Looking for quietness

Jono · 30 Jan 2012 at 12:54

Hello,

I currently have the following, which I'd like to make quieter if possible. How can I do this?
*OVERCLOCKED* Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz @ 4.00GHz Max / Asus P6X58D-E Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard / Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 (1600MHz) Tri-Channel DDR3 Bundle
Corsair HX 620 PSU
Ati 5850 gfx card
It's sat in a (I think) Lian Li PC60 case. with a couple of 80mm exhaust fans
And a titan fenrir cpu cooler.

I want it as near to silent as possible. I'm willing to swap out the gfx card for a silent one, but what about the rest of the system?

Budget (as little as I need to spend)

Confused · 30 Jan 2012 at 13:03

First off, which bits are actually making the most noise?

Can you open the case and pinpoint which fans are making the most noise. Try gently stopping them one at a time with your finger, and seeing which makes the most difference.

Are you requiring the same level of performance, or can you sacrifice performance for noise?

Jono · 30 Jan 2012 at 13:15

Ideally I'd like to keep the ability to have all the performance when needed, but willing to sacrifice a bit of performance, especially graphics when I need quietness.

Confused · 30 Jan 2012 at 16:29

If you want the full performance, then changing to a "silent" graphics card will likely mean less performance!

So - you're looking at either larger heatsinks/fans, or maybe even a watercooling setup?

I put mine under water a couple of years ago, and it was the best thing I've ever done.

I've got an EK CPU waterblock, an EK universal GPU block (and small ram-sinks on the RAM), a 360 radiator and a pump/res. Yes, it cost me a couple of hundred - but I've had it now on two separate setups, a Q6600 and now an i5-2500k, and with 2 graphics cards (8800GT and now HD6850)

Tealc · 30 Jan 2012 at 17:00

What about a nice aftermarket heatsink for your 5850? Will set you back s few notes but will probably be transferable to your next card purchase. I fitted one to my 6950 and it's so very quiet, whereas before the card was like a hoover.

The Fenrir isn't known as the most quiet cooler about but maybe if you reduce the fan speed a bit you could reduce the noise, at the expense of a degree or two.

So as above just make sure you check your rig and determine which are you noisy components and tackle those. The only problem with this is that as you fix one noise another will emerge.

masscrazy · 30 Jan 2012 at 17:10

I would definitely recommend a fan controller.

Get the best fans and then tame them a bit! Even the very best fans like Noctua ones, which are great air pushers but slightly loud, got the best out of it by using it with fan controller.

Works great! And a half decent CPU cooler should help.