I have an aging Windows gaming box that needs an upgrade. With Trump winning the election, I anticipate tariffs on basically all PC parts, so I want to buy now. Here's my challenge:
I love quiet PCs. I have a Fractal Design Define R4, I think, which I bought for its sound insulating ability. I've always gone with air-cooling, and my fan curves are tuned to be quiet. That works great for my 2080 TI.
Now, however, I want to get the 4080 Super and a big beefy AMD processor. Is air cooling still going to cut it? Or am I going ot have to go for all-in-one water cooling loops to keep temperatures under control without having to listen to the turbines spinning up?
I know there are a lot of factors to consider, but basically I think Fractal Design has great products, so I would probably get another case from them and build the machine from the ground up. I just want to find the solution that lets the machine run without making a ton of noise while it sits on the floor next to me.
I'm not going to re-use the Define R4 case. I would probably get something like the Torrent (not the compact). My plan is to build the new box from the ground up and repurpose the current machine into a hand-me-down for the family.