Has anyone used paxmate or equiv with antec sonata?

Melectricus

Senior member
Feb 2, 2003
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I just ordered a sonata case which I hope is nice and quiet. I'm probably going to order a vantec 120mm front fan from SVC and I was wondering about acoustic pads and if anyone has experience with this case or in general if the acoustic pads would work better. I'm interested if they work a little or a lot, looking at the "ANTEC" hole pattern I wonder. SVC has the Spire for only about $9 and I'm thinking it may or may not do any good. Any insight would be appreciated.

spire link at svc

Also for giggles, from what I can gather from here and there is a 25mm depth is what I need in front, otherwise I'd look at the panaflow at 38mm hmm...
 

WobbleWobble

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
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Any thickness of fan should work. Some of the newer Sonatas come with 2x 120mm fans instead of one.
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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Most of the reviews I've seen of the Akasa product say not to waste your money - don't make enough difference.
.bh.
 

LongCoolMother

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2001
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i ordered the exact same thing (pax.mate) for my antec sonata. it didnt come in yet though. im trying to make a silent system. so far:

antec sonata with fans on low setting
Zalman cnps7000a-cu low fan setting
arctic cooling vga silencer on radeon 9800pro low setting
seagate 160gb 7200.7 hard drive

so far its nearly inaudible at all, EVEN WHEN i put my head right next to the case. its sooo silent. i bet these dampeners will silence the very slight hard drive vibration once and for all!
 

Melectricus

Senior member
Feb 2, 2003
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Thanks for all of the input. I did pick up the spire pads and will install this week and will report back on the usefullness of the product.

From what I've read, there are mixed results in the real world for using them. The padding adjacent to noise generators in the case seems to do the most good. Hopefully, with the side panel pads, it will attenuate some noise of the hard drives, cdroms and cpu cooler. I'm not bleary eyed on how much good it will do. The top and bottom pads will absorb some acoustic energy, but the front and rear openings and the "antec' ventilation holes may negate most of the effect.

I am still wondering about internal case temps. My old case has all panaflo's at 80mm (2 front, 2 rear, 2 replacement for PSU fans, 1 cpu and 1 bracket mount for north/vga cooling. On a hot day in the room, my xp2500 oc'd to 3200 runs at about 50degC cpu max. I will move the cpu cooler into the new case and probably the bracket mounted 80mm also.
 

Mik3y

Banned
Mar 2, 2004
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i hear the foam does more harm then good. it increase the overall system temp and doesnt quiet the system very well.
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
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Foam does help, but it will raise system temps a degree celcius or two. That shouldn't really matter though. Let us know how they work for you :thumbsup:
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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http://www.dansdata.com/foam.htm its junk. i've laced my case with loads of 1" skinned accoustic foam before. did squat. there are too many places for sound to exit. unless you build muffler/baffle systems for all open parts of your case, its really pointless.
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
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Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
http://www.dansdata.com/foam.htm its junk. i've laced my case with loads of 1" skinned accoustic foam before. did squat. there are too many places for sound to exit. unless you build muffler/baffle systems for all open parts of your case, its really pointless.

The most the pads will do is to dampen the vibrations of your case a little bit.
I used some 1/8" thick rubber sheets that I cut up and it dampened the resonance sound coming from my Super Lanboy.

However, Most of the noise from my case comes from the front 120mm fan opening and the rear 120mm fan opening. I am creating a muffler for the back so that the noise "hopefully" will get trapped inside while the airflow is not obstructed.

Anybody have an idea for killing the noise coming from the front of the case? I dont want to take away from good intake airflow...
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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theres no way to make a real muffler without restricting some airflow. needs to be a box with baffles inside so sound has to bounce a few times off some noise absorbing material a couple times to work.
 

Gravity

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2003
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The Sonata is very quiet. Get a fan speed controller for your 120mm fans and be done with it. The loudest noise will be either your hsf or your HD.

The width of your 2nd 120 won't matter as they mount behind the drive bays and pull air across the drives. Personally, I went with Pabst and it's on a rheabus so it's as quiet as I want it. BTW, my drives are so cool I put my diet coke's there to chill them.

:)
 

MrK6

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2004
4,458
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Moving air makes noise, it's simple science. Really, after you've silenced your case, the only way to reduce noise is to turn down your fans or buy fans with a more silent design (that is really technical though)
 

Melectricus

Senior member
Feb 2, 2003
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Well I own the spire pads and will not put them in the sonata. I believe the case is good constuction and will be whatever it is on noise via the air intakes and exhaust. I also bought the vantec fan for front - WHERE did you say it mounts? I assumed in the normal front position between the case body and drives- or did I misunderstand?

I have a fan controller in my 'extra parts' computer that I'll put into the sonata. Since I own the spire pads, I'll probably put them in the paper thin junk case.

Thanks for the help :)
 

Melectricus

Senior member
Feb 2, 2003
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Hey, in addition to the info people gave here I thought I'd throw in something else if anyone is considering the paxmate or equal in the sonata case.

Biggest thing is the general construction of the sonata, this thing is a tank compared to the cheap AL and thin steel I'm used to. The right side panel (behind mobo) will not take the pads because it is non-removeable, as is the mobo tray, so no good anyway - everything is assembled for no loose or vibrating connections. The top and bottom would require lots of cutting and patching to fit arount the mounts for the drives. So you are basically left with only the left side panel for the pads- and reviews are not kind for this to do any good.

So as others said It will all come down to the noise generators and the quality you select.

Thanks this has been a learning experience for me :)