Noise dampener kits

[suszterpatt]

Just wondering, are those large foam plates that you can stick inside your comp to absorb noise really worth their cost? They look like something you can make out of household items, yet they're damn expensive ($20+).

 

[FlyingPenguin]

I've used Dynamat to noise dampen a case. It works, but a lot depends on how noisy the case is to start with. It's a waste on a premium case like an Antec which are generally pretty quiet already.

The noise dampening really works best on cases that reverberate from mechanical vibration (fans and hard drive), Most decent cases now have rubber isolation mounts on the fans and HDDs to eliminate that.

Cheaper cases also have a single thin sheet of sheet metal for the cover, which tends to act like a drum and noise dampening material definately helps. Better cases have double layer covers (a sheet metal cover backed by a reinforcing sheet with openings in it).

Noise dampening will do nothing for you if your fans or had drives are noisy. Get quieter fans or drives.

 

[suszterpatt]

So they're more like vibration dampeners than actual noise dampeners?

 

[biostud]

I use this in my current case:
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=994

 

[suszterpatt]

And does it help?

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: suszterpatt
And does it help?

yes, specially in the front, because I have a door in front of my 5 1/4" bays where this is also attached.

 

[V00D00]

I have an big ol' antec case with 5 hard drives. It's unbearably loud. If this stuff will help, I'm all over it, but would it help me? I don't have rubber mounts though. Would those be more beneficial than the noise dampening material?

Wow... I just realized I have pretty much the same case as in that review biostud linked.

 

[Elcs]

I think dampening material reduces vibration noise and can reduce direct, low pitched noise. IE. reduce vibration noise of HDD's and reduce low hums of fans.

But wouldnt any profound impact on noise of air itself moving, loud vibration noises or loud/high pitched fan noises.

I might be totally wrong here but thats the way Id guess it would work.

 

[biostud]

I'm wondering about the rubber mounts as well, and probably will buy somefor my HDD during a soon to come upgrade. The plates dampens some of the noise from fans and HDD, but some also get transefered to the cabinet, which the dampening material can't help.

 

[Auric]

Yeah, those tar-based sheets are not intended for noise absorbtion but to reduce vibration in thin metal panels like car doors 'n' such. They are ill suited to higher temperatures or where odour is undesirable as in the home (i.e. they are messy and stinky) and are really the el-cheapo solution compared to vinyl. Even then, some type of foam product would also be needed to actually absorb airborne motor noise. Chances are this schtuff can be had much cheaper from audio and electronics resellers than PC enthusiast ones.

Definitely try to avoid creating case vibration in the first place with grommets or double-sided foam tape (my fave tip for case-fan mounting on the cheap) before even considering anti-vibration sheets.

 

[suszterpatt]

Gotcha, thanks for the advice.

 

[Tiamat]

if your case is already very noisy, the mats will do absolutely nothing.

The best way to tackle a noise problem is to get rid of it at its source. Covering it up is extremely difficult and you know the law of conservation of energy...

Acoustic Energy converts to Heat energy and you will notice a temperature increase.


First steps to take:
1. Samsung HDDs if you can.
2. Seasonic S12 power supply (or other quiet one)
3. Antec 3000B or better case
4. Zalman passive for North bridge
5. Zalman cooler or similar for graphics card
6. Thermalright + Panaflo M1BX 92mm for cpu
7. Nexus or Yateloon D12SL-12 case fans
8. Then look at the foams/acoustic material.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
if your case is already very noisy, the mats will do absolutely nothing.

The best way to tackle a noise problem is to get rid of it at its source. Covering it up is extremely difficult and you know the law of conservation of energy...

Acoustic Energy converts to Heat energy and you will notice a temperature increase.


First steps to take:
1. Samsung HDDs if you can.
2. Seasonic S12 power supply (or other quiet one)
3. Antec 3000B or better case
4. Zalman passive for North bridge
5. Zalman cooler or similar for graphics card
6. Thermalright + Panaflo M1BX 92mm for cpu
7. Nexus or Yateloon D12SL-12 case fans
8. Then look at the foams/acoustic material.

Some solid advice.

Id also add in a recommendation for a Fan Controller or if your motherboard headers can handle it, Speedfan.

Ive just set up Speedfan for my XP1700 @ stock speed, 1.4v. Both Panaflo 120mm Case Fans run at 5% minimum, desired case temp 29C and Panaflo 92mm on my SLK900A runs at 10% minimum, desired cpu temp 40C. My system idles at 22-25C case temp and ~35-36C CPU Temp. Fans spin up when they need to and spin back down when they dont need to work so hard.

It also has a method of reducing the FSB under certain CPU load criteria for certain motherboards. My ABIT NF7-S Rev 2.0 has this option so I get my CPU to underclock from 133mhz FSB down to 100mhz FSB when the CPU isnt under heavy load. Helps slightly with temperatures.

This can help reduce pc noise, especially when the machine isnt running something taxing.

 

[0roo0roo]

scam
http://www.dansdata.com/foam.htm

 

[suszterpatt]

Interesting read, 0roo0roo, thanks.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea save your money for low noise components from the start. spending money later to muffle noise is not effective...let alone cost effective. i've tried a lot of that stuff, even ordered a roll of accoustic foam and such.. not worth the effort.

 

[Elcs]

Back on one of my threads, I popped the question, what cheap stuff could I use to line my case rather than splashing out on expensive stuff that may or may not work (reviews dont seem conclusive to me, some show some difference,m others dont).

After my question, i just added suggestions like cheap market stall foam or even bubble wrap and I was laughed at

Obviously there are better ways of quietening PC's but the jury seems to be out when it comes to this sound dampening stuff.