Best Silent and Quiet PC Cases [2021 Reviewed]

Table of Contents

An Overview of the 3 Best Slient PC Cases

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Hi there! If you don’t feel like reading the entire buying guide, then we’d like you to know that the Phanteks Eclipse P600S (Hybrid Silent and Performance ATX Chassis) is the best silent PC case among this list! If you’re looking for something more budget friendly, then we would recommend getting the Cooler Master Silencio S600 )Sound-Dampened Steel Side Panel) PC Case as it offers the best value for your money without a compromise on quality!

Introduction

A custom-built PC is usually targeted towards those who want the best performance for the price. To achieve this performance, enthusiasts go to all lengths to make sure that they can achieve the highest performance possible. This often includes overclocking the CPU or GPU, which may produce a lot more heat. As a result, higher power fans are used which make a lot more noise than normal.

Even if components aren’t overclocked, modern components have become so powerful that there is still a considerable amount of heat produced. Those who want to work in a silent environment may find all this noise to be really distracting. Since compromising on performance isn’t an option, going for a silent case is a much better alternative. These cases provide the same functionality as normal computers, with the added benefit that they are lined with soundproof materials, cooling, and airflow to ensure that very little noise is produced. Henceforth, these cases are also more expensive, but their functionality more than justifies the slight hike in price.

One additional factor that you should consider is the size of your case. This is something that’s not only exclusive to those getting a silent PC, but to anyone planning on building a custom computer. Your case must be larger than or equal to in size of the motherboard in your system. There is already a predetermined size chart that you must follow. These sizes, in order of smallest to largest, are; mini ATX, micro ATX, standard ATX, or extended ATX.

For obvious reasons a smaller size won’t be compatible, and one that is two sizes larger will just look sort of out of place. To check the size of your motherboard, check the box it came with it or the website you purchased it from. Sizing also helps with other things such as cable management.

There are several other smaller factors that one must consider, that we have included in the review of each case. We made sure to include a wide variety of cases that are not only on par with functionality but also look great, within a wide price range so there is a little bit of something for everyone.

Top Silent and Quiet PC Cases [Reviews]

Phanteks Eclipse P600S (Hybrid Silent and Performance ATX Chassis )

Since silent cases is a bit of a niche product, so you won’t find a lot of popular companies on this list. The first case is the Phanteks Eclipse P600S. Phanteks is a newer computer company when compared to some others, but they still make amazing products. While not being as popular as other manufacturers, their products compete well in the market. Similarly, the Eclipse is an amazing silent case which is often the first choice for those looking for a high-end case.

The obvious highlighting factor of this case is its ability to reduce any noises. This feat is achieved through 4 sound-damping panels on the different parts of the case. The first panel is on the front of this case. It covered the entire front side, but this panel is removable if you ever want to change up the look of this case. Moreover, it can be partially opened which still gives you a bit less soundproofing. The other two panels are on either side of the case. All these panels are almost identical to each other except for the fact that they are of different sizes. There is another version of this case with a tempered glass side panel that allows you to see inside the case, which is a bit more aesthetically pleasing. The obvious disadvantage of this is that you won’t have the same level of soundproofing as without the glass. You can go with the glass panel if you want a better-looking system that is a bit louder. The last panel is on the top and just like the others this is made up of the same material and can be removed.

The “P” in P600s stands for power which implies that the focus of this case is on performance as well as silence. As previously mentioned, a small drawback of silent cases is that they don’t have good airflow when compared to their non-silent counterparts. To achieve this, Phanteks has opted for a semi-modular design. The soundproof panels are magnetic, therefore, they can be removed easily. Below those panels is a high-quality mesh fabric. It ensures that there is sufficient airflow for maximum performance. The front panel can be removed partially which gives you the best of both worlds. Moreover, you can also only remove the front and top panel which will help in the intake and exhaust, and leave the side panels on. This clever design means that the P600s has some of the best airflows we’ve seen on any case once the sound damping panels are removed. There are also 4 included fans, with support of up to 4 more. You can also add custom water cooling for better thermals.

Some other features include a metal design, Black, Gray, and White color variants. You also get a USB-C port and velcro ties for good cable management. This case can support up to an EATX motherboard, its dimensions are 20.1 x 9.45 x 20.5 inches and it weighs a bit more than 26 pounds.

What We Liked
  • 4 sound-damping panels for maximum noise reduction
  • Removable panels for excellent performance
  • Good cable management
  • USB-C port
What We Didn’t Like
  • High price

Fractal Design Define R5 (Silent Fans Included)

Just like Phanteks, Fractal design is also a relatively new company that isn’t as popular as some of the mainstream brands. It’s a Swedish company that specializes in making computer accessories such as PSUs, fans, water cooling, and of course cases. Their Define R series have a lot of cases with soundproof designs. The R5 PC Case specifically is one of their higher-end models that provides some compelling features for the price. It’s still significantly cheaper than the Phanteks but comes under the category of high-end PC cases.

