My company actually pushes referrals and even offers a bonus for a successful hire to whoever recommended them, but the candidate still has to pass a bunch of interview hurdles, so it's rare that it all works out anyway.
I think referrals can work out, if your interview process is grueling to begin with.
SFF builders like me will often put the tower up on the desk with the monitors. I specifically bought parts with noise as a factor.
If this is at all like the 6700XT they made, it's probably fine for noise. That one was on my list of potential buys, having a decently low noise level.