Looking for a very quiet PCI slot exhaust fan

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gilgamesh
  • Start date Start date
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Gilgamesh

I've googled but the ones I find are still too noisy for my purpose (30-40
dBA).
My digital TV PVR has no cooling around the hard disk and the case gets
quite warm to touch. I'm going to replace the HD with a larger model and
thought I would put in one of these fans but change the orientation so that
the fan intake was near the ventilation grill and would blow the air around
the hard disk. The space in the unit isn't large so other ducting options
are not really viable.

The Silenx fans are very good (11-14 dBA) but they don't seem to be in an
exhaust blower case.

A high air flow is not as important to me as getting it as quiet as possible
as it will be part of my home theatre system rather than my PC. Also any
airflow is better than the current Nil.

Any suggestions on getting a quiet exhaust fan would be appreciated.
 
Gilgamesh said:
Based on your site reference an item similar to what i'm looking for is
http://www.jab-tech.com/customer/product.php?productid=2243&cat=145&page=1
However these are 26 dBA which is too noisy for what I need.
Something below 15dBA would be ok
Click to expand...
The lowest I have seen around is stated at about 23 decibels. Maybe you can
give them a call and they can recommend a device that will fit your needs.
Possibly they can offer a custom solution that would not be too costly. A
stock slot cooler at 15dBA might be a tough order.
 
Based on your site reference an item similar to what i'm looking for is
http://www.jab-tech.com/customer/product.php?productid=2243&cat=145&page=1
However these are 26 dBA which is too noisy for what I need.
Something below 15dBA would be ok
Click to expand...

Waste of time then, a slot cooler at < 15db probably won't
move much more than leaving that slot cover off and adding
other passive intakes. Such a slow fan would do a litte
better in a non-slot configuration, but slot fans have very
poor flow to db to begin with, let alone trying to push the
air out a slot "tube".


If any obstructions are present in the current exhaust
fans' paths, it might help to remove those as well.

Another alternative might be undervolting and/or
underclocking parts.
 
kony said:
Waste of time then, a slot cooler at < 15db probably won't
move much more than leaving that slot cover off and adding
other passive intakes. Such a slow fan would do a litte
better in a non-slot configuration, but slot fans have very
poor flow to db to begin with, let alone trying to push the
air out a slot "tube".


If any obstructions are present in the current exhaust
fans' paths, it might help to remove those as well.

Another alternative might be undervolting and/or
underclocking parts.
Click to expand...

Thanks for responding but there was some information in my original post
that was snipped in your reply that should be considered.

This is not for a PC but for a digital tv PVR which currently has no fans at
all. And as I said in the original post any air movement is better than
none.
underclocking/undervolting is not an option with a PVR.
 
Thanks for responding but there was some information in my original post
that was snipped in your reply that should be considered.

This is not for a PC but for a digital tv PVR which currently has no fans at
all. And as I said in the original post any air movement is better than
none.
underclocking/undervolting is not an option with a PVR.
Click to expand...


What do you mean "underclocking/undervolting is not an
option"? If anything, a PVR is a better candidate for it
than most uses.

I'd add a normal fan, your power supply is probably shot
already though if you're running it without a fan.
 
kony said:
What do you mean "underclocking/undervolting is not an
option"? If anything, a PVR is a better candidate for it
than most uses.

I'd add a normal fan, your power supply is probably shot
already though if you're running it without a fan.
Click to expand...

Here is a reference to the PVR I have
http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/product.asp?SKU=TF5000PVRT

There are no options for getting into its equivalent of a BIOS to change any
settings.
It is operating with a fan at the moment because that's the way the
manufacturer makes it.
 
Here is a reference to the PVR I have
http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/product.asp?SKU=TF5000PVRT

There are no options for getting into its equivalent of a BIOS to change any
settings.
It is operating with a fan at the moment because that's the way the
manufacturer makes it.
Click to expand...


Ah, now I see.

I take back what I wrote previously then, on a system with
NO fans in it yet, even a very slow slot-mounted fan may may
a significant difference. I don't use them and can't advise
which has the highest quality fan (as often the fans are
junk from what I hear) but the same methods of speed control
for any typical brushless DC fan will apply, for example
using a power resistor connected in series with the positive
fan lead. Typically a 47-110 Ohm would be the range for low
noise but you might find even higher than 110 Ohm necessary
for < 15 db, though 110 is a good starting point... or use a
~ 220 Ohm rheostat or other variable fan control method.
 
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