DIYPC Silence BK Window Case Review
A budget mid tower that takes silence seriously, with sound dampening throughout and a built-in fan controller. Good for the price, with a few compromises.
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The short version
The DIYPC Silence is a genuinely quiet, feature-rich case for the price: dense sound dampening on the door and both panels, a built-in fan controller with three fans, rubber dust covers for the top ports, and a built-in SD reader. A handful of compromises hold it back from greatness, including some quality-control barbs, a USB 2.0 card reader, and no reset button. My rating: 4/5.
Verdict: strong value, minor compromisesUpdate: This case is long discontinued. If you want a modern silent case, I have since reviewed and built in the Fractal Design Define 7, which the buy links below point to. I documented that whole build, parts list and all, in my 2021 PC build journey. This DIYPC review stands as my honest experience at the time.
Choosing a budget case
Picking a computer case means wading through an ocean of options, from cheap and cheerful to ultra extreme. For my next build I wanted something that fit a modest budget but still had features to make my life easier. The DIYPC Silence caught my eye on both counts, so I put it up against the cases I knew.
Disclosure: I bought this case myself. This post contains affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links like these and my YouTube channel are what keep the site running.
The case reviewed
DIYPC Silence BK Window
The budget silent mid tower in this review. It is discontinued, so the button points to the modern silent case I recommend, the Fractal Design Define 7.
The front and the finish
From the front I really like the minimalist look, with a solid brushed-aluminum door. The catch with brushed aluminum is that it picks up fingerprints and smudges them when you clean it, though the groove on the side of the door is well placed to help avoid that. The back of the door is lined with the first of the dense sound-absorbing material found throughout the case, cleanly fitted with a quality feel. Behind an easily removable dust filter sit two 120mm white fans, next to the two 3-way speed switches for the built-in fan controller.
Top ports and expansion
Up top is one of the features that sold me: an integrated SD card reader, alongside dual USB 3.0, dual USB 2.0, audio jacks, an activity light, and the power button. It is missing a reset button, and the card reader runs on USB 2.0 rather than 3.0, which is a letdown. I was wary of top-facing ports collecting dust, but DIYPC includes a handful of rubber dust covers for each port, a thoughtful touch for long-term use.
Two removable push-tab top panels, dampened underneath like the door, let you add fans (2x 240mm, 3x 120mm, or a radiator up to 280mm) or stay sealed for maximum silence, which is what I would do.
Interior and cable management
Behind the near-full-length window, the interior keeps the minimalist theme. There is mounting for two 5.25-inch drives, two 2.5-inch SSDs on show, and the two front 120mm fans that come out to fit a 280mm radiator. The tray takes micro-ATX up to extended ATX with pre-installed standoffs. At the bottom, a basement houses the power supply and drives, though you cannot orient the PSU fan into the case, which I would have liked. Behind the tray there is 34mm of cable space, rounded cable holes, and plenty of tie-down loops with included zip ties for a clean build.
Where it cuts corners
A couple of things keep this from being a slam dunk. In the basement, the hard drive cage uses two plastic sleds for 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives, but there are no vibration-dampening grommets, which is a miss given how detail-oriented the rest of the case feels. More concerning, my unit had a few sharp metal barbs left at some screw holes from the drilling process on the motherboard panel. Left alone, those could cut into a cable sleeve over time and short it out, so file them down before you build.
The basement does redeem itself a little with soft pads for the up-to-200mm power supply and a bottom dust filter that slides out on a rack.
Keep in mind
- QC barbs at some screw holes (file them down before building).
- SD card reader is USB 2.0, not 3.0.
- No reset button.
- No HDD vibration dampening; PSU fan cannot face into the case.
What it nailed
- Dense sound dampening on the door and both panels.
- Three included fans with a built-in speed controller.
- Rubber dust covers for the top ports.
- Roomy: E-ATX support and up to 280mm radiators.
- Clean cable management with rounded holes and ties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DIYPC Silence case actually quiet?
It uses dense sound-dampening material on the door and both side panels, so silence is a real design focus. How quiet your build ends up still depends on your components and fan settings.
Does the DIYPC Silence support water cooling?
Yes. The top panels remove to fit multiple fans or a radiator up to 280mm, and the front position supports a 280mm radiator too if you take the front fans out.
What are the downsides of the DIYPC Silence case?
A USB 2.0 rather than 3.0 SD card reader, no reset button, no HDD vibration dampening, and, on my unit, sharp metal barbs at some screw holes that you should file down so they cannot cut a cable.
What motherboards fit the DIYPC Silence?
Micro-ATX, ATX, and extended ATX boards, with standoffs pre-installed on the tray.
Should you buy the DIYPC Silence?
For the price, this was a lot of case: real sound dampening, a fan controller, thoughtful dust covers, and room to grow, with compromises you can mostly work around. I was genuinely excited to build in it, especially to hear how the silence design performs.
It is discontinued now, so if you are after a modern silent case, the Fractal Design Define 7 is the one I would point you to today, and it is where the buy links go.