Reducing noise levels

eddyc

eddyc

eddyc

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13 Nov 2009
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Hi all,

Just set up my new rig and its REALLY :eek: loud. I think its partly to do with the change from my underpowered laptop to a real computer but is there anything reasonably cheap I can do to lower the noise levels?

I have had a look at all of these silicone pads and rubber screws but I just cant believe they really make all that much difference. Any one got any experience of them?

The noise making components are:

Corsair 400W, 2x 120mm case fans (standard metal screw and no pad attachments), Coolermaster Hyper TX3 (with 1x 92mm fan and rubber pads).

I am guessing one of the problems is that all of the fans are running all the time whether the computer is under stress or not. I have heard of fan controllers that allow you to alter the speed of the fan with a switch but is there anything that will change the fan speed automatically according to temperature (even turn them off like a laptop?).

I have just spent way too much money on this so a cheap solution would be perfect!

Any ideas would be really appreciated :)
 
what are the system specs? your psu could be too loud due to running it close to its rating.

new, decent case fans are a must really
 
the corsair psu's are usually reasonably quiet. but the point above is a good one.
but it's a frame of referance issue - most quiet pc are louder that a laptop at idle.

Full spec's will help - but that TX3 would be my first guess, followed buy standard case fans.

Stop each fan in turn (with a finger on the fan hub) so see which ones are the worse.

Cheap options are 7v mod (or use speedfan/bios) to slow down the fans (free).
bungee the HHD also helps (£2 in elastic)
make your own antivirbration gaskets - mastic sealant (and vasaline / glass if you want a neat 'bead' (£5)

If your case is full of holes this is also bad for noise - a lightweight case is also not ideal - but start with the fans.
 
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twist3d0n3 said:
what are the system specs? your psu could be too loud due to running it close to its rating.

new, decent case fans are a must really
Click to expand...

I am using a phenom x2 550 be with one of the cores unlocked. But no overclocking as yet. Temperatures are around 29 idle and 39 under stress. I am pretty sure just from the sound of it that it is fan noise rather than cpu grinding.

The case fans I have are the one that came with the coolermaster elite 335 case and an Akasa AK-191-SM 120mm.

Is there anything which would adjust the speed automatically according to temperature or do I have to do it manually with something like this?
 
your mobo's bios might have some control of the case fans.
but will adjust the cpu fan depending on load.

take the side off and disconnect the case fans - turning off pc first
Reboot so just the psu and TX3 are running - massively quieter or just a little bit?
 
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shadowscotland said:
your mobo's bios might have some control of the case fans.
but will adjust the cpu fan depending on load.
Click to expand...

My mobo is Asus M4A785TD-V Evo, I think that it has control over the cpu fan but not the other two. Not sure though, will have to check.

shadowscotland said:
take the side off and disconnect the case fans - turning off pc first
Reboot so just the psu and TX3 are running - massively quieter or just a little bit?
Click to expand...

Good idea. I will try that. I will have a look at speedfan as well. Thanks.
 
So playing around with Speedfan has really helped. What a great program! Pretty much all of the noise was coming from my hyper tx3! Not a quiet cooler.

The only thing that would be nice would be able to set it so that the fan comes on at 50% at one temp and then to 100% at the next higher temp. I find that even with the auto adjust setting it basically just flicks between 0 and 90-100% as the temp fluctuates around the desired point. Obviously I could limit it to 60-70% permanently but that makes me feel edgy about leaving it doing encodes etc.

Can anyone recommend a 92mm PWM fan which is quiet even on max speed?

The tx3 claims to be 17dba but this is at minimum speed, believe me max speed is like a jet engine :D (since I leave encodes going over night in the room where I sleep its no good).
 
I think I am going to keep my origional pwm fan but add a really quiet one to the other side so hopfully the pwm wont have to activate so often. Might go for the Coolink-SW1F2 920... Supposed to be really quiet.

Does that sound reasonable...

Thanks for all the help.
 
I am hoping that the quiet one will make only a little difference to the overall noise. It will not be controlled by speed fan it will just run at a given speed all the time.

This should mean that the amount of loading on the cpu required to reach the max temp in speedfan will be higher and therefore the pwm will have to activate less frequently. And when it does activate will have to do so for a shorter period since it will be being helped out.

Hopefully will work.
 
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