How do I lower the noise coming from my computer/ HD?

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Rob S.

My audio cave is fairly well treated w/ Real Traps and GIK, and I can still faintly hear the "purr" of my laptop and HD in my adjacent closet.   I can only hear it when the music gets real soft but it would be nice to have the background even "blacker" and quieter.  Can anything be done to absorb or isolate it even more than keeping it in the closet?  I don't have any restrictrions on the appearance of the closet, internally.

Here's a picture of it on the right wall of my room.   http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=1156&pos=13   

Rob S.




toocool4

Re: How do I lower the noise coming from my computer/ HD?
« Reply #1 on: 16 Jan 2008, 09:07 pm »
Depending on what make of hard drive you have in your laptop, you can download software from the manufacture of the hard drive. With software for the hard drive they have features like running the hard drive in quiet mode, which really means the rotation speed is slowed down as to generate less noise. This will only take effect after a re-boot.

Also since you have the laptop in the closet, the cooling fan maybe running more to keep the laptop cool. What you are hearing maybe due to the fact that the laptop is hot in the closet, so you may have to arrange better cooling in the closet.

Hope this helps.

Chris

satfrat

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Re: How do I lower the noise coming from my computer/ HD?
« Reply #2 on: 16 Jan 2008, 09:57 pm »
Where exactly is the humming coming from? If it's coming from removable cooling fans, then replace them with home theater grade quiet fans. I have 3 in my HTPC and 1 in my exterior hard drive and they whisper at best. All my gear sits right on top of a 6 shelf Sanus rack located right between my main speakers. The fans can be heard when everything's shut off but are negligent when the tunes are spinning. Just a thought about what's working for me.  :D

Cheers,
Robin

Carlman

Re: How do I lower the noise coming from my computer/ HD?
« Reply #3 on: 16 Jan 2008, 10:58 pm »
You can do a few things if you decide to turn that closet into a dedicate gear space...
The doors you have are going to do nothing.  If you remove them, I would wager the sound is almost the same level... just a slightly different pitch.  If you can replace those doors with solid doors on hinges, with a seal all the way around, you'll eliminate a LOT more sound. 

You can also put another layer of sheetrock inside the walls adhered with green glue, that'd help also.

If you do both of those and add some insulation bats in fabric to the backs of the closet doors, you'll get it pretty much silent.  You'll need to ventilate it to an outside wall or the ceiling if you do this also...

Barring all of that, I would build a box out of MDF and then layer that with green glue and then rap another layer of MDF around that.  Put a door on the front with the same MDF/GG/MDF combo and you'll have a pretty silent box to put things in... (also known as a 'hush box')

Just some thoughts.  Basically, your closet has no sound insulating properties now and lots of air (sound) leaks.  Folding doors won't prevent sound from coming through as you've found... So, that's the area I'd attack first...

-C

HumanMedia


Rob S.

Re: How do I lower the noise coming from my computer/ HD?
« Reply #5 on: 16 Jan 2008, 11:38 pm »
Audio room is in basement and is low 60's year round, and closet is cool also. No heat issues yet, they have lots of room in the closet and it's not real cramped.

The noise isn't really loud, it's just that I am distracted by it, and listening for it in an obsessed way.  Both the western digital Notebook external 250gig HD and the compaq notebook have the normal purring/ fan noise.   The lightweight doors when closed help cut the sound in half easily.

So, hanging batts of fiberglass or the compressed 703 or 705 boards on the inside of the cabinet doors first, then new door if that doesn't seem to quiet it enough.   I hope I don't need to do the drywall and green glue option.

Thanks so far,

Rob S.