Lian-Li V350 Noise Level

[superkinetic]

Hello everyone,

I just finished building my first SFF PC, and I'm quite pleased with it. I like the Lian-Li V350 case but it was actually a lot of work getting everything in there! Everything is up and running now I just need help because it's quite noisy.

Here are the specs:

Q6600
ASUS P5E-VM
XFX 8800 GT

First of I live in a studio with my girlfriend so I want the computer to be relatively quiet. So I was kind of disappointed with how loud it was. I did a little digging around and I realized that the XFX 8800 GT is making the lion's share of the noise. Even when there is no CPU load it is blazing. So i don't know if it's the specific graphics card or what. But it's way to loud. I can understand when running a 3d app, but at idle it makes no sense...any suggestions?

Also i wanted to do something about the fans. I'm not going to overclock my system because I would rather it be quiet that faster. The case comes with 3 fans. Right now they're all hoked up to the power supply at 12v. So maybe that's overkill for my needs.

I did some research and read about the 7v virtual rail but it seems like it might strain the power supply. The other option is to hook up all 3 fans to the 5V rail. Will that be enough?

Also I know that there is a CHASSIS and PWR fan hookups on the motherboard. Should I even use those or not bother since I have 3 fans anyways ?

So I hope that I'm clear, and I'm excited about my system but also really excited about setting it up in such a way that it's relatively quiet.

I look forward to advice from you guys! (I wonder if i need to buy another quieter graphics card)

Thanks!

[CompuDrew]

I'm not sure if you have room, but I put an AC Accels1 Rev 2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186016&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-VGA+Cooling-_-ARCTIC+COOLING-_-35186016) on my GT and I'm very happy with it. If you use it by itself, it is completely silent, or you can add the Dual Turbo fans (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186021) for better cooling and still keep it very quiet. Of course, you can always add the fan(s) of your choice and still keep it quiet. ;)
I use the turbo fans and I was commenting to my GF how pleased I was with the low noise and she asked me if it was even turned on. That's how much quieter it is!

[Leman]

The cooling kit for the Accelero shouldn't be necesary, with the two 120s in the front.

-You could get a fan controller.
-Switch the Lian Li 120s for some Scythe's if they're bothering you. SFF21D or Es. Or even the F model.
-If the CPU cooler ever gives you problems, you can fit a Scythe Mini-Ninja in there. Might not even need a fan for that.

[superkinetic]

Ok well I figured out a lot by myself also. Thanks for the replies.

For whatever reason the wrong kind of fan is attached to my video card(always on 100 %). XFX is sending me a variable fan to install onto my video card. So that problem should be solved when i get it.

The other thing that i did was ordered 3x Zalman RC56 (7V) Noiseless Resistors so that all three of my case fans will be undervolted to 7V to reduce noise some more.

Right now with my fans at 12v i get CPU and motherboard temps at 33 degrees.

I would appreciate any insight or advice on weather it's a bad idea to run my fans at 7v. Like i said previously i have no intention of overclocking my system. Will i still get enough airflow?

thanks