is handy for keeping air moving into the top card in an SLI configuration. Antec, of course, at least has fairly quiet fans for stock ones, as long as you don't crank them all to top speed. The one place I do wish there was a dust filter is under the PSU cage, but hey, there's a nice little gap under there at least, so you have some clearance if you're over carpet. This is the case with those "air ride" HDD suspension right? Do you find that at all useful? or more of a gimmick? I mean if the tower ever falls over, you're safe, but I mean I can't see it being a make or break feature. Thoughts?
I see it as a noise reduction feature, since I don't go using my PC to practice shot put, if you know what I mean. After Antec 900 drive bays, and all the metal on metal HDD noise, it's a nice touch.
The case is capable of being extremely quiet, or even silent, someone at SPCR did it. It's just a project to make it silent.
I could see the drive suspension being ok for if it did take a hit, but frankly, the plastic mesh wouldn't survive anything that could damage components, and you'd need a whole new case that just happens to cost more than the HDD you'd lose, and lets face it, most people who are willing to blow $200 on case aesthetics should have a decent backup drive for their data.
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I bought this case recently and started setting it up yesterday. I am having a couple issues- so I'd appreciate the advice.
1) I use a Corsair H70 CPU Cooler- because I knew about the average CPU cooling capabilities of the case. I replaced the default exhaust fan with this system- and I can't seem to get the case to close properly- even when I removed one of the middle fans.
2) All the case fans light up (so they are all receiving power) but they do not spin. I am going to test it manually by sticking my tongue near the light (joking) but I don't know why it isn't spinning.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Also - please no Captain Hindsight moments about getting another case.
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On June 09 2011 03:21 japrofound wrote:
I bought this case recently and started setting it up yesterday. I am having a couple issues- so I'd appreciate the advice.
1) I use a Corsair H70 CPU Cooler- because I knew about the average CPU cooling capabilities of the case. I replaced the default exhaust fan with this system- and I can't seem to get the case to close properly- even when I removed one of the middle fans.
2) All the case fans light up (so they are all receiving power) but they do not spin. I am going to test it manually by sticking my tongue near the light (joking) but I don't know why it isn't spinning.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Also - please no Captain Hindsight moments about getting another case.
Pretty sure they expect you to stick radiators on top, for one. Also, what exhaust fan? All the fans are intakes. I don't know any reason it shouldn't fit there, really, aside from possibly blocking your CPU power cable from the PSU.
As far as getting the case to close, are you sure you aren't putting the side panel on upside down? It actually does matter which way the side is oriented. The more narrow of the three mesh strips goes at the bottom, long thumbscrews on the right hand side.
As for your fans not spinning, I have no idea what could be causing that unless your PSU doesn't put out enough current through the Molex, which seems a bit unlikely, really. All my fans work quite well, just being plugged in. Did you hook them to some extra fan controller or something, and forget to power it maybe?
And for that matter, are you sure they aren't spinning and just aimed in on low speed, like they should be when you unbox it?
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So, in my ongoing effort to get this thing even quieter, since the stupid silicone mounts don't fit the bizarre screw selection used, I'm now planning to use silicone gasket maker from Advanced Auto Parts to attach my fans instead.
If anybody has tried this, or has any better ideas, I'd love to hear about it.
Of course, the lions share of my noise will always come from CPU and GPU under load, but that noise doesn't bother me, since load implies I'm doing something that makes it's own noise, and I'm not going to hear the computer over it.
I suppose it's possible that a very narrow bead of the silicone gasket maker between the case and the video cards might reduce vibration a slight amount when the GPU's spin up.
There's very little left that I can do to make it more quiet at idle, obviously, aside from those possibilities, without custom BIOS on the video cards to undervolt and lower minimum fan speed at idle, which frankly I don't consider worth the risk.
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Just a quick update.
1) I figured out what I was doing wrong with the CPU Cooler. I changed the location of the PSU and then changed the orientation of the Cooler.
2) I think my PSU is pushing the power (Corsair 850 TX, 80plus Silver) but the fans are spinning. I'll let you know what I come up with- if anything. No aftermarket fan controllers are installed.
Thanks for responding.
Edit.
The fans are spinning. My tongue is now kinda bloody (kidding, I stuck something in and we are a go for air intakes.
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On June 09 2011 13:55 japrofound wrote:
Just a quick update.
1) I figured out what I was doing wrong with the CPU Cooler. I changed the location of the PSU and then changed the orientation of the Cooler.
2) I think my PSU is pushing the power (Corsair 850 TX, 80plus Silver) but the fans are spinning. I'll let you know what I come up with- if anything. No aftermarket fan controllers are installed.
Thanks for responding.
Edit.
The fans are spinning. My tongue is now kinda bloody (kidding, I stuck something in and we are a go for air intakes.
Yeah, those Antec fans aren''t Yate loons, but on the low setting they get a pretty solid review from SPCR.
Frankly, unless you're pushing it to the max on temps, it's not even worth turning the fans up to high, you get way more noise than cooling performance.
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Man, you stick some extra fans and a controller in this puppy, it makes a world of difference. Sunbeam Rheobus controller so I can shut it up at idle, but then when I'm abusing it, I can crank the (now 8 total) case fans, and keep it cool even with both GPU's running at 800Mhz core, the CPU at 3.8Ghz, Uncore at 3600Mhz, and RAM at CL7 1600. Granted, it's a bit noisy if I completely crank it, but I don't even have to really.
Amazing case for SLI, since you can ram air straight into the GPU's from the side.
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EPT
