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For my silent-focused, air-cooled music production PC I'm building:
I’m debating between two cases — the Fractal Define 7 and the Define 7 XL — and I keep seeing claims that the XL is quieter. But here’s where I’m confused…
If I’m using 140mm fans (which both cases support), the total number of fans I can install is the same in both. So wouldn’t the smaller Define 7 actually have better airflow (higher air pressure per volume), and therefore potentially run cooler and quieter at the same fan speeds?
Or is there something about the XL's larger internal space — more room for sound to dissipate, lower turbulence, etc. — that actually makes it quieter, even with the same fans?
Curious what others have experienced or measured here. Anyone done noise or thermal comparisons between the two with identical fan setups?
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SPECS / NOTE:
(air-cooled, trying to get it as quiet as possible at idle and light-usage. I don't mind higher noise / temps if I'm gaming or doing higher-intensive tasks... just need it as quiet as possible when recording with microphones and light usage)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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You may want to look into an Antec silent case: https://www.antec.com/product/case/p101-silentI'm going to have built a new music computer and I will be buying this case.
I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor.
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I use Antec cases too. I build my own computers. Yes, I would say a bigger case makes less noise than a smaller one, all other things equal.
Other tips:
Get M2 drives, and not hard drives that make noise.
The graphics card in most people’s computers makes a lot of noise. I buy a CPU with integrated graphics to avoid that. If you are not doing video, digital audio programs don’t need a graphics card.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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I use Antec cases too. I build my own computers. Yes, I would say a bigger case makes less noise than a smaller one, all other things equal.
Other tips:
Get M2 drives, and not hard drives that make noise.
The graphics card in most people’s computers makes a lot of noise. I buy a CPU with integrated graphics to avoid that. If you are not doing video, digital audio programs don’t need a graphics card. FYI- My current music computer was built in 2011 with an Antec case. Even with my Geforce graphics card (for my photography hobby) with its fans and one 4TB HD it is still quiet. In fact with a mic a foot or so from the computer the mic does not pick up and computer sound. YMMV
I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor.
It was the best game of Hungry Hippos I've ever seen!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I have an Antec also, and it has been used for 3 builds so far.
When a system gets old, the hardware gets replaced inside the same case.
I have a rather large case, but it has the mounts for the old larger & newer smaller motherboards and lots of room for drives and airflow.
4 fans, 6 drives and quiet.
/when I replace hardware I replace fans as well
Last edited by rharv; 07/25/25 02:54 PM.
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More volume inside the box allows the heat from the CPU out into that larger space, from where it then gets expelled out of the case. There are two gradients, CPU->Heatsink->Air_Inside and the Air_Inside->Air_Outside. The latter should be quieter if you can move the air more slowly, which should happen if there's more air volume inside the box to absorb the heat. I agree with all I've read from others above. Low noise PSUs, CPU_Coolers and case fans all should help. Where I differ from some is that I try to choose CPUs that are not so power hungry, e.g., the 'T' models and similar. Reduce the power dissipation within the CPU and you don't have to get so much out of the box. I'm also prepared to take a modest performance hit for lower dissipation, where others may not. That may be "just me" 
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
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My oldish Antec case has a thin sheet of sound insulation inside the case walls, vibration mounts for the drives (less important now with solid state) and a very tidy cable management system to keep airflow inside the case unimpeded. In other words, it's designed to be quiet. A smaller case may not have better airflow/cooling characteristics. The Antecs are spacious and run quiet in my experience...
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 37
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OP
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More volume inside the box allows the heat from the CPU out into that larger space, from where it then gets expelled out of the case. There are two gradients, CPU->Heatsink->Air_Inside and the Air_Inside->Air_Outside. The latter should be quieter if you can move the air more slowly, which should happen if there's more air volume inside the box to absorb the heat. I agree with all I've read from others above. Low noise PSUs, CPU_Coolers and case fans all should help. Where I differ from some is that I try to choose CPUs that are not so power hungry, e.g., the 'T' models and similar. Reduce the power dissipation within the CPU and you don't have to get so much out of the box. I'm also prepared to take a modest performance hit for lower dissipation, where others may not. That may be "just me" Thank you Gordon! I always appreciate your thoughtful advice. I think I'll go with the Fractal Define 7 XL then... it's a beast of a case, very big... but sounds like it will be quieter... and can easily be repurposed for another good build in the future (or great to use as a local NAS... can fit 18 HDD's). I've been researching the quietest components (while keeping good performance) I could find (well besides the GPU... but I plan on keeping it "zero rpm" whenever I'm recording... no reason for it to spin up then anyways). The 9950x AMD cpu might not be the best choice... but with a Noctua D15 G2 cooler and extra Noctua fans, at idle / low-load should be perfectly fine I think. Here's my parts list so far: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/FqdYZc
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Thank you everyone for your feedback!
Seems the Antec cases are very popular with musicians / producers.
I was looking at the Antec Flux Pro. I hear great things about that case. However it's more of an "airflow" case, so at low loads will have a bit more noise it seems than a "silent" case like the Define 7 (at low load / recording / everyday use)
I'll look into the Antec Silent cases.
Has anyone tried both an Antec Silent case, and a Fractal Define 7 / 7 XL? Wondering how those two compare.
Last edited by QuestionAsker; 07/25/25 05:48 PM.
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