Need advice on quiet case for K7S5A and XP1600+

[Archac]

 

[HappyPuppy]

All cases are quiet until you start putting fans, hard drives and psu's in them.

 

[Archac]

I have an idea to assemble very quiet computer but good computer which can last year or two as office computer with some web design, database, intermediate level CAD works and quality music sound. I new that background noise of 20-25dBA is upper admittable limit for listenning of music at home.
This AMD based computer should have good upgradability for next year at least. Quiet computer in my understanding should not be noisier then 25-30dBA.

I working daily with:

1) Compaq 5000US (Duron 750MHz, Via KT133). It's not really noisy at about 40dBA. With proper sound insulation and absorbtion in case I can limit this computer to 25dBA. Problem with this computer is limited upgradability.

2) Gateway 6400 is also limited in upgradability and pretty noisy at about 50dBA. I guess its don't worth time to quiet this case.

So basicly I need midtower case emanating noise from power supply not higher than 40dBA.
Thank you for ideas.

 

[dejacky]

i recommend u start with an Enlight 7237 case. Then hot-glue 1/4 or 1/2in sheets of that "wine-cork" material to the insides of your case and all areas where it can be done. Next, you need to find very quiet fans. I'd suggest 2 120mm case fans, maybe panasonic Panaflo's (1 for intake, 1 for exhaust). Cut out the case's metal mesh for the fans so that there is an exhaust hole & intake hole. You might even want to place the intake fan slightly passed your harddrives towards the rear of the case and point them up towards the exhaust fan. 3rd, LAP YOUR HEATSINK DILIGENTLY via sand paper (200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, then 1200 grit progressively), you can go up to 1400 & 1600 if you wish. Next find a quiet 60mm cpu fan. Why not 80mm? Because 60mm focuses more air flow to a smaller area(i.e. heatsink) = better. I know there are some 22dB-A 60mm fans around, but using a 26dB-A 60mm cpu fan would be fine, since you have sound absorbing material on the inside of your case AND adding a small box to the upper portion of your computer (surrounding the exhuast & power supply exhaust fans). This small box is an extension to the top-rear part of your case that extends to about 1/3 the lenght of u'r case downwards, thereby funneling the exhaust air down to the ground & absorbing the exhaust fan noise as well as any extra cpu fan noise. hope this helps. I have done the above modifications (except the 2 120mm fans..using 80mm right now) & the noise level of my computer has drastically decreased . good luck.

-dejacky

 

[Archac]

Thank you dejacky for excellent recommendations,

I am thinking that 7237 should be pretty good choice noise wise. It's not visually outstanding but makes job done. A lot of people recommend this case because of quietness. I just can not find noise rating of power supply for case and is it the same PSU in each 7237 case. Anybody knows this PSU noise level in dBA?

 

[dejacky]

np,
i'm using a Antec 303x (300watt) power supply in my 7237 case, VERY QUIET and very reliable too.

 

[Archac]

Still looking for noise characteristics (dBA) for PSU (300watt up).
Any links or results of measurements?

 

[dejacky]

With my recommended mods, you will not be able to hear this power supply (antec 303x) with the other fans in your case. Even if you turn the other fans in your case off, i still don't think you'd be able to hear this power supply. I don't know exact dB specs, but I've been a musician for 16yrs, have studied in acoustical engineering and worked in studio's. So, I know what quiet is.

-dejacky

 

[JoPalm]

What are the In-Win's like?

 

[Ausone]

Since dejacky gave you an excellent suggestion that involves extensive case modding, I'd like to give you one that involves least case modding. Also, my approach focuses on minimizing the cause of noise, as opposed to suppressing/insulating noise.

First of all, if you haven't bought your CPU and mobo, I'd recommend buying P4 NW or Tualatin Celeron or Tualatin PIII-S. Athlon XP is not an optimal processor for a quiet machine. And Tualatin Celeron or PIII-S should be enough for an office machine. There isn't a huge real-world difference from Athlon XP 1600.

If you have already bought CPU & mobo, I'd then recommend using Alpha PAL 8045 if it fits your mobo. Pace dejacky, I'd recommend using low noise 80mm fan with a huge heatsink like PAL 8045. You can use a MUCH QUIETER fan if you go with PAL 8045 that uses 80mm fan. It's hard to find a quiet 60mm fan with sufficient CFM. If PAL 8045 doesn't fit your mobo, consider Swiftech MC462. Whichever you choose, just buy a HS and pair it with a quiet fan, like Papst 8412NGL, rated at 12dBA/19CFM. It's available at Plycon and Dynatron. Try to find a fan with less than 20dBA rating. Alternatively, you can use PC&P Silencer at 7v. BTW, if you are using Athlon XP 1600, then PAL 8045 & Papst8412 NGL is enough to cool it.

