Case loud, help me find the culprit

[ViRaLRuSh]

I have a Antec SX case and here is what I have in it:

HSF - SVC GC68
2 NMB 19dB fans - 1 sidetake and 1 outtake
1 Turbo Cool outtake fan, came with the case
2 Hard disks - (1 maxtor 2B020H1, 1 WD WD400BB)
Generic 350 watt PSU, but I had it in another system and it wasnt as loud.


Anything I should try or change in the system? seems too loud for my liking.

 

[BoomAM]

Its not the intake/exhaust fans.
It could be the Turbo Cool exhaust fan.

Get the specs off the website for the noise of the CPU HSF and the two HDs.

 

[amdskip]

1 Turbo Cool outtake fan, came with the case

Thats probably the culprit. What kind of fan grills are in the case as they can cause unwanted noise with airflow.

 

[deerslayer]

I'd cut out the front stamped fan grills if I were you. That would probably help with the noise. Usually fans that come with cases are loud, so that could be as well

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

The antec SX140 I think is the case. Has the stamped fan grills like you said. Also, I was told to buy the SVC GC68 for it's quietness, since I didnt plan to OC. Oh well, hopefully it's just that one fan, cause I plan to add a NMB in its place.

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

I dunno still, if it were the hd's, what would it sound like? the sound coming from mine seems like a whining kind of. it's not really steady, it will increase a little bit, then go back down. Think it's maybe the PSU?

 

[Derick]

You could always test everything individually. Take everything out of your case and run then one at a time. That includes your CPU fan and your video card. Just take the CPU out as well. So the first thing that gets tested is your Power Supply. Then plug in each fan separately so you can compare sound levels. Hard drives tend to make more of a crunching sound, it?s pretty distinctive. If you still can?t tell after that then it could be your Power Supply. Does it have temp monitoring? Also test you case fans in place and out of the case so you can see the effects of the "pre-stamped" grills. If it?s a real big difference then cut them out (chances are it is a big difference). But this method is the only way to be certain which fan is the culprit.

 

[pukemon]

actually this is something you might overlook: the western digital hard drive. i have two wd800bb's in one sysetgm and man is it annoying. the idle noise has that signature western digital whine/whrrrrr. this is compared to the seagate barracuda IV's in my other system which i don't even hear. i'm using all pc power& cooling silencer fans.

 

[deerslayer]

What kind of video card do you have? My Asus video card's fan has a whine to it sometimes.

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

Originally posted by: LyNx01
What kind of video card do you have? My Asus video card's fan has a whine to it sometimes.

PNY GF 4 TI4200

 

[Blain]

"Case loud, help me find the culprit"

Ship the case to me, and I'll track down where your problem is. It shouldn't take me over three weeks to get it back to you. But that all depends on what parts I have to replace and what kind of return shipping you want to pay for.

 

[jodhas]

Originally posted by: NoSkillz

Originally posted by: LyNx01
What kind of video card do you have? My Asus video card's fan has a whine to it sometimes.

PNY GF 4 TI4200

GF4 Ti4200 is your culprit.

I have PNY GF4 Ti4200 and I've bought the same one for my friends (comp usa $90 deal a while back). It makes the same high pitched "whine" that rises above all other noises and starts annoying you.

To verify this, turn your comp on. Remember your noise level. Now put your finger over the PNY GF4ti4200 fan, you'll notice that the high pitch "whine" will be gone.

I am almost 90% sure that it's the PNY Video Card.

I've replaced the stock cooling mechanism on my PNY with the Zalman VGA heatpipe cooler ($19 pcclub) and my video card is silent and is is capable of bieng oc'ed faster than a stock GF4 Ti4600 (powerstrip).

I would also suggest the following....

1. Replace the Turbo Cool Outtake fan with another NMB fans.
2. Mod your Powersupply and use the NMB fans

Then, your computer will almost be silent.

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

I tend to think it's the WD hard drive. When I put my ear to the front of the case, it seems like it's right there, Where the HD's are. My maxtor doesnt seem as loud. I'm trying to get a barracuda off a guy in the FS/T forum.