FT02 or Lian Li PC-7FNW (How quiet is the reference 7970?)

[xand]

I have a 2600K, some tower cooler, 7970m, M12II-620.

Currently it's sitting in a PC-7FNW.

I've decided it's toooo noisy and that something has to change. I think the primary problem is the 7970 under load.

OPTION 1:
FT02 time! I was very tempted to get the FT02 with the 2600K (bought at launch), but hey - it's not too late. Nothing else is 90 degrees except the TJ11 or RV02 and 90 degrees seems to be the best for 7970-reference-style coolers, TJ11 is far too pricey, if i can't get the FT02 windowless I might just get an RV02.

OPTION 2:
Compressed air +
1. Add a lian li EX-36B1(this puts a fan intake in the front of the case)
2. Replace the fan in that with a Silverstone apa 122/apa123?
3. Replace the case input fan with a Silverstone apa 141
4. Replace the cpu cooler fan with a scythe
5. Replace the reference 7970 cooler with a Arctic extreme 7970.

Option 2 should be cheaper even if for Option 1 I only get a RV02, but I'm not sure I really want to do 5. What do you think? Is the FT02 or RV02 still going to be quieter?

[Firestarter]

I got the Arctic Extreme cooler to replace my loud stock HD7950 cooler, you can basically make it silent if you don't overclock, or overclock to ridiculous speeds at low noise.

Anyway, why don't you reduce your CPU cooler speed and fire up something like MSI Kombustor? You'll find out soon enough if the 7970 cooler is the noisy one in your system.

edit: Also, if your 7970 is even half as loud as my 7950 was, a different case won't make much of a difference. You'd be better off getting a better cooler.

[xand]

Oh the 7970 is horrendously noisy under load, it really is mostly a question of impression.

If for example we have people saying that the7970 is still really terrible in the FT02/RV02, maybe I just won't get that either...