Several weeks ago I embarked on a project to quiet my comp, which involved moving/changing fan layout and adding noise dampening material to cut the overall noise coming from my comp to a bearable level. I had intended to record the noise difference, only to find that the devices I had on hand to do this were woefully inadequate for the job, so I don't have any actual readings to give you--sorry. Another of my goals was to lessen the number of fans needed to cool my system, and I was able to eliminate 2 fans mounted in one of my 5 1/4" slots, which brought me down to 6 fans total. PSU, cpu, northbridge, video, intake and exhaust. I first recorded case temp at idle, then ran both sisoft cpu benchmarks 15 times in a row, recorded the temps, then 30 min of prime95 and again recorded the temps. Then I stripped my case down to bare bones and proceeded to modify it. I removed the front case fan and using a dremel and tin snips enlarged the hole for a 92mm fan(intake). After that, I cut a blowhole in the top of the case and mounted an 80mm fan there with grill(exhaust). Note: I also took these fans apart and cleaned up all the sufaces--no sharp edges or corners to add to the noise or disturb the air flow. I re-assembled the comp, took readings and then took it apart again and attached 1/8" cork to most of the exposed metal surfaces, then put back together again and took more readings.
Overall, I achived my goal. My comp is only slightly louder than the stock box (PII 366) I use as a server which sits in the same room and has 3 fans--psu, cpu, and intake. The system runs only a couple of degrees hotter, considering the 2 less fans, the fact that the sound deadening material also acts as an insulator, and that the overall room temp is much higher cause it's summer and I don't run air conditioning. The cost for everything was under $15 ( I already had a 92mm fan ).
I took the temp readings using the hardware monitor software that came with my Abit mobo, and then imediately rebooted and got the temps from bios. Temps are in Celsius. Initial room temp was in high 70's F. CPU temp off mobo sensor.
Temps in this order: Via/ Bios
At idle CPU/ Ambient 27/26 30/26
Sisoft...................43/28 40/28
Prime 95.................42/28 41/28
Without front fans
Sisoft...................43/29 40/28
Prime95..................42/29 41/29
After case mods only
Sisoft...................41/24 39/24 Unfortunately this set is slightly skewed,
Prime 95.................41/25 39/25 room temp dropped on me
With sound deadening added
Sisoft...................44/26 42/26
Prime 95.................45/27 43/27
And with room temp in high 80's (F)
Sisoft...................47/29 45/29
Prime 95.................49/31 47/31
Again, I apologize for the lack of proper test equipment, my goal was to take some of the ideas that I'd seen posted here and apply them using tools that I had on hand.
Overall, I achived my goal. My comp is only slightly louder than the stock box (PII 366) I use as a server which sits in the same room and has 3 fans--psu, cpu, and intake. The system runs only a couple of degrees hotter, considering the 2 less fans, the fact that the sound deadening material also acts as an insulator, and that the overall room temp is much higher cause it's summer and I don't run air conditioning. The cost for everything was under $15 ( I already had a 92mm fan ).
I took the temp readings using the hardware monitor software that came with my Abit mobo, and then imediately rebooted and got the temps from bios. Temps are in Celsius. Initial room temp was in high 70's F. CPU temp off mobo sensor.
Temps in this order: Via/ Bios
At idle CPU/ Ambient 27/26 30/26
Sisoft...................43/28 40/28
Prime 95.................42/28 41/28
Without front fans
Sisoft...................43/29 40/28
Prime95..................42/29 41/29
After case mods only
Sisoft...................41/24 39/24 Unfortunately this set is slightly skewed,
Prime 95.................41/25 39/25 room temp dropped on me
With sound deadening added
Sisoft...................44/26 42/26
Prime 95.................45/27 43/27
And with room temp in high 80's (F)
Sisoft...................47/29 45/29
Prime 95.................49/31 47/31
Again, I apologize for the lack of proper test equipment, my goal was to take some of the ideas that I'd seen posted here and apply them using tools that I had on hand.
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