Making a quiet PC. Any suggestions for a low-noise system?

[jrichrds]

I have a 550Mhz Celeron computer (in an InWin S500 case) that I want to make as quiet as possible because it's in my bedroom. Right now, it's not exactly quiet.

There seems to be 3 sources of noise:
1. Power Supply - It's using an Anetc 300W SmartPower with SmartFan, which I had bought because it was supposed to be quiet.

2. Heatsink Fan - GlobalWin ball-bearing, the one from the CM25603-16, popular during the pre-600Mhz overclocking days.

3. Hard Drive - Maxtor 20GB ATA/100 5400rpm. I can't hear the seeks at all, but I'm assuming it must be adding to the baseline noise level.

I'm not sure what new products are out now, but would changing any of the above components make this PC noticeably quieter? Or is this about as quiet as it's going to get?

 

[McCarthy]

The heatsink fan is probably the worst offender with the HD being the least. I have a Maxtor 40gig/5400 and it's about as quiet as can be. You didn't mention if you have a videocard with a fan on it - in my system that was by far the loudest single noise point. Took off the fan, put on a bigger sink and use a duct from a case fan to keep it cool, much quieter now.

As for quieting it down - I have a 600mhz Celeron with the heatsink/fan off a celeron 300A, in a cramped area where it's only got 1/2" of airflow and it's perfectly cool. Though that's a flipchip one, if yours is the previous core it might not run as cool. Either way though a 550Mhz Celeon doesn't need a lot of cooling - put a nice quiet 80mm Panaflow on your heatsink and that noise is gone.

Same for the power supply, swap out the fan if it's not quiet, though I thought the Antecs were. Oh well.

 

[ndee]

The video card fan can also be kinda loud.

 

[jrichrds]

Thanks for the feedback.

My video card in that system (Voodoo3 AGP) only has a heatsink and no fan, so it sounds like it's the CPU fan then. I'm running an Intel Celeron 366 @ 550.

Where's the best online place to get a replacement CPU fan?

Maybe I can get away with using one of those huge heatsinks for 1.5Ghz+ chips and just not have a fan.

 

[McCarthy]

Tell ya what I'd do to get that thing quiet on the cheap. First, Panaflow L1A. Not the cheapest fan around at 7 bucks, but quiet and never heard a complaint about them burning up or anything like that.

All links to SVC, though the same stuff is found elsewhere

Fan

Then I'd throw it on top of a bigger/better sink than you currently have, but of course with the less intense airflow that's probably going to be necessary to keep your chip happy. That and I looked up the sink you have, doesn't look like an easy one to adapt to take an 80mm fan.

Since the Athlon 650 I built for my mom is doing just fine with a L1A on a FOP32 then I don't see why that wouldn't work for you as well. (FOP32/38 the same sink, just different fans) Just take off the current Delta, throw it at something hard and use the original springs to hold the new 80mm in place. No further hardware required.

$4.25 for the sink

That's just an example of one way to do it without spending a lot on some mega sink. For $5.99 you could get the GC68 which is a better sink and made to take an 80mm fan. Also comes with a fan you might actually be able to use somewhere else unlike that screaming demon Delta 60mm - making this a better deal. Talking 28db with that fan vs the 21db of the Panaflow though so for making a quiet bedroom computer I'd still get the Panaflo even though this sink comes with a fan.

Pick up two Panaflos if you plan to do your power supply. Whether you're someone who should be opening a power supply is something I don't know. If you're not familiar with working with stuff you're not supposed to be opening find a friend to do it, no sense getting hurt over a fan unlikely as it may be.

Oh, forgot, if your HD is screwed in some rubber washers can help a bit too. If it's on rails, hmm, dunno. If you have any case fans besides what you listed consider Panafloing them as well. They don't move a ton of air, but they do move a nice amount almost silently and as you don't have a heatpumping computer why have the noise.

Didn't mention if you're on a slot1 or socket 370 board. If you're on a slot type, slot processor or slocket, make sure you have room for the added height of the new sink and fan. Think the sizes are all listed so measure twice, buy once.

--Mc

 

[hmsrolst]

I second McCarthy on the GC68. I use one on a 1Ghz P3 with a Panaflo L1A at 8 volts. It's very quiet and the CPU is running around 80 degrees F at idle/low use.

 

[Logar]

I think I have the same Antec PS. Was it a PP-303X?

It's not loud for me.

What I did was yank my 60mm HS fan and replace it with an quiet 80mm one by creating a makeshift funnel.
Compared the noise difference and I can hardly hear anything.

Of course you could always turn your computer off when sleeping.

 

[jrichrds]

McCarthy - Thanks for the info and links! The GC68 w/ a Panaflow looks pretty good. Just have to make sure it'll fit, as the current CPM25603-16 Globalwin comes awfully close to a filled DIMM slot.
If not, maybe I can just replace the 60cm Delta with a 60cm Vantec Stealth. Only 12cfm (is that really pathetic?), but a quiet 20dBA.

Originally posted by: Logar
I think I have the same Antec PS. Was it a PP-303X?

Yup, same one! I looked at the box it came in again, and it advertises 80% quieter with it's thermo-controlled fan. So don't think I'll try switching that fan, given that it didn't look like an unplug, replace, plug operation last time I took a look inside.
What kind of setup are you having this PS power? Was curious if it could handle the AthlonXP chips...

Of course you could always turn your computer off when sleeping.

Oh hey! Why didn't someone tell me that earlier! Hehe, sleeping or not, I've gotten a little tired of the constant noise. It was an acceptable tradeoff back in the days when 500Mhz was the fastest thing around and I was overclocking a 366 to 606. But now that this computer is old news, I'd like to try to make it as quiet as some of my friends' Dells. Then again, other friends have overclocked Athlon systems that sound like jet engines. 3D gaming is one thing, but how they manage to surf the web and type up papers with that noise in the background is beyond me.