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Cut my PC sound levels wayyyy down

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Just to update people on status of my case.

Being the type of person that can't leave well enough alone, I spent an additional $25 and bought an Arctic Cooling copper silent 2m CPU fan and heatsink ($13.99) and a ZALMAN NorthBridge Fanless Chipset Cooler, Model ZM-NB47J ($4.99) from newegg.
Also went to radioshack and bought a 3 watt 25ohm Rheostat for $1.99 and hooked it up to my ThermalTake case fan.

I mounted the rheostat control knob through a hole i drilled in the PCI slot cover that also houses the Thermaltake power supply's fan control knob.

Results: SILENCE.
Everything off in the living room except HTPC stored behind tv. All i hear is the clock ticking on the wall standing 3 feet from front of tv.
I adjusted PSU and case fan to still be moving air but barely making noise with my ear about 6 inches from the fan openings., Arctic Cooling CPU fan is set on medium setting.

Temps under load for 12 hours compressing video:

Case: 33c
CPU: reached a high of 50c.

Average temps after 24 hours as reported by MB monitor:

Case:32c
CPU: 42c

I should be done now, no problems at all so far.

I have gotten a lot of positive and negative feedback on this project. Some people liked it, some people didn't. One guy even got angry about it in an email??
(I think he has personal issues or something).

I appreciate all the advice and comments.

Anyway, no regrets here!

Peace Out!
 
Originally posted by: commOdog
One guy even got angry about it in an email??
(I think he has personal issues or something).

Peace Out!
Click to expand...


:laugh:

anyways hey thats cool i may have to adopt some of your techniques when i get some cash (i am poorer than a dead rat at the moment :frown😉
 
I used some stuff similar to that spray in my truck doors (although i was dumb and bought more expensive stuff). Getting it off while it is still wet is the only way you are going to clean it up easily. It will stain clothes and the spray has a tendency to go everywhere, so shake constantly. The makers of quiet kote have a cleaning agent, but i havent tried it.

Great job, i just got the bug of making my computer silent again(well, quieter) and this makes me want to do this even more. (Im broke too, lol)
 
Whether you agree this was the best way or not, comm0dog has thought of some great ideas here that will be useful. Nice job!
 
Originally posted by: Gravity
Excellent work and reporting!! You have inspired me!!!
Click to expand...
me too. I'm in the works of quieting down my system too, so far I have

gone from this to this.

upgraded my kt4vl's north bridge heat sink (tiny little fart with no fan) to this.

and strapped on one of these to my 9700 pro.

everything used Ceramique for the thermal transfers.

I'm still in the testing phase, still need to figure out case cooling so far my cpu temps with F@H running full throttle are worring me, 57C before I turned off F@H for tonight with the case open in an ambient ~75-77F room.

edit: does ceramique need a "curing" time like AS5? I just used it because I had it already for my vid cards upgrade (was very afraid to destroy a card I paid $300 for originally, and don't want to spend the $130-$150 to replace it either)

I used to not be able to hear my hard drive overy my case fans, now I have all case fans off (atm) and it's noticable now. I may try the rubber coating too, very good idea.

edit again: (80mm fans 2500rpm's except vpu of course) 1 side fan blowing in, 1 front fan blowin in, and my fortron psu on lowest setting blowing out is holding cpu temp stable and 54-55C same as before my upgrades but with 4 less fans going (3 case, 1 vpu)
 
Wow, great job man! Nice webpage too. :thumbsup: I need to get some webpage skills. 😱

I am seriously thinking about building a HTPC...it's the whole "need a KB/mouse/remote control" thing that's putting me off.
 
Hehe Michael if a KB and a mouse are the only things preventing you from an HTPC consider yourself lucky.

comm0dog I'd be interested in an update on how that rubber spray has worked out.
Is there any peeling or cracking? I'd think that the edges of the side panel would get worn off since you mentioned it was a snug fit.
Are there parts of the case you wish you hadn't sprayed?

Thanks for yours answers.
 
Michael D:

Bluetooth is supposed to get a bump in speed and distance, so that may solve your problem. My tv card came with a remote that works great. Hauppage wintv-250pvr and i use the sagetv for the software.

If you have a pda:
I know that Griffin technologies has a pda program and antenna to let you use that as a remote as well.

There might even be a vnc program that lets you control the computer through a pda.
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Wow, great job man! Nice webpage too. :thumbsup: I need to get some webpage skills. 😱

I am seriously thinking about building a HTPC...it's the whole "need a KB/mouse/remote control" thing that's putting me off.
Click to expand...

I traded out my Logitech MX Duo for an MX Duo with bluetooth, and got a simple $40 Zapstream remote control. Simple enough for $200.
 
Originally posted by: gordanfreeman
who sells L1A's for $3/piece? especially after considering s/h costs. i have seen them on ebay for $2/piece but then you have to consider $5-6 s/h charge. in reality you are paying $7-8/piece :frown:
Click to expand...


check the hot deals from time to time boyo 😉
 
Originally posted by: jessieqwert
comm0dog I'd be interested in an update on how that rubber spray has worked out.
Is there any peeling or cracking? I'd think that the edges of the side panel would get worn off since you mentioned it was a snug fit.
Are there parts of the case you wish you hadn't sprayed?

Thanks for yours answers.
Click to expand...


no cracking or peeling. There is very slight wear on the inside of case on notches where the side slides on and off, not visible from outside. Everything is working and looking fine still
 
Wow...great job commOdog.

Not only am I impressed that your PC is now completely silent, but I also like that you came up with a unique idea and made it work... certainly makes your HTPC stand out from many of the others out there. Heck, if I get my act together, I may try that rubber spray idea on my PC now.

Again, great job!

-tghh
 
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