New PC: Looks great (PICS) but quite loud...how to reduce the noise?

LordSplodge

LordSplodge

LordSplodge

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So I have moved (partially) back to the darkside with this PC: 4790K @ 4.5, 16GB, GTX770. I like the NZXT 440 case, although it does look a little like a fridge. However it is loud. Way too loud.

What would be the best way of reducing the noise? It will never be a silent as the iMac but right now after years of not hearing my computer it annoys me.

Also needs some LEDs in that window...just so it looks like a proper gaming PC. Gotta have LEDs.

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Can you determine what is making the noise? Fans, GPU fan? CPU fan? Hard drives? Try and find out what's going on. My bet is it's the fans, if you have a half-decent motherboard you should be able to control the speeds on the fans (if they are 3-pin or 4-pin fans.)

I recommend using speedfan, good program. I use it, keeps my PC quiet when idle and cranks the speeds up under load

I wrote a small tutorial, perhaps check it out if you want to manually control fans/set a temperature "curve" to make the program automatically change fan speeds

However I think you should try and find the source of the noise first :)

Also, if you fancy modding for the LEDs

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18575513

Danny \/ makes a good point with the NZXT Hue also
 
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To add to what Shivy said, and assuming all these parts are making some noise (try to pinpoint where most of the sound is coming from):

Good Noctua CPU cooler and then tinker with CPU_FAN profile in BIOS to get it to your liking.

Get a program like Afterburner and create a fan profile for your video card too, if it's noisy as well, obviously making sure they ramp up enough when needed. I tend to lower the default RPM slightly when at cool temps (say 0-45C), so it's silent when on idle and browsing etc, and then make them ramp up steeply above that, for gaming etc (so fans are at 95% RPM @ 75C). Tick Apply overclocking settings at system startup, and also Start with Windows and Start Minimized.

7v reducer case-fan adapter cables, or better yet get the Noctua low-noise ones which give you a bit more than 7v.

There's silencing foam too, but I'd only do that after doing all the above, if still needed, as it would probably block air vents.

Check to see if the PSU is noisy as well.

If you don't have an SSD, get one. That will eliminate mechanical drive noise for the most part.

For LEDs, get the NZXT Hue if you want all colour options, plus brightness/effects. The module is meant to sit in a 5.25" bay but the H440 has enough room to hide it inside the case. Or choose one colour (NZXT sleeved LED, Akasa, BitFenix etc) and it will be cheaper.
 
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Shivy011 said:
Can you determine what is making the noise? Fans, GPU fan? CPU fan? Hard drives? Try and find out what's going on. My bet is it's the fans, if you have a half-decent motherboard you should be able to control the speeds on the fans (if they are 3-pin or 4-pin fans.)

I recommend using speedfan, good program. I use it, keeps my PC quiet when idle and cranks the speeds up under load
Click to expand...

I've got SpeedFan, I think I just need to get it setup. I reckon the noise is coming from the case fans (and the GPU when under load)

Danny75 said:
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There's silencing foam too, but I'd only do that after doing all the above, if still needed, as it would probably block air vents.


If you don't have an SSD, get one. That will eliminate mechanical drive noise for the most part.
Click to expand...

Already plenty of silencing foam in the 440 and nothing but SSDs in there. It's fan noise (case or GPU)

Thanks for the LED suggestions too!
 
I open SpeedFan and I don't get the IT chip option...

Go to the advanced panel and change your chip to the IT chip (this is your temperature control chip in your motherboard, not any of your hardware such as your HDD, CPU etc)
Click to expand...
 
Gigabyte Z97X-SLI (eagle eyed people can see the manual in the third pic!)

Oh and it's the case fans that make all the noise... They're plugged into the fan 'controller' on the NZXT 440 case...
 
Ah, you will need to plug them into the motherboard to have control or plug the controller into your CPU fan 4-pin PWM header on the motherboard. Can you take a pic of the "fan controller"? Is it a button on the case deal or is it a fan hub?

You could always get the reducer cables like Danny suggested ^ but if it were me, I like to have control over the fan speeds :) They should keep it quiet though
 
Shivy011 said:
Ah, you will need to plug them into the motherboard to have control or plug the controller into your CPU fan 4-pin PWM header on the motherboard. Can you take a pic of the "fan controller"? Is it a button on the case deal or is it a fan hub?

You could always get the reducer cables like Danny suggested ^ but if it were me, I like to have control over the fan speeds :) They should keep it quiet though
Click to expand...

It's the fan hub on the back of the NZXT 440. I don't think it gives any control although it must be plugged into the motherboard somewhere...

If I can control these without spending any extra cash that would be good. I need to do some investigating.
 
Shivy011 said:
Ah, you will need to plug them into the motherboard to have control or plug the controller into your CPU fan 4-pin PWM header on the motherboard. Can you take a pic of the "fan controller"? Is it a button on the case deal or is it a fan hub?

You could always get the reducer cables like Danny suggested ^ but if it were me, I like to have control over the fan speeds :) They should keep it quiet though
Click to expand...

It's a fan hub on the H440, 3-pin, no PWM control. And it plugs straight into PSU, I believe. Hence the cables option. But I don't own a H440 to know for sure. Just what I've read.
 
Ah I see - thanks for that info danny. Not really a very useful hub then haha, just runs fans at full power

The way I see it, there's two options then

- Use the fan reducer cables that Danny suggested in post #8
- Plug your fans into your motherboard fan headers (Gigabyte website states "3 x system fan headers") and use speedfan

You could get a fan hub from phanteks but obviously that's a cost, why spend when you can do it for free? :p
Entirely up to you
 
Danny75 said:
It's a fan hub on the H440, 3-pin, no PWM control. And it plugs straight into PSU, I believe. Hence the cables option. But I don't own a H440 to know for sure. Just what I've read.
Click to expand...

Yeah, no control and the case fans are where all the noise comes from.

Shivy011 said:
Ah I see - thanks for that info danny. Not really a very useful hub then haha, just runs fans at full power

The way I see it, there's two options then

- Use the fan reducer cables that Danny suggested in post #8
- Plug your fans into your motherboard fan headers (Gigabyte website states "3 x system fan headers") and use speedfan
Click to expand...

Four case fans...three headers. Hmmm. I'll figure this out somehow. Thanks guys.
 
I recommend picking up a fan splitter for like £3 off the website/some place else. I picked 2 up (Akasa one's) for my case, plugged them into the headers and they work great. 2 Fans from one header

I don't see the point of that "hub" much then lol, don't think many people would want to run fans at full speed in a sort of silence-optimised case :confused:
 
Shivy011 said:
I don't see the point of that "hub" much then lol, don't think many people would want to run fans at full speed in a sort of silence-optimised case :confused:
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Yeah it's an odd one, that's for sure. With the four case fans controlled it could be very quiet. Not as quiet as the iMac that sits next to it but enough so my ears can tolerate it.
 
Any way you can put it out the way under your desk?
Having it at ear level with a windowed case doesn't help. :)

Maybe unplug some of the case fans and see if you even need them?

iMac is a like a giant laptop without a battery, the poor PC can't compete with it without going under water or a silent case. :<
 
Sasahara said:
iMac is a like a giant laptop without a battery, the poor PC can't compete with it without going under water or a silent case. :<
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Of course the PC cannot compete, and I'm not expecting it to be silent. However after having that iMac as my main computer for five years I'm kind if used to no noise.

I'd put it on the floor but I like the looks of it. I'll fix the case fans as they're running at full speed.
 
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