Getting a Silent PC

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darkangel

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Hi,

My PC is usually never off but the noise it makes can be heard all around my house. So does any one have any tips on how to make it quitter. I have looked at sound proffing it but i don't know if this will make much diffrence and i don't know how easy it is to install. Of course fans seams the most simple option but is there anything else I can do.

Thanks
 
Theres loads of thing you can do to make your PC more quieter. A silent PSU would be the best start, then a silent CPU cooler and if you have extractor fans you could get more quiet ones, i think Vantec make some of the best quality silent ones.

I've seen some sound proofing material for PC cases around, i dont like the look of it though, it looks like it would just keep all the heat in your comp, making your PC very hot.

I'd just start off with either the PSU or the CPU fan, there genrally the loudest thing on a PC.
 
Could you possibly give us some more information about your Computer?

Like, what processor, case and existing fans you have? Don't need the make of any case fans, just their size (they're usually 80mm) and locations(s) in the case.

Then maybe we could make some suggestions.

And I'd steer away from that soundproofing stuff, as reef says, it just makes your PC hotter and contributes little to muting any sound.

Of course, there's always water cooling or a nice Antec Sonata case...
 
At the moment i have 3 AKASA LED case fans, a 1.6Ghz AMD XP CPU with the fan it came with and a Q-tec 550w Dual Fan Power supply.

I have a 6 mouth ald CHIEFTEC case, not sure about the model.

All the fan sizes are 80mm.

I am thinking about upgrading my CPU to a 2.20GHz so a CPU fan may be a good choice

If you need anymore info just ask

Thanks
 
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For fans, consider the Vantec Stealth or Zalman. I've just bought a couple of the Zalman 80mm fans to try and lessen my noise, I'll be fitting them over the weekend, I'll let you know what I think of them. I also have a couple of the Vantec Stealths, they're not very powerful but they sure are quiet.

Of course, none of these come with led's, don't know if that's important to you or not.

For £30.00 consider the Gigabyte 3D Pro cooler for your CPU (see my review on the Forum front page).

As for power supplies, I'm not really familiar with the quiet ones available, I've never used one, but there are models specifically designed to run noiseless.

I always recommend Antec or Enermax, mostly because I think they're good and so far they haven't let me down.

Is your Q-Tec noisy? If so, consider the Antec range, go for at least a 380 watt model, I'd guess it's quieter than your Q-Tec. Or search for a quiet one.

Be warned though, that an Antec PSU or a good quality quiet unit, will set you back considerably more pennies than the Q-Tec.
 
Thanks for your advice and let me know how you get on with those fans.

Are their any cases thar are especailly designed for little noise?
 
darkangel said:
Thanks for your advice and let me know how you get on with those fans.

Are their any cases thar are especailly designed for little noise?
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Yes, the Antec Sonata

It's black, costs around £80.00 and comes with a 380W PSU. Takes two x 120mm fans, comes with one of them already fitted. When you consider the PSU on it's own costs around £50.00, imo this case is a bargain.

This is a very good looking case and is built with quietness in mind.

I've read nothing but good reports about this case, the only downside is if that you intend to overclock, case temps aren't too clever.

I have no experience of any other 'quiet' cases, but I wouldn't mind betting Zalman make something.
 
im number one fan of quiet pc's! some of these fan's db levels should be banned!!!! its shocking!

also there is another annoying nuisance! your HARDDRIVE!

I myself have truly given up on my harddrives. I have been through Western Digital, Maxtor and Seagate and it appears to be that after each harddrive has been in operation for about 2 months each harddrive will start causing a noise! It is like a whining noise! So annoying, either there is no silent harddrive or i have been severely UNLUCKY!

apart from the harddrives my pc is v silent, you could not tell if it is on!
I have a Zalman CPU Fan
Enermax PSU Fan

ive put the zalman cpu fan on the lowest setting it spins at around 1200-1300rpm and i cant hear it at all and the psu fan thats low too and v silent!

these two beauties will do your job too Darkangel! it feels so good when your pc is near silent truly wonderfull!
 
Samsung Spinpoints.

Dead quiet!

Quietist hard drives i have EVER used, 10 times quieter than the maxtor equivalent, speedy too!

You have to strain ears to hear them.
 
i wont beleive u just yet Chris, i thought it was all about seagate barracudas! but it isnt and im a firm beleiver of no harddrive is quiet after months of operation they all seem to get loud.

reckon we could be up for a free replacement every time our harddrives get annoyingly loud??
 
psd99 said:
i wont beleive u just yet Chris, i thought it was all about seagate barracudas! but it isnt and im a firm beleiver of no harddrive is quiet after months of operation they all seem to get loud.

reckon we could be up for a free replacement every time our harddrives get annoyingly loud??
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had my PC 10 months now, still can't hear either of them.
 
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