Front case fan making a lot of noise

[trmiv]

I'm trying to quiet down my computer, without a whole lot of success. I replace all my fans with Vantec Stealth fans, got some of those rubber gaskets to go between the top case fans and the case, and vibration mounted my hard drive, and picked up a Fotron 350 watt PS with the 120 mm fan. That quieted the computer down a bit, but not like I'd hoped.

Anyway, I finally tracked down where a ton of the annoying noise is coming from. It seems the front case fan (80mm Vantec stealth) makes a ton of noise when it is close to the case. When I take it off of the case, I can barely hear, but put it close or connect it, and it drives me nuts. I guess it's from the air coming through the little metal grate.

Is there a way to quiet this down without cutting out the metal grate in the front? I think if I could get that noise down to a decent level, I'd be happy with the sound.

 

[Abhoth]

You try the 7v trick.... can't remember it right off hand but search the forum here. Lowers the voltage and rpm thus makes quieter. Or just get a quiet fan for that up front position..........

 

[trmiv]

This is a quiet fan though, Vantec Stealth, which is supposed to be quiet. I could try getting one of those 7 volt things though.

 

[Abhoth]

What's the model? And if it's supposed to be quiet then maybe it has a defect.... out of balance or who know eh?

 

[trmiv]

I don't know the specific model, but it IS quiet. Like I said in my original post, it's quiet when i just hold it in my hand, can barely hear it, but when it gets close to the metal grate on the front of the case is when it gets noisy.

 

[lazybum131]

Cut off the metal fan grill that's in front of the fan if you think it's turbulence. It's good to cut them off anyway, as they're restrictive and will block airflow.

If you already have exhaust fans, undervolting the fronts probably won't cause any changes in temps.

 

[tooltime]

after having a 120 mm fan i wouldn't get anything smaller, they rotate slower

 

[trmiv]

I'm tempted to buy a new case which will support 120mm fans. Maybe an Antec Sonata. But, I don't need the power supply because I just bought one. Any other suggestions of a good quiet case?

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: trmiv
I'm tempted to buy a new case which will support 120mm fans. Maybe an Antec Sonata. But, I don't need the power supply because I just bought one. Any other suggestions of a good quiet case?

Antec has a new case out that has 120mm fan mounting locations front and back, a removable mobo tray, no PSU included and is all-aluminum. It's called the P160.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter

Originally posted by: trmiv
I'm tempted to buy a new case which will support 120mm fans. Maybe an Antec Sonata. But, I don't need the power supply because I just bought one. Any other suggestions of a good quiet case?

Antec has a new case out that has 120mm fan mounting locations front and back, a removable mobo tray, no PSU included and is all-aluminum. It's called the P160.

Any ideas as to the pricing?
I'm sure it'll be more than the $5X I paid for my SLK3700AMB w/ps, yes?

 

[Jhhnn]

What you're describing is a classic turbulent airflo problem, not necessarily from the grille, but possibly from the fact that the air has to turn sharply behind the front bezel as it enters the fan.

I've reduced that kind of noise by using an old junk fan as a spacer between the fan and case. Snip the struts that hold the fan hub in place, smooth the rough edges. Screw the stack into place.

Or forget the front fan entirely, they're seldom necessary except in extreme configurations...

 

[pspada]

I've tried several 120mm front fans - and they all make more noise just because they are at the front, so you are better able to hear them. But much as I like the old junk fan as a spacer idea, there's no room to fit a 2nd 25mm in. I hate the concept of cutting the grills out entirely, since I tried that and it made little difference in overall case temp.

The funny (not haha but odd funny) thing is that all I have to do is open the case, change NOTHING, close the case again, and my temps will then vary from the preceeding readings. What's that all about?

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: Tullphan

Originally posted by: RalfHutter

Originally posted by: trmiv
I'm tempted to buy a new case which will support 120mm fans. Maybe an Antec Sonata. But, I don't need the power supply because I just bought one. Any other suggestions of a good quiet case?

Antec has a new case out that has 120mm fan mounting locations front and back, a removable mobo tray, no PSU included and is all-aluminum. It's called the P160.

Any ideas as to the pricing?
I'm sure it'll be more than the $5X I paid for my SLK3700AMB w/ps, yes?

I think list price is $130. This for a case with no PSU. They're brand new and availability is very limited right now and since the normal places don't seem to have them yet the "street price" is still indeterminant. My guess is they'll sell for $100.

 

[beatle]

Originally posted by: lazybum131
Cut off the metal fan grill that's in front of the fan if you think it's turbulence. It's good to cut them off anyway, as they're restrictive and will block airflow.

If you already have exhaust fans, undervolting the fronts probably won't cause any changes in temps.

This is almost certainly the solution. I had an old AT case with a front fan that made an AWFUL racket when pressed up against the front case grill. After cutting away the grill, all was quiet again.

 

[trmiv]

Yea, I think I'll cut that grill away and see what it does. Is it safe to do that without taking everything out of the case? I have a little air powered saw that I can use that would do it, I'm just worried about the shavings getting all over. I guess I could cover the stuff the best I could, and then blow it all out with the air compressor afterwards.

 

[beatle]

I cut holes without removing everything. I did put a towel behind the grill to ensure that all the shavings ended up in the towel and not the case.