Computer Noise

[paperroll]

Hello, I recently registered on to anandtech forums. I'm currently play with 3D programs like Bryce 5 and sometimes my renders require a few hours to render completely, but the problem is I don't want to render it during the day time because I'm using it most of the time. So when I leave it on during the night when I go to sleep and the constant "mmmmm" noise it makes so annoying. I heard there are cases that can block out the noise, but I'm not quite sure what brand of cases are good. I'd appreciate it if you give me your recommondations for cases. I'll worry about price later.

Thanks!

 

[Bar81]

It all depends on how crazy you want to get. Noise generally comes from several areas, Power Supply fan, CPU fan, Video Card fan, Chipset Fan, and case fan. Generally the smaller the fan the more annoying and loud it is as it has to rotate faster to move a significant amount of air in comparison to a larger fan.

I would suggest you pop open your case and try to localize where the noise is coming from. If you have a chipset fan replace it with one without a fan from Zalman and also for the vid card it's generally a good idea. For case fans you can go nuts like me and buy Papst fans and stick voltage controllers on them from Zalman or just do the latter and keep your existing fans. Also, Zalman has excellent CPU coolers that can be as quiet as you want them to be. After you have done all these changes see if you still hear the humming. If that's the case then you may have to get radical and switch out the PSU.

You can also line your case with noise absorbtion material although the good stuff costs a good amount and will significantly increase the temperature of everything inside your case, thus risking earlier failure of components.


Good place to buy:
www.siliconacoustics.com

Good info:
www.silentpcreview.com

 

[imported_Kensai]

Zalman has a totally silent case, but it will be quite hot. It will also be quite expensive, at around 1200$.

 

[mshan]

There have been a couple of projects over at Silent PC Review with people trying to create computer cases that contain noises well.

The conclusion of these projects is that you really need to identify and hopefully remove / replace those sources of noise that are most irritating to you (see their DIY articles index)

 

[cy7878]

ear plugs?

 

[mshan]

Another option is to put that computer in another room and just purchase / build a cheap computer websurfing.

That way the noisy one can render during the day and you can still surf the web, etc during the day on the other computer.