How to achieve a super quiet PC?

macfanuk

macfanuk

macfanuk

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I am in the process of planning a new build and I want it to be as quiet as possible. At present I have a Dell Dimension PC and it's near silent and I have a custom build E5200 system that's really loud in comparison.

Can anyone give me advice/pointers on how to make sure my new system is as quiet as possible? Two problems I foresee is my Graphics Card and Power Supply as I will be using these in my new build. The Graphics Card is an XFX 8800GT and the PSU is an OCZ 850W.

If anyone could offer advice, I'd be very grateful.
Thanks
 
twist3d0n3 said:
watercool it?
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I'm trying to avoid that option if possible. I don't really have the knowledge or money to do it and I'm looking for a solution that'll work in 2 possible builds.

If it helps, the processor I'm thinking of using is an i5 750 Quad Core.

Thanks
 
+1 watercool, have just built a custom loop its so silent :D, the only thing that annoys me now is the sound of my DVD-RW spinning up. :mad:
 
water cool it, or swap that 8800GT for a passive 5670 or above

and use a Venomous X passively with a case which has good airflow
 
mmj_uk said:
My best advice would be to not use stock CPU cooler, get a big 3rd party heatsink which supports a 120mm fan (high CFM at low RPM).

As for your graphics card what about something like this:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-007-PL&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=787
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Thanks for the advice. In my current custom build, I have a Big Typhoon but I'm not sure if it's that that's noisy or one of the case fans. As for the graphics card. Is there a cheaper option? (bearing in mind the card's only worth about £50 now). I will go with your suggestion if not and also, how easy would it be to install the 3rd party graphics card cooler?

Thanks again
 
macfanuk said:
As for the graphics card. Is there a cheaper option? (bearing in mind the card's only worth about £50 now). I will go with your suggestion if not and also, how easy would it be to install the 3rd party graphics card cooler?

Thanks again
Click to expand...

I'm not really sure, there may be a cheaper alternative but I'm not really drilled in passive heatsinks for graphics cards and that appears to be the only one OCUK sell for the 8800GT, it shouldn't be too difficult to fit.

One thing I do know about silent computing is that it's not cheap. :(
 
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Get a gelid tranquillo CPU cooler and sharkoon 'golf ball' 120mm fans. As for the case, one that has few holes but has a efficient airflow and a seperate intake hole just for the psu. Then make sure all your cables are out the way so the air has no interuptions, all these little things add up for not to much money. This approach is basicly reducing wasted energy like makng a car airodynamic. (noise=energy)
 
its best if you go and unplug the hdd then boot the computer and open the case up and listen to the noise, then remove the cpu cooler/case fans on each turn off/on so you can see what the biggest culprit of noise is. You might find the PSU fan will be noisy in which case your looking at £30-50 to replace that.. so as mmj_uk said it'll get expensive..
The other option is to use software to reduce your cpu fan speed via speedfan or something similar, the same should be done via nvidia/ati drivers i believe by reducing fan speed of the graphics card, only catch with doing this is that it does cause extra heat.
 
Acoustic sheets do have an effect but it can only absorb a little sound, the holes ie. Fan holes, vent holes etc will still allow noise to pass from the inside of the case to the outside.

Noisy components inside a quiet case will still be noisy.

As suggested above determine the noisiest components in your system and work at either reducing their noise through fan retardation or replacement.

I didn't find my OCZ power supply quiet at all, so I swapped the fan for a Scythe S-Flex 1600, it was much better after that.

Not sure about the noise output of an 8800 but most stock graphics coolers are cheap and noisy and mostly configured for excessive fan speed to provide low temps. Use MSI afterburner or similar to reduce fan speed at the expense of extra heat.

The other option is to change your components to low power parts, underclock, undervolt etc.
 
MY PC is so quiet I only hear the hard drive and the noise from that is minimal. I have a semi fanless power supply, quite case fans and quiet CPU fan.

So if you don't want to water cool then go for a really quiet power supply and make sure all your fans are quiet ones also.
 
yeah i need to think about some quiteing stuff. when i switch my pc on it sounds like its taking of its that loud lol. think its just the psu tho. as im only running a stock one atm. till i get some more money to get a new one
 
my first step would be a quality case. my case the thermaltake element s had a massive effect on the noise of my system, its not a overly quite case but from upgrading from the lowest of budget case it was a vast improvement. mainly the think side panels help keep the noise of my 9600gt single slot down allot.

i would look for one with anti vibration features for the hdd.
try to stop using the dvd as much as possible, i have an external one now.
get a case with a door and fan filters, these help keep noise sealed.
the all in one water kits like corsair h50 (i also have) are very good as it removes the need for 1 more fan as when mounted as an exhaust its one less fan.

and remember you may not need to fork out loads for quiet fans, you can under volt ones you have/get with a case.
 
I have found the Seasonic X-series PSU's to be silent, the Scythe Kama angle the quietest CPU cooler I have used with a fan, the Silverstone NT-E series pasive coolers are quiet too but require good airflow with silent case fans and I think they need fans fitted for CPU's around 95w?
 
Don't just assume it's the PSU, get in there and stop fans until you find the noisiest and tackle it from there. Anything with a small fan is the first target.
 
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