# DIY Computer Omnibus Thread. Builds. Upgrades. New Tech. Etc

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-computer-omnibus-thread-builds-upgrades-new-tech-etc/994187>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** computer-hardware\
**Created:** [December 6, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-computer-omnibus-thread-builds-upgrades-new-tech-etc/994187 "2023-12-06T17:31:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 139

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diy-computer-omnibus-thread-builds-upgrades-new-tech-etc/994187/139 "2025-08-19T16:37:23Z")

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> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> I also got a fractal case with noise dampening

What is a “fractal” case? As in it has geometric shapes that help with noise dampening, almost like a soundproofing tile?

> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> bequiet fans

Is there something special about that brand, more than any generic larger fan with quiet bearings?

> [@Whack-a-Mole](#):
>
> tried liquid cooling but I find the pumps to be a weak spot that die around the 3-year mark (give or take) and it is not really quieter.

That’s good to know, thank you, and certainly simplifies the search.

> [@FordPrefect](#):
>
> put your gaming rig near your utility room, and you can max out all your specs and not hear your gaming computer at all.

Do you mean keep the hardware itself in another room, and stream it to your desk? How do you do that… Steam Link or something similar? Wireless HDMI? (Not sure what the latest on all that stuff is nowadays.)

Or if you meant just actually _playing_ in the utility room, heh, no way… I’d die from heat exhaustion within a few minutes, if I didn’t shoot myself from the noise first.

> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> perf mesh panels

Huh, really interesting! Taking that a step further, then, would an altogether caseless setup be even quieter, then? I could just put some screen door meshing around it to help keep out some dust… or maybe dunk the whole thing in a fish tank filled with non-conductive fluid…

* * *

Also wanted to mention this as an adjacent thread: [GeForce Now will soon get RTX 5080s and 2x the games (play AAA PC games on any laptop or phone, no special hardware needed)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geforce-now-will-soon-get-rtx-5080s-and-2x-the-games-play-aaa-pc-games-on-any-laptop-or-phone-no-special-hardware-needed/1022283)

I’m still interested in the hardware (mostly because I want to try some indie dev in Unity & Unreal Engine, which can’t easily be done in GFN), but for general gaming use, GFN has been really amazing. A lot cheaper too, at $20/mo instead of $1-$4k for a gaming PC.

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