Ultra-Quiet PC

[Floydian]

Hey Everyone

I've been doing quite a bit of recording on my computer at home and would like to make it quiet... (by quiet, i mean, you can't hear it).

So far, i've mounted psu fan and chassis fan on grommets (also running chassis fan a 7 volts), mounted hdd's on grommets (cannot hear them anymore), so it's going pretty well, but now i've realised that the noisiest part of my computer is actually the cpu fan and heatsink.

It's a PIII 1000 on the Asus CUSL2-C and currently has the heatsink with clip on fan that came with the cpu. I was thinking of introducing an air gap (check out www.overclockers.com/tips457 ) between the fan and heatsink. This can't be done (easily anyway) on mine at the moment so i'm looking for a replacement. I'm not doing any overclocking and i want the quietest one around.

Money is not an issue

ps: i live in Melbourne so any locations could help

Also, http://www.dansdata.com/coolercomp.htm can help you decide

[Simo]

For those not in the know Im pretty sure he means melbourne Australia.

[Omega]

I really don't know that much about making suff quiet (my computer is a beast...2 120mm fans, 1 80mm fan, 1 delta 38mm fan (HSF), and PSU fan) but would water cooling be more quiet than what you have now? SPAMJust a thought.

[knight1976]

Get the Alpha PAL8045 its got a rheostat and thats about as good as it gets!! I wish i had bought the Swifty with the rheostat! But noooooooo i was too cheap to shell out the $10. (I should have) So speaking from experience buy the one with the rheostat/potentiometer (or whatever you want to call it). And you can't go wrong with Alpha, they are a company making high quality performance heatsinks. So to recap BUY THE ALPHA PAL8045 WITH THE RHEOSTAT!!!! :) If its still too loud go buy a Panaflo 80mm fan (Panaflos are the most quiet fans on the market) to replace the stock one and use the rheostat with it.

[pcpowerzone]

Two extreme thoughts come to mind:

Go water cooled for low noise and superior cooling

or go Peltier (maybe)

For more info on easy to build water-cooled systems go to http://store.yahoo.com/pcpowerzone

[jinx]

I agree with pcpz. In reviewing the water cooled cases on the link he provided SPAM(and was also posted elsewhere here), reminded me of when I maintained Collins ( Rockwell ) Microwave Systems in the 60's, they had one unit that utilized a water cooled klystron, the cooling system was called an 'ebulater'. That was the most stable and quietest system I ever maintained. SPAM

Happy New Year ! But please go easy on the suds !

http://dijobe.netfirms.com/bigbeer.jpg

[vee_ess]

i am not sure if this is much help, but if you put rubber or paper washers for every place you need a screw and contains something that moves (such as a hard drive), it greatly reduces the noise put out.
also www.frozencpu.com has the best cables for reducing wind resistance and they have thermal glue for the fan to fit the cpu better and more effectively.
hope to be some help

[thetechfreak]

want to keep your computer quiet so when its late at night your parents dont hear you on naughty websites :p

my box is dead noisy, 1 day it scared me s---less as it sounded like a UBoat going for a 90* dive lol

though i would like it quiet so i can leave it on all night downloading

[wizbones]

Not much help from me, just wanted to comment on Jinx's pic, I want a glass like his!! Now that's a drink SPAM:P

Quiet PC's, man the noise is half my troubleshooting technique. Take away the noise I'll have to find a new career field. I already hate the fact you can hardly hear the newer harddrives.

[Earl]

Ok, this may sound drastic, but it will work. SPAMBuy a cheap, small dorm room freezer, drill a 4 inch hole, stick your cpu in there, and run the cables out the side. SPAMUse silicone to seal.

Now when your friends come over to party, put a few beers in there, and freakem out... SPAM:)

Earl

[PSTG]

I have built a very quiet PC.
1. Reduce the noise form the power supply by replacing the existing fan with a quieter model and/or reducing the fan supply voltage with resisters or using the 12V and 5V (12V-5V=7V) rails.
2. By strategically placing fans and adjusting their speeds you can create quite good case ventilation with very little noise. SPAMI have used one 92mm Enermax fan in the middle of the case door pushing air into the case. SPAMThe fan is adjusted to just above minimum speed. SPAMI installed another 80mm Enermax fan at the front of the case pushing air in and set to low speed. SPAMThe air intake on both fans has been cut away to leave a completely unobstructed intake, reducing even more noise.
3. Use sound deadening material on case doors and internal surfaces. SPAMThese are avialable from most car part suppliers and some electronic stores.
4. Get a good CPU heatsink and change the fan to an Enermax 80mm. Set the speed to get the best noise/cooling outcome.
With a bit of experimentation you can get down the noise, whilst acheiving good cooling.

[Soltan]

Ahem,
If I may suggest taking a look at the following link for a review of the Zalman Flower CNPS6000-CU 'Silent' CPU Cooler (HS-000-ZA). SPAMWas thinking about getting one of these myself. SPAMPretty and quiet, what more could you want :)
The fan "hovers" above the heatsink, which also reduces vibration to the CPU. SPAMA larger fan (92mm) produces more airflow at a slower speed, ergo a quiet cooler SPAM;D


http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Other_CPU_and_System_Coolers_18.html#aHS_2D000_2DZA


Soltan