Ultra Quiet Power Supply

MIDIman

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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I have a client wanting to build an quiet computer for DAW (digital audio workstation) use in a studio atmosphere. I had recommended just getting the computer out of the studio, until he shoed me a vendor that sells "quiet" power supplies:

QuietPCs

Their noise level teste are quite thorough as well:

Noise Leve testing

The 300w PSU is guaranteed less than 26dba, using a "combination with a passive CPU cooler and SilentDrive? acoustic enclosure" - pretty darn low, but this sucker is $111.20 shipped to the USA (they are based in UK)! According to product sheets, the "SilentDrive" technology uses "acoustic sleeves" to dampen the sound, much like the acoustic foam we use in studios. There's a great picture of the Drive enclosure:

Foam Enclosure

My Questions:
1) Are there similar companies in the US? Is this product really worth $111?
2) Can Pentium3 FCPGA CPUs run without fans when not overclocked, or with very slow rpm 60mm fans?

I'm thinking it might be easier to buy a really nice 300w PSU, some acoustic foam, an 80mm quiet Sunon, and just modify my own.

**Note: the PSU for this computer does needs to be high quality! "AMD Approved" and thermal sensing tells me that they are quite possibly using a high quality PSU, but it is uncertain what brand it is**

Thx.
 

MIDIman

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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I also noticed a review of their radial HS, Ultraquiet PSU, and SilentDrive at The Register:

Review

They gave it quite a good review, and from reading their own words, this sounds very much well worth the cash to me.
 

optoman

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 1999
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Damn that looks sweet. Anyone in the US inrested in a group buy? I think is would save us money on the shipping. I would go for a 300W power and maybe a couple of those drive silencers.
 

ginfest

Golden Member
Feb 22, 2000
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Check out Russ's place, Compucheap, the Enermax 350W he sells is the best PS, quiet and full-featured.
Mike G
 

MIDIman

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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Ginfest, a nice PSU indeed, but I'm looking for PSUs built to be quiet. The one I've listed from this UK-based company is built for the needs of audio engineers in an extremely quiet environment, where the slightest noise can be heard from the mic.

I'm just curious if there is anything even remotely similar in the states, and if not, well darnit there should be! This doesn't look like an extremely difficult modification to a qulity PSU.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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I put a Panaflo low-rpm fan into a power supply with a thermal regulator (&quot;Noise Killer&quot;) for the fan, and it is probably quiet enough for his needs unless he is going to have it right next to his mic. The fan only puts out 21dB at full voltage, and with the thermal regulator it is even quieter. The system it's in is totally inaudible at a distance of 10 feet once the CD-ROM drive has spun down, thanks to the use of another Panaflo 80mm fan on the CPU's heatsink and some other tweaks. If he put it on the floor under the desk, that would probably do it.


I have seen those SilentDrive enclosures for sale
here.
 

idgaf13

Senior member
Oct 31, 2000
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The drive silencer is simple.
Same principle as used to make a judges chambers soundproff.
instead of 2x4's in the wall smaller ribs are used around which
fiberglass insulation is interwoven forming the pattern of a sound wave when viewed from above.Each new piece of insulation
weaves opposite the previous one.
/.\./.\./ first piece

\./.\./.\ second piece

very simplistic diagram but you get the idea.
If you can mod a case this should not be difficult.