I consider mine to be very quiet. Dell is known for being whisper quiet on most of their systems. I don't think you will be disappointed.

thanks for that, my Vostro is not whisper quiet and thats why i ask, when using it at night it gets a bit annoying, the CPU fan is a bit noisy and the PSU fan also.

 

Thanks why im thinking XPS as they have some good deals in the outlet, but will be no good unless they are very very quiet

 

 

Just took delivery of my XPS420 and when I enter the room I have to check its still on! My other PC is so loud I had to close the bedroom door when my better half went to bed as the it was so noisey!

 

Regards, Paul

thanks folks

what's quiet to one is noisy to another so this is a tough question. If you have Best Buy's near you, you can actually see them, but of course they are in a noisy environment...

 

BTW: I agree with paulxps in that my 420 is way quieter than my old system -- a p4 atx. I wouldn't say it's "whisper" quiet however.

yes i know, its difficult to answer, i looked at a pic inside a 420 and couldnt see a processor fan unless its under the big plastic shield in fact i cant see any fans but there must be some in there somewhere

 

http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=200801081330392ap5.jpg

I wonder if it's quieter than my Dimension 8400 (it's forerunner)?  I'm guessing it is, since it's a BTX design, and can't be using more power hungry parts.

 

My 8400 is very reasonable-quieter than the system I built specifically to be quiet.  You can hear it though.   

Everything has fans for the processor, in one way or another.  This is really hard to answer since it's so subjective.  I'm fairly picky, but maybe not as much as you (not saying there's anything wrong with wanting a silent system!).  The X-Box 360 is WAY too loud for me.  It's distracting, and I can't enjoy 360 games as much as I want to because of it (heck, I can't use it as my main system mostly because of the noise!)

 

My Dell's have all been I'd say less than half as loud as the 360, and I suspect some of these newer systems are better yet. 

 yes i understand they wont be totally quiet, but this Vostro ive got isnt very good at all when im sat at my desk and the tv is on quite low i can hear it rumbling away and its sat in a closed cupboard under my desk its even louder when the door is open , my last pc only made a very faint noise

Do the XPS have processor fans ?

Nope no exhaust fan on the 420, the reason for it again is the BTX form factor.

 

With ATX your components are spread out, your processor is at the top, graphics card at the bottom etc. With BTX they have streamlined it all down the middle, this means the processor is at the front just behind the fan, the north bridge and south bridge are just behind that and then the graphics card.

 

With it being 120mm fan its blowing in so much air theirs no need for a rear fan. Personally I think BTX is a brilliant design, sadly industry never thought the same.