Similar to the Phanteks, this case also supports a semi-modular design. There are 4 main sound-absorbing panels at the front, top, and both sides. They are removable using a latch system. This doesn’t feel as smooth as that on the Phanteks, but having the option to remove it is appreciated. There is no proper partial removing system for the front panel, although if you want, you can keep 2 of the 4 latches on so that it creates sort of a window, but keep in mind that it will have no sound suppression. The top panel is divided into 3 parts so you can remove as many or as little as you want depending on how little sound you want.

The cooling system in this case is pretty good as well. Once all the panels are removed, you get plenty of airflow that’s comparable to the one found on other high-end computers. Behind each panel is a mesh filter for good airflow and dust removal and there is one present at the bottom of the case as well. There is one 120 mm fan provided at the front intake and 1 at the back exhaust. You can add up to 4 more fans and even upgrade the existing ones to 140mm. The fans themselves are also made to produce as little noise as possible. It also supports custom water cooling and the radiator mounting options are absolutely insane. You can mount a maximum of 3 radiators at once on the top, front, and bottom. All of them can be up to 360mm in size, but not at once. So, you can theoretically have a 140mm, 240mm, and 360mm cooling your case all at once. Realistically speaking, not many people will actually need such cooling. But if you have an RTX 3090 or equivalent heat-producing graphic card and want the case entirely sealed to make it really silent, then this setup can make sense.

There are plenty of other features that make this case a good buy such as the customizable HDD tray which can hold up to 8 hard drives at once and the brushed aluminum design. The cable management is good as well since you have dedicated cable routing channels as well as Velcro straps to tie them. It an ATX case, the dimensions of this case are 20.51 x 9.13 x 17.76 inches and it weighs a bit more than 23 pounds.

What We Liked
  • 4 removable sound-absorbing panels
  • Good airflow
  • Multiple radiators mounting options
  • Hard drive cage
  • Excellent cable management
What We Didn’t Like
  • Slightly high price

Cooler Master Silencio S600 (Sound-Dampened Steel Side Panel)

The products that we have mentioned until now are by less mainstream brands which are not as popular. This particular product is by Cooler Master which is a really well-known company for making excellent PC parts like PSU and cases. There Silencio series is dedicated to silent cases and the Cooler Master Silencio S600 is no different. Even amongst their Silencio series, the S600 is one of the better options that’s why we decided to include it. It’s also much cheaper than the other options, while also providing almost the same experience.

This case also has 4 removable sound-damping panels. They are positioned in the same positions as the previous two products, although the one on the top isn’t a full-sized panel. These panels are made from heavy mass-loaded vinyl, which is really good for absorbing loud noises making sure that your setup is as quiet as possible. When you have these panels on, this case has the potential to be as silent as the much more expensive counterparts.

The cooling on this case is pretty good as well. Since the soundproof panels are removable, you can detach them whenever required. Below these panels is a mesh panel, as well as air ducts that ensure good airflow and also that no dust gets inside your case. There are two fans included for good airflow, but they aren’t ordinary fans. These are special Silencio fans which are quieter as they have rubber padding so they don’t need to lower fan speed in order to provide a quieter experience. There is also support for water cooling with a radiator of up to 280mm.

It has some additional features such as 10 storage mounting bays as well as support for an SD card. This case can support up to an ATX motherboard, its size is 8.23 x 18.82 x 18.52 inches and it weighs a bit more than 18 pounds.

What We Liked
  • 4 removable sound-damping panels
  • Amazing airflow
  • 2 Silent fans included
  • Support for custom water cooling
  • Good price
What We Didn’t Like
  • The design is a bit boring

Phanteks Eclipse P400S (Silent Edition)

The first case we reviewed by Phanteks was a high-end case, but it was so good that we decided to include another one of their cases. As evident by the name of the Phanteks Eclipse P400S, it’s from the same series of cases as the former one. However, despite that, it’s a pretty different case, especially since it’s much more affordable. We think that it also deserves to be on our list, but for different reasons.

The sound-absorbing system in this case isn’t as good as the one on the P600s, but that’s to be excepted because it’s a bit more than half the price of the P600s. The real question is whether you’ll get by with this one as well. There are two primary sound-damping panels. One of them is on the front side, and the other is on one of the sides. There is also a secondary panel on the top, but it doesn’t cover the entire top of the case, unlike the ones found in the p600s. The other side of the case has a glass panel which allows you to look at what’s inside the case. These panels are also removable, but they don’t have the option to be opened partially.

