What makes most NOISE?

[cphowitzer]

hey guys..

What fan is the major source of noise?

Case fans?
CPU Fan?
VideoCard fan?
PowerSupply Fan?

Because currently my case runs at a huge sound level (1/2 of a lawntrimmer), and i cant really figure out which part is making so much noise, if not all together.

My dell i'm using right now is silent, almost cant hear even though im using it. The computer thats making noise can be heard from the basement (and its on 2nd floor)...

Im kinda leaning that its the PSU, or the CPU fan. If it IS the PSU, then do you think any of these are better?
My current one is L&C 450watt.

Ultra 400Watt UV Reactive ATX Power Supply with Clear Sides and Dual 80mm UV Fans 39.99CAN
PowerUp 400 Watt Dual Fan Power Supply 32.99CAN
Diablo 420Watt Aluminum ATX Power Supply 42.99CAN
Coolmax ATX Black 400 Watt Power Supply with Silent 120mm Fan 69.99CAN

 

[AsiLuc]

It depends.
I suggest you open up your case and try to find out by carefully stopping fans (press in the middle, not in the blades..). Listen and judge. Small, fast-spinning ones are loud, because our ear is sensitive to sounds with such a frequency.
Usually the CPU-fan is a ah heck, and the video-fan is when you have a new (hot..) card.
I of course posses no knowledge of your casefans (you didn't mention..). Try voltmodding them to 7 volt. If you don't know how it's done:
normally: 12 -> 0 volt = 12v
instead: 12 -> 5 volt = 7v = silent.

Unfortunately I'm unfamiliar with your PSU.

General advise:
Remove anything that directly impedes airflow. Don't hesitate to take out all the components and use a tool to remove steelwork. Like a fan that's attached to the case with just some little holes drilled in the steel. That's just fabulous, not! Remove it! Remove unnecessary case-fans! Silence necessary fans! Remove fanguards. Be creative.

Have no doubts in modding, think, plan, do without regret!

 

[cphowitzer]

haha thx...

Heres my specs of fans:

Thermaltake Doble ball bearing 80mm Case fans (blue led)
L&C 450 watt PSU
3.0C CPU with stock cooling
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro

 

[Nebor]

Your stock cooler, northbridge, and case fans will be making the most noise. You can replace all those for under $100. (Panaflo l1as are good case fans, zalman makes passive northbridge coolers, CPU heatsink and fan is up to you)

A new quiet power supply should be between $60 and $200. (Seasonic makes very quiet ones, CoolMax makes fanless models)

A new cooler for your 9800 Pro should be between $15 and $40. (VGA Silencer of Zalman Zm80d-hp fanless)

And a fan controller, of course. $20 or so.

 

[cphowitzer]

do u have any good candian retailers that sell such things?

 

[AsiLuc]

I don't know about yours, but my 9800Pro turned my silent rig into one with a noticeable hum because of it's high pitch. Putting a Papst fan at my cpu helped 2.
How about putting the casefans @ 7v?

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: cphowitzer
do u have any good candian retailers that sell such things?

Check out SPCR, especially the forums. There are other canadians there, they can help you.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well in my case my HD makes the most noise (its an old WD). If iunplug that and turn the computer on it is nearly silent. I am using 4 cheap-o case fans @ 28dba (supposedly) but they will soon be replace by panaflo 12L's, and i am also using a 12L on my SLK-947U for CPU cooling. I dont know much about my PSU, its relatively quiet.

If you want the best PSU you can buy good things keep coming about OCZ Powerstream PSU. They run at 23dba at 60% power, and they are geared towards enthusiast so they have all the bells and whistles.

-Kevin