Very cool silent PC on Screen Savers

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 6 Jan 2004, 04:07 am »

Check this out: http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/modtips/story/0,24330,3422228,00.html

If I remember, this PC measured only 5 dB @ 1k and 15 dB @ 60 hz! Now that's quiet, quieter than a lot of CD players and stuff!

bob82274 · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Jan 2004, 06:35 am »

It is amazing how quite your computer becomes if you use the right parts. My last computer was 'bout 900 MHz with a whopping total of 3 fans. One on the CPU, one on the GPU, and one in the power supply. Last May I built my current computer. I didn't go for a silent pc but I did what I could to keep it quiet. It now has 9 fans: 2 intakes, one out on the top, one out on the back, two for the power supply, one for the CPU, one for the GPU, and one for the Northbridge. You know what, it is much quieter than my old one.

If anyone wants to quiet down their current PC and its from a major manufacturer (HP, Dell, Gateway) my suggestion is replace the powersupply. It costs like $50 or so but you might reduce the amount your computer crashes and it won't make nearly as much noise. Did this on a roommates PC and it has worked like a charm.

EchiDna · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 05:07 am »

The biggest change I've made in the last 12 months in terms of PC noise reduction was by buying an Antec 'Sonata' casing. this thing is dead quiet with isolated HDD mounts, a very quiet power supply and thermally controlled fans that slow down when the temperature is not that high or the PC is not working so hard to further reduce noise. HIGHLY recommended as a simple off the shelf solution.
Not cheap, but then quality never is.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 05:12 am »

The Sonata is a really cool looking case, too. There's one very similar to the Sonata that has most of the same quieting tech (rubber grommets in the drive bays, quiet fan, etc) that's a little cheaper and a bit more stylish, IMO.

EchiDna · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 06:08 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

The Sonata is a really cool looking case, too. There's one very similar to the Sonata that has most of the same quieting tech (rubber grommets in the drive bays, quiet fan, etc) that's a little cheaper and a bit more stylish, IMO.

so the obvious question....

the one that is similar, yet more stylish and cheaper... what brand and model is it?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Jan 2004, 06:16 am »

It's also made by Antec, and it's pretty similar. I just like the contouring on the front of the case.

Check it out here: http://www.directron.com/slk3700bqe.html

wongstein · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Feb 2004, 07:14 am »

I convinced a friend to buy the Sonata because he has his computer in his living room, as I've used this case before. I don't think it's audio-component quiet like the case that Rob is telling us about, but it makes a huge difference next to the old Dell that he had. I think the Sonata is about as quiet as my girlfriend's Mac G4. I wish they still made the G4 Cube that has no fan - just convection (although I'm not a Mac Guy perse). The Antec cases are nice to work with - they have lots of space and quality mounts and no bare sheet metal edges to cut you. It uses an oversized fan that runs slower (I can't remember if the grate over the fan is wire frame type, or just stamped from the case - I think it's the latter), has a quiet power supply that you can also buy from them, and there's a thin plastic door covering the devices on the front including the CD/DVD drives. Nothing else about the case seems to be engineered for "silence".

There are lots of things you can do to make a computer quieter when you're building it from scratch, like choosing a video card with no fan etc.

I've been meaning to look into water cooling, not just for quiet computers, but possibly for amps too. The idea being that a regulated cooling system (with the pump in a muffled box) could keep a transistor closer to its ideal operating temperature during operation, and also let an amp warm-up much quicker. Anyone ever heard of this being done?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Feb 2004, 08:40 am »

Antec makes some quiet fans and PS's, but I've found some that are a lot quieter yet: http://www.endpcnoise.com. They have some 120 mm fans that are quieter than anyone else's 80 mm.

wongstein · « **Reply #8 on:** 3 Feb 2004, 08:51 am »

Where did all these quiet PCs come from? It's great. I went searching for a really silent computer a year ago and found very few products (mostly overpriced). I know that a few years ago HP or Compaq and some other big companies offered quieter machines but the trend didn't take off. I guess that finally computers are sooo fast (way faster than most people really need), so people are starting to focus on quality rather than quantity, and they're realising the importance of the aural environment. Thanks for all the links, fellas - I think my next machine is going to be really silent.

Anthony

bubba966 · « **Reply #9 on:** 3 Feb 2004, 09:13 am »

If you're looking for quiet power supplies, look at Enermax's offerings. I never could find any dB ratings on