Need help making my system quieter

[The Mailman]

Okay, I have a setup with a Lian Li pc800 case. I love the look of the case, but the downside is that the grill-design of it makes for a noisier case than one that would be entirely closed off.

I recently bought a pair of Scythe HDD Silencers to hopefully shut up my hard drives, but that was in vain. They didn't even remotely quiet them....i think they're louder now!

But still, I need to find a way to get this case quieter. Suggestions?

Install dampening insulation?
Scrap the Scythes?
Scrap the case altogether and eat the loss?

This is part of my home theater, and I realize it's still way quieter than my Xbox360...but I'd rather not have to hear it buzzing all the time, argh

 

[Bluefront]

Toning down HD noise is not easy. It's best to suspend the drive somehow so no metal surface of the drive touches the case. If you start off with a relatively quiet drive, it's much easier, but still not perfect. I always close off any vents that face the front of the case, or the side of the case that faces me when sitting at a desk. This involves many mods, but assures that HD noise cannot reach me directly. Intake vents in the front of the case are the worst offenders.

An easier solution....use laptop drives. They are far quieter than 3.5" drives, and run cooler, and can be suspended by foam or rubber straps easily. They certainly will eliminate any HD noise that is bothering you.

 

[The Mailman]

will blocking off the vent holes on the front of my case cause overheating to the rest of my system?

 

[Zepper]

The case relies on the mesh for front to rear air flow plus PSU exhaust. To make that quiet you'll need to select the quietest of components or make a noise shield to place in front of it that will allow air to come in/go out, but block the direct noise. You'll have to judge the most effective distance yourself. Like putting a noise blocking fence between your house and a busy street that runs next to it.

Only other option is to get a less noise porous case. Some other victim would probably grab it up on the Bay... Properly priced LL cases sell well there.

.bh.

 

[The Mailman]

noise shield?

i really like the look of the case. hdd noise bugs me more than anything though. what's the best hdd silencer out there? might be worth it just to buy that for my OS hdd rather than deal with the hassle of buying a new case / selling the current

 

[Gautama2]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
Toning down HD noise is not easy. It's best to suspend the drive somehow so no metal surface of the drive touches the case. If you start off with a relatively quiet drive, it's much easier, but still not perfect. I always close off any vents that face the front of the case, or the side of the case that faces me when sitting at a desk. This involves many mods, but assures that HD noise cannot reach me directly. Intake vents in the front of the case are the worst offenders.

An easier solution....use laptop drives. They are far quieter than 3.5" drives, and run cooler, and can be suspended by foam or rubber straps easily. They certainly will eliminate any HD noise that is bothering you.

My HDD used to be VERY loud, I then removed the HDD cage and put the HDD on small stack of foam on the bottom of my case. Temps are the same (Hell, airflow might even be better with the cage gone), but it is SILENT!

 

[The Mailman]

seek noise is what's killing me though

 

[Bluefront]

You really need to visit SPCR.......they have forums/threads devoted to this very topic, including lists of specific quieter drives, and bunches of drive suspension techniques. I've never been a fan of total drive enclosures, since they usually cause over heating.

 

[Zepper]

Here are a few options: http://www.svc.com/hardiscool.html

And here: http://jab-tech.com/Hard-Drive-Coolers-c-43.html

.bh.