lowering case fan vibration noise?

[HotKetchup]

Will foam spacers between the fan and chassis dampen any sound? Or are there alternate mounting systems like plastic screws or wire mounts? What do you guys use?

 

[Auric]

Specially designed acoustic isolation fasteners can be had and are good if matched to all the holes but they are only really required for mass production while for the DIY approach double-sided foam tape is excellent, cheap and can be had anywhere.

 

[Cerb]

I agree, and use the foam tape method, however, another popular option is to get small grommets and use (I THINK) #6 screws and nuts.
The foam tape will deteriorate over time, but it's cheap, and with just a drop of goo-gone, easy to remove and reapply.

 

[Bluefront]

Foam-mounted Fan Holder

Total cost....less than $2. I used a std electrical box, a piece of foam, and my 80mm fan. If you stack two boxes, you can also make it filtered......or even ducted with another piece. You can mount the box inside the computer or attach it to the back. The box comes with two little mount tabs and mounting screws......no vibration.

 

[VisableAssassin]

rubber gromets are the easiest and by far are the best i have used.

 

[RalfHutter]

These Elastomer Fan Mounts are the best way to mount fans and decouple them from the case. You can get them for $4/set from Silicon Acoustics or you can buy bags of 20 for around $10 from McMaster-Carr. Search for page 1212 and look at the #5801K8. That's what you need.

 

[akers]

I remounted all my case fans using velcro!!!

Makes it easy to install/uninstall and it really reduced the noise so I am assuming it absorbs some of the vibration normaly transmitted to the case. They have been in their for several months now and no sign of the velcro coming loose from either the fn or the case. Just make sure you clean both for a good mounting surface.

 

[ethebubbeth]

I'm gonna put my vote in for rubber gromets... They are pretty easy to install and last. Not to mention they work quite well.