Quiet PSU recommendations please

[wedge22]

I recently upgraded to a Fractal R3 case to try and cut down noise but my PC still seems quite loud. I am running a Sapphire 6950, 2x120mm Fractal fans as intakes at the front, 2x Noctua 120mm fans, one as a side intake and one as a top mount exhaust. I also have a Coolit ECO ALC cooler with the supplied fan. I am running a OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W PSU and I think that might be generating most of the noise, or it could be the ECO ALC, I am not too sure. I have 3 HDD's and 1SSD so 700W might be overkill. I would like to keep my costs around $100 if possible.

[ilya]

If you want a passive or semi passive PSU like the Seasonic X series/Corsair AX series, you'll need to stretch your budget a bit. Those should definitely be quiet enough for you.
Some of the new Antec High Current series should fall under your price range, they aren't too loud, but I'm not sure what you would define as noisy. I personally don't find the Fractal fans to be that great in terms of noise.

Make sure the fans on your Coolit Eco aren't ramping up and causing the noise before dumping in a lot of money. It might even be one of your drives, I know those old Maxtors don't have great idle noise and the Black 1TBs have horrible seek noise.

[wedge22]

Thanks for the PSU suggestions.

As far as the noise goes it does not change even when just browsing the web, it seems failry constant. I thought the Fractal fans were supposed to be very quiet, although not as good as Noctuas.

[bojangles]

The Corsair HX series may be something you'll want to look into. They're superbly quiet and very efficient. Seasonic is the same thing.

[wedge22]

I may go out and buy the HX650W today and see how it performs.

[Helix]

My HX850 is dead silent. The case fans make more noise.

[dustin1706]

Zalman 850-HP is dead silent with it's integrated heatpipe. Its generally over $200, but microcenter has it for $99 Micro Center - Zalman ZM850-HP 850W Heatpipe Cooled ATX Modular Power Supply ZM850-HP

Otherwise It's tough to get a good quiet PSU for under $100.

I haven't tried it personally, but the Coolermaster silent pro 600 can be had for $100 NCIX.com - Buy Coolermaster Silent Pro 600W Modular Power Supply SLI ATX12V 24PIN Active PFC 2X8PIN PCI-E 135mm Fan - RS-600-AMBA-D3 In Canada.

Otherwise grab a corsair HX. PSU is not a good place to skimp on a system.

[MpG]

Sounds like you haven't actually isolated the noise yet. Use your finger on the hub, or a plastic zip tie to briefly stop the ECO fan and see if the noise changes. Do likewise with the PSU (note: PLASTIC zip tie). No sense in buying what you don't need, right? Although OCZ's modX series aren't going to win any awards for top-notch component quality, so it's not impossible that the fan might be going.

[Chumpy]

Yeah the only time my PSU was louder than another fan was when it was being pushed WAY too hard and about to die. Any new PSU ive had lately are very quiet.

[Stock]

I think you should try and identify the source of the noise before making a $100 purchase, unless you have money rolling around. Just out of curiosity, how far do you have your R3 from you? Some people keep their desktop's on their desk beside them, some have it under the desk and off to the side, etc.