If you go with Tualatin Celeron/PIII, you might be able to run it fanless.

Now, as regards a case, I'd suggest Antec sx600 (w/o PSU) or Antec sx630 (w/ Antec PSU). I don't know much about Enlight case, but you should check if it has a good ventilation. Another thing that I would check is whether it is sturdy built, like Antec sx series. If not, it could cause you vibration noise.

For case fans, I recommend 80mm fans rather than 90mm or 120mm fans, because you can find much quieter 80mm fans than 90mm or 120mm fans. With 120mm fans, you'll have to undervolt your fans to 5v. Actually, if you go with Antec, it comes with 80mm fans. You can and probably should replace them with Papst 8412NGL or PC&P Silencer fans. I don't see any reason to use 120mm fan if you are going to build a quiet office computer. I guess Enlight also uses a 80mm fan by default.

As regards PSU, I'd suggest Enermax FMA or FCA version, although that may not be quiet enough. If so, replace fans. Antec's PP303XP may also be quiet, if you can lower RPM of its fan via motherboard. Actually Antec PP303XP could be quieter than Enermax under this condition, since it only has one fan. Unless you cover your PSU like dejacky does, you will definitely hear your PSU, be it Enermax or Antec. If you buy a modded Enermax with a single Papst fan from noisecontrol.de in Germany, you might not be able to hear it. Right now I have a 330W Enermax with 7-volted PC&P Silencer fan and 5-volted Panaflo 90mm L, whose total noise is definitely below 20dBA, but I can still hear its noise, although I have to admit that I'm really sensitive to noise and work in my quiet room alone. I don't know what PSU comes with Enlight, but it'll be noisier than Enermax or Antec, since these two are the least noisy.

If you haven't bought your HD, I recommend getting Barracuda IV. Your HD, if noisy, could ruin all your efforts for a quiet machine.

So, to sum up, if you go with Antec case and replace its 80mm fans with Papst or PC&P Silencer fans and use Antec PP303XP or Enermax EG365 (FCA/FMA), then you'll get a quiet case. In addition, it'll be better if you use PAL8045 with Papst8412NGL as your HSF. Just in case you don't have your CPU yet, get P4NW or Tualatin Celeron/PIII. Likewise, if you don't have your HD for your new machine yet, get Barracuda IV.

 

[dejacky]

all good advice, but i would still go w/ the athlonXP. Here is something u will notice with trying to get a larger/quieter (80mm) cpu fan:
It will not cool as well as a 60mm cpu fan(louder) that outputs same cfm as the 80mm. Do not foget to LAP YOUR HEATSINK & USE ARTIC SILVER 3. This will bring u'r temps down drastically, thus elimating the need for loud fans "in the 1st place." Nevertheless, Ausone's heatsink/fan recommendations sound good to me, though I've never had experience with it. i've got some tests/mods to run on my own system & I'll post the results next weekend when i'm thru. cheers.

-dejacky

 

[Ausone]

dejacky, although your mod seems great, I have to disagree about HSF. No offense.


<< Next find a quiet 60mm cpu fan. Why not 80mm? Because 60mm focuses more air flow to a smaller area(i.e. heatsink) = better. >>

This assumes the same amount of CFM for both fans and the use of a 60mm HS. If you use a 80mm fans with larger CFM, then the pressure, hence cooling capacity, is the same. Besides, in contrast to using 80mm fan for a 60mm HS via adapter, if you use a 80mm fan with a 80mm HS, you'll benefit from a greater heat absorbing capacity of a larger heatsink. Moreover, due to its lower rotation for the same CFM, a 80mm fan tend to be quieter than a 60mm fan with the same CFM. So I think that, generally, it's better to use a 80mm fan with a good 80mm HS, than using a 60mm fan with a 60mm HS. What you say is right as far as choosing between 60mm and 80mm fan for a 60mm HS is concerned.

Edit: I haven't read your newer post when I posted this. I wholeheartedly agree to your recommendation for lapping HS and using AS.

 

[dejacky]

Ausone,
no offence taken, we're all here to help . I agree with Ausone about the 80mm fan for an 80mm heatsink in regards to lower noise. Just wanted to make it clear that an 80mm fan for a 60mm-designed heatsink will not cool as well. Agh, it's february already? Archac, let us know of your results with this project please.

-dejacky