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Locating the source of noise

C

cleanerPA

Member
I have an Antec SX1040 case and compared to my Dell, it sounds like a vacuum cleaner!

I've got an Alpha PAL8045 with an unknown fan (bought it from Newegg), 4 Sunon fans rated
at 25dB (two in the front, two in the back), the stock HSF for the chipset (Abit KG7RAID) and
the stock HSF for my Visiontek GF3Ti200. That's a lot of fans.

Any thoughts on what is making all of the racket? Is it the heatsink fan? Chipset fan? PS Fan?
I don't know how the Antec 400W PSes compare to others in terms of noise- if that's the source
of the noise, I'm stuck- I don't feel like shelling out another $100+ to get a PCP&C Silencer 400.

Are the Sunon fans honest to spec? They don't seem that much quieter than the Antec case fans
that I replaced.

Obviously I can't get the system silent while running, but I'd like to avoid having a vacuum cleaner
sitting next to me- maybe it's time to buy some PCP&C silencer fans and look into their PS as well.
 
The way i would go about seeing which fan is causing the most noise is reasonably simple.

I would, VERY CAREFULLY, place your finger on the centre of each fan, one at a time, increasing pressure gradually until the fan stops. Try this with each fan, and then you can see which one is making the most noise.


I would guess that it's the small fans, such as north bridge or graphics card.


ConfusedBW
 
If it sounds like a vacuum cleaner, it is probably your CPU fan. These are usually very high RPM units. If you decide that is indeed where the problem lies, try these options:

1) Purchase a rheobus and slow that fan until you can tolerate it. $50-$60.
2) Try the 7 volts solution - assuming your fan will start up at 7 volts instead of 12.
3) Wear earmuffs. ;oP or buy a quieter fan

Of course, you should certainly be sure where the noise is coming from before taking measures.
If your fans are "rattling" you may be able to tighten them, or add rubber grommets to dampen them.
For case fans, Enermax makes a line of products that come with a speed control so you can set them
to the performance/quietness level you want.

The 7volts website also has sugestions on quieting your PC, and Directron has a section with Quiet PC
products, such as the aforementioned grommets.

Good luck! I am tired of noisy fans too, and plan to investigate the Zalman 6000 series CPU coolers -
perhaps substituting a Panaflo 120mm fan...
 
Disconnect you CPU fan and let the computer boot up. Immediately shut it down afterwords. That will tell you if it is the CPU fan.

My opinion of Antec cases is they suck. Not in the looks or functionality deptartment. But the craftmanship they put into them. My KS282 on runs L1A panaflo's and the computer is still loud. My guess is probably two to three times as loud as your Dell.

However... I do not know of a good replacement other than a Supermicro. But I have no room for another full tower.
 
Source of noise: The space heater sitting next to / in / on your desk.


<< I would, VERY CAREFULLY, place your finger on the centre of each fan, one at a time, increasing pressure gradually until the fan stops. Try this with each fan, and then you can see which one is making the most noise. >>




<< Purchase a rheobus and slow that fan until you can tolerate it. >>


I personally went the rheobus way.
 
Another option to reduce noise is using rubber spacers. That fan will make the fins on your heatsink vibrate, try putting rubber heatsinks on the screws to reduce vibration and decrease noise.
 
Don't forget about the hard drive. My hard drive is the loudest part of my system. When it's spun down, my system is whisper quiet.
 

> My KS282 on runs L1A panaflo's and the computer is still loud

I have to agree with sinful here, even though it seems most ATers are Antec/amd/panaflo lovers.

I believed all the BS you read here and built an antec/amd based system with 3 "quiet" L1A's (intake, exhaust, cpu). It's sitting next to my dell right now.

The Antec with the "quiet" fans is at least 3 times louder than da dell.

Bout to throw out the whole loud antec/AMD thing and get another cheap quiet computer from dell.

 
I had a AT PSU fan which was noisy as hell (4 bay scsi tower.... AT computers are quite old) and swapping the fan it had with an adjustable enermax fan (the purple colored one with clear blades) did wonders for quieting the thing. Just a thought.
 
Thanks for all of the ideas! Good discussion- I have some ideas where to start now.

The video card fan was definitely making noise- got that replaced now, at least it doesn't vibrate
or buzz now (the bearings were shot, POS fan).

I'll have to look into the PSU, but I'm leery of opening up a PSU and messing with it, due to the
voltages involved.

I may also have to buy a new CPU fan if that's the one that's making the noise.

I remember my old 386 was quite noisy- the Dells are much quieter, so maybe it is the PSU, considering
that there really were no cooling fans used back in the 386/486 days.
 
You can use a short gardening hose. Listen to one end of the hose, while pointing the other end to each fan you have looking for the loudest one.

Ear ()============================() Fan
 
ConfusedBW, i tried sticking my finger into my HSF once....DONT DO IT! i cut my finger and almost lost it!
 
I experimented with fan combinations in my Antec 1030, including 2 80 mm front intake + 2 80mm rear exhaust. Very little reduction in internal case temp with the front intake fans, so I removed them for lower case noise and lower PS loading.

Last week I replaced the 80mm Antec sleeve-bearing case and PS fans with cheap Panaflo L1As. Noise reduction was good. System/board temp appears the same, but cpu-idle temp is up by 1C and cpu-loaded temp is up by 2C (Alpha 8045U cpu cooler). Before installing the Panaflos, I couldn't even hear the 8045U fan above the noise of the Antec case & PS fans.

I bought an extra Panaflo to try on the Alpha 8045U, but the Delta fan supplied with the 8045U is not really that noisy - didn't replace it.

Hope this helps!
 
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