Resonance poll: Does your computer resonate ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Skybuck Flying
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Skybuck Flying

Hello,

I wonder which setup is best to prevent a computer from resonating.

1. My theory is that "top down" coolers, which blow directly against the
motherboard might cause resonance.

The cooler is trying to blast away like a space ship in space... but the
motherboard is keeping it attached,
thus they are fighting each other.

2. Another cause of resonance could be side fans in cases... the case doors
start resonating, especially for wobly case doors.

3. Maybe power supplies with fans on the bottom could start resonating as
well... they suck in air from their bottoms... and then blow it up against
the top of the power supply ceiling... and then the air is deflected
outside...
Thus the top of the power supply/case might start resonating... from all
that air that is beating against the top.

4. Lastly are the graphics cards ofcourse... they are attached to the
motherboard as well... and attached to the pci slots... and their fans are
blowing against their pcb's as well... good cause some resonance as well...
I expect this to be the least of the resonance.

So let's test this theory by having a nice poll:

Some questions to be answered by those who take part in this poll:

1. Does your computer resonate ? (Is there a humming sound ?)

2. Does it have any components which are blowing against something ? (As
described above)

A simple yes and no will do just fine... however if you have the time and
feel the need you can explain your answer more thoroughly if you wish to do
so.

I shall start with the 4 computers which I own:

PC1: 80486 does not resonate, has no components blowing against something.
PC2: Pentium 166, does not resonate, has a little cpu fan.
PC3: Pentium III 450 mhz, does not resonate, has a majesty cpu fan.
PC4: AMD X2 3800+, does resonate like crazy, has all kinds of fans blowing
against something...
(cpu fan, two gpu fans, two side panel fans, power supply fan against the
top) (6 fans blowing against something wow!)
(harddisk tray touches side panel)

PC1,PC2,PC3 are big towers, on the ground, heavy cases.
PC4 is a midi tower, on a wooden table, lighter case... I bet if it was on
the ground it would still resonate.

So there you have it folks.

PC4 is a total dissaster according to the theories above.

How well does your latest and greatest rig perform on the resonance scale me
wonders ? ;) :)

Bye,
Skybuck.
 
Actually the pentium III can resonate sometimes...

It depends on what it's doing and if the case enclosure is properly placed
(it's own big piece/door).

For example when the cd-drive was spinning... the door started resonating...
after moving the door a little the resonating became less but still
resonating.

Same good probably be said for power or cpu fan resonating...

So cd-drive doesn't have a fan... (?) so movement/spinning probably plays a
roll as well.

Bye,
Skybuck.
 
Actually the pentium III can resonate sometimes...

It depends on what it's doing and if the case enclosure is properly placed
(it's own big piece/door).

For example when the cd-drive was spinning... the door started resonating....
after moving the door a little the resonating became less but still
resonating.

Same good probably be said for power or cpu fan resonating...

So cd-drive doesn't have a fan... (?) so movement/spinning probably playsa
roll as well.

Bye,
  Skybuck.
Click to expand...

all mechanical systems resonate, some with hi-Q and some with very
well dampened oscillation (Low-Q)

so yes, but not noticable, lots of fan noise though.
 
My circa 2001 computer does, the circa 2004 doesn't... YET. I'm
starting to think my old comp is dying and I'm giving a disk clone
some serious thought.
 
Yes, every computer I have assembled myself in the last decade has had
resonance problems. This is, of course, my own fault for buying cheap
sheet metal cases and assembling them carelessly (If I cared, I could
certainly do SOMETHING about the resonance: e.g. wedge the side plates
on the case so they aren't loose).

I suspect that most of your resonance problems come from buying cheap
cases which don't fit together well. The driver for the resonance is
probably the hard drive or the CD-ROM: the fans for the CPU, power
supply, etc. are probably locked down pretty well, while the hard
drive and CD-ROM may not be secured as well as they could be (I always
run out of fasteners/patience when putting in the hard drive and CD-
ROM).

As another data point: NONE of the pre-built, brand name computers I
have owned over the past decade or more have EVER had resonance
problems. You get what you pay for.
 
I wonder which setup is best to prevent a computer from resonating.
Click to expand...

Passive cooling--that is design the think so it does not need a fan.
No moving parts = no sound eminating from the device.
1. My theory is that "top down" coolers, which blow directly against the
motherboard might cause resonance.
Click to expand...

No, at best it is a conjecture.

Secondarily, the resonance is already present, its the vibrations of
the fan that stimulate the resonance.

Thirdly, if the heat exchanger were not so heavy the resonance might
not be stimulated by the vibrations fo the motor.
Bye,
  Skybuck.
Click to expand...

Hopefully until you come up with a question worty of computer
architecture: as in comp.arch
Not as in computer ruminations. Try comp.ruminate
 
Hmm,

You raise an interesting question.

Chieftec has a special mounting system for harddisks...

I wonder if this mounting system causes resonance ;)

Or maybe not... maybe it's the opposite maybe it reduces resonance...

It's something very special/patented.

I think the resonance in the chieftec case is mostly because of the side
panel fans...
and the harddisk mounting system touching the left side panel ;)

Bye,
Skybuck.
 
Well according to their website the harddisk mounting system is an anti
vibration system.

So that's probably good... only bad thing is it was placed against the side
panel, causing it to vibrate after all !

^^ The irony :)

Bye,
Skybuck.
 
Skybuck said:
Well according to their website the harddisk mounting system is an anti
vibration system.

So that's probably good... only bad thing is it was placed against the side
panel, causing it to vibrate after all !

^^ The irony :)

Bye,
Skybuck.
Click to expand...

The irony is you being allowed near an open computer when you're
obviously incompetent.
Here's a suggestion - get a technician to fix your computer and then
DON'T TOUCH IT.
 
Jeffrey said:
Yes, every computer I have assembled myself in the last decade has had
resonance problems. This is, of course, my own fault for buying cheap
sheet metal cases and assembling them carelessly (If I cared, I could
certainly do SOMETHING about the resonance: e.g. wedge the side plates
on the case so they aren't loose).
Click to expand...

Oh that's easy. Don't fit the side panels. I'm always doing stuff inside
them anyway.

Damping material like 'rubber mat' applied to the panels might help too.

Graham
 
Ok,

I just fired up the batmobile (the dream pc).

Another cause of vibrations:

The door can starts to vibrate when it's open ! ;)

Also when one side panel is open/off the case starts vibrating as well !

(The chieftec case)

Bye,
Skybuck.
 
Skybuck Flying said:
Hello,

I wonder which setup is best to prevent a computer from resonating.

1. My theory is that "top down" coolers, which blow directly against the
motherboard might cause resonance.
Click to expand...

I'd say take advantage of the situation. Put your girlfriend on top of
your computer and she will like it. Do you know why men buy Harley
Davidson motorcycles? Women like the vibrations produced by the
engine.
 
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