For cooling, you get the option to remove the panels for maximum airflow. However, since the glass panel isn’t meant to be removed, the airflow may be a bit restricted when compared to the higher-end models. Below each of the panels is a magnetic mesh panel for dust filtration and to allow for uninterrupted airflow. Along with that, you get 2 120mm fans, one for the intake and one for the exhaust. The speed of these fans can also be controlled if you want a more silent experience. Along with that, you can also add a water-cooling radiator which can be up to 120mm large.

There are a few other features that make this case a much better deal. For starters, it’s the only case on our list to have RGB, which along with the tempered glass side panel, makes this case look really amazing. You also get multiple different color variants included black, white, and grey. Amazing cable management with pre-installed cable ties. This case can support up to an ATX case, its size is 18.50 x 8.30 x 18.30 inches and it weighs a bit more than 15 pounds.

What We Liked
  • Excellent design
  • Great price point
  • 3 removable sound-absorbing panels
  • Mesh for good airflow and dust filtration
What We Didn’t Like
  • Sound damping isn’t the best

Corsair Carbide Series 100R (Silent Edition)

Corsair a really popular company when it comes to PC parts and peripherals like keyboards and mice, PSUs, and cases. It’s a really trustable brand, so we had to make sure to include one of their products. Along with their regular cases, they also make silent cases, the Corsair Carbide 100R being one of them. It’s a much more affordable option when compared to the other models we discussed.

The sound absorption capabilities of this case are really good. There are two panels on the side and one on the top of the case. They absorb sound really well, and it’s actually pretty comparable to the higher end ones. We would’ve also liked to see a panel on the front side as well, but as long as you don’t have the front side near you, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. There is also another version of this case with a side window to let you see inside the case. Although the material used for this isn’t explicitly mentioned, we doubt that it’s good for sound absorption. If you value the soundproofing capabilities over the aesthetics of this case, then we don’t recommend going for the window version.

Sadly, the cooling capabilities of this case aren’t that great. The soundproof panels aren’t meant to be removed which means that there is very little air circulation. The only form of airflow is in the form of some slits on this device, as well as two of the included 120mm fans. If you’re looking for better thermal performance, you can still remove the side panels, even though they aren’t meant to be removed. This is something that can be done with any case to reduce thermal throttling. They have also included the feature to reduce the fan speed for further silence, but we don’t recommend it as the thermal performance will suffer. This case doesn’t officially support any water cooling, although if you’re knowledgeable and crafty enough, you can still get it to work. Despite our harsh criticisms, we would still say that this case has pretty good thermal performance as long as you’re not planning to put in really high-end components inside.

Some other features of this case include a tool-less design and sleek all-metal build. The dimensions of this case are 18.50 x 7.90 x 16.90 inches and it weighs a bit more than 10 pounds.

What We Liked
  • Excellent price
  • Good build quality
  • Decent sound absorption
What We Didn’t Like
  • No front sound damping panel
  • Sub-par thermals

Final words

We reviewed some great silent cases, at different price points. All of them were unique which makes each one of them worth looking into. The exact form factor of a silent case is something that no manufacturer has mastered, therefore there is no set plan for others to follow. As a result, each company throws in their own spin, which can be a hit or miss. We are here to discuss those which were spot on and distinguish them from those which weren’t as good. We will further select two products from our list which we think deserve your hard-earned money.

Our pick for the best silent case definitely has to go to the Phanteks Eclipse P600S. It’s a really well-engineered case that nails the silent aspect perfectly. It has almost no disadvantage and the only thing that’s not good about this case is the high price. However, we think that its justifiable, not only because it’s such a great product, but also because this case will probably be used in a media setup, with high-end components so spending a bit more to ensure that it produces no sound while working, while also having excellent thermal performance, is understandable.

The runner-up, in our opinion, should be the Cooler Master Silencio S600. It is also a really good case that provides amazing features. The affordable price point is the reason why it got this position. It does cut a few corners, but even then, the experience it provides is almost as good as the other more expensive variants.

The Fractal Design Define R5 is, on paper, an excellent case. It provides an excellent experience which a lot of consumers are looking for, but the main problem is its pricing. It’s at such an awkward price point that we would either recommend saving a bit and getting the Phanteks P600s, which provides a much better experience. Or you could spend a bit less and get the Cooler Master which provides an almost identical experience. You can still get this case if there is some feature that you really like and wouldn’t mind paying the premium for it.

The Phanteks Eclipse P400S was another amazing case, and its higher-end version is the choice for our best pick. This one though isn’t as good. It does a lot of things well so it’s a good all-round case, but it still produces a bit too much noise. However, if you’re looking for a good-looking case that also happens to have some soundproofing then this could be a really good pick for you.

The reason why we didn’t pick the Corsair Carbide Series 100R is that it really suffers from having mediocre thermal performance. It would make sense if you were to use it in a budget setup, but even then, you’ll be using components that don’t make a lot of noise so it makes very little sense to use it.