Silence this computer...

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Soldato
Joined
5 Jul 2003
Posts
16,206
Location
Atlanta, USA
Hi.
Im looking at ways to make my computer quieter.
From what i can tell, the PSU is making the most noise. Followed by the occasional vibration from the case sides.
Apart from replacing the PSU, what other ways could i make my computer quieter?

Ive put this in 'Case Central', because the HW & its cooling solutions are relativly quiet anyway. So there must be other things im overlooking thats causing the noise, probably case related.

Thanks in advance all.
:)
 
I don't know a lot about silencing unless you're willing to replace a lot of case fans/rubber mounts/stick your hard disks in cases but just make sure you're willing to part with an increasingly large amount of money before you venture in to the whole silence thing. It started with watercooling for me, then the pump annoyed me so I got a resistor for that, then my HDD's started annoying me etc etc etc... It's just one big increasingly annoying money sucker. You'll be more annoyed after you've spent £100 and your PC isn't silent already than if you just don't. If you're sure you wont be, then go for it.

Z.
 
One way to make your system seem quieter is to stay in a server room all day, then when you use your system you think "coo this is quiet!" :)
 
Zefan said:
I don't know a lot about silencing unless you're willing to replace a lot of case fans/rubber mounts/stick your hard disks in cases but just make sure you're willing to part with an increasingly large amount of money before you venture in to the whole silence thing. It started with watercooling for me, then the pump annoyed me so I got a resistor for that, then my HDD's started annoying me etc etc etc... It's just one big increasingly annoying money sucker. You'll be more annoyed after you've spent £100 and your PC isn't silent already than if you just don't. If you're sure you wont be, then go for it.

Z.
Click to expand...

yeah well said, been through that too.

changing the psu would be a start, maybe consider changing the case? I had an akasa eclipse and i got annoyed with the noisy hard drive in it, i bought a antec p180 and with the door closed the hd is inaudible which was cool. You can get silent drives though instead of changing the case.

Is your 3000+ overclocked? My 3200 is on stock voltage with just a evo 33 heatsink on it (no 80mm fan) and the temps stay 30-32 with a 120mm exhaust on the rear of the case.

My pc is quiet in a sonata 2 case because i've only got a few fans in it, psu and 120mm exhaust..i need to sort out my x1800xt though..sounds like a vacuum cleaner when i play anything! >.<
 
squiffy said:
One way to make your system seem quieter is to stay in a server room all day, then when you use your system you think "coo this is quiet!" :)
Click to expand...
Tryed that one. Doesnt make a difference. :p

CPU not OCed.
The HDDs are none replaceable. I bought them a while back as they offer a good medium between noise & performance. & they're pretty quiet anyway.

tbh, im considering a P180 & a new PSU.
The problem is, is what do i do with my Stacker?

Im not looking for complete silence, because that'd cost a fortune, just quiet enough for it to be comparable to my laptop i suppose. Where i can still hear it, but its not enough for the noise to be intrusive to anything im doing.
 
The case will not instantly make a HUGE difference.

You could try using Silenmaxx enclosures, volt modding all fans, or going without.
 
Zefan said:
I don't know a lot about silencing unless you're willing to replace a lot of case fans/rubber mounts/stick your hard disks in cases but just make sure you're willing to part with an increasingly large amount of money before you venture in to the whole silence thing. It started with watercooling for me, then the pump annoyed me so I got a resistor for that, then my HDD's started annoying me etc etc etc... It's just one big increasingly annoying money sucker. You'll be more annoyed after you've spent £100 and your PC isn't silent already than if you just don't. If you're sure you wont be, then go for it.

Z.
Click to expand...


Quoted for truth,

I've replaced,

my PSU
my case fans
my CPU Heatsinks and fans
my GPU HS/F
my HDD

and tbh I'm still miffed by how noisy it is
 
He probably has got zalman gear.

Until you get into hooking up a reserator or a passive heatsink system from them, it is hard to elimate all the noise.

Hard drive enclosures and a passive PC are the best ways to getting silence, but it is pricey and will not cool well as it relies completely on dissipation into the air through heatpipes or water to a passive rad.
 
Ive got the p180, and despite my computer being quite quiet, its not the case causing most of that silence. Its the Slow 120mm fans, the undervolted fan on my Artic64 cpu cooler etc. The sound at the moment is mainly coming from my graphics cards, that are both mounted with VF-900 HSF's. All in all, the computer is not silent but certainly not loud. My server however is very nearly silent(It even passed the mother test today, as she didnt realise that its been switched on all week, and complain at me using all the electricity ;) ) The way I have achived most of this silence is 5volting all the fans, including the PSU fan. If you do consider doing this, I advise you keep a very close eye on all the temperatures for a day or two. Ive also enclosed the harddrive in a modified drive caddy, which itself is suspeded by bungee cord. As already mentioned though, once you silence one component, another that you couldnt hear before becomes the main noise, and it can turn into an endless quest.
 
Sam666 said:
Get Zalman gear, it’s pricey but it does what it says on the tin.
Click to expand...

My CPU coolers are Swiftechs /w PAPST 7v fans
My GPU cooler is Zalman
My PSU is Seasonic
My casefans are a mix of coolermaster and Acousti-Fan dustproofs

(I think it's just sheer numbers that is increasing the noise though)
(I've pretty much maxed out the number of fans that fit in the stacker :p )
 
Wyvern971 said:
My CPU coolers are Swiftechs /w PAPST 7v fans
My GPU cooler is Zalman
My PSU is Seasonic
My casefans are a mix of coolermaster and Acousti-Fan dustproofs

(I think it's just sheer numbers that is increasing the noise though)
(I've pretty much maxed out the number of fans that fit in the stacker :p )
Click to expand...
Or you’re mad :p , my computer is considered nosey but I get use to it if you get use to pure silence then even the little noisy will annoy you. But one thing that does annoy me is little low tone fan vibrating noises that drive’s me into a rage.
 
Im gonna have to go with a new PSU regardless.
Are there ways i can quieten the case in general. Reduce the vibrations?
What about those acoustic packs? Worth a buy? I know they dont do much good for general noise, but what about vibrations?
 
Rubber fan mounts instead of screws, and a rubber mount for the PSU.

Add noise reduction foam to the panels wont do much at all. Increase temperatures maybe, but not much else.
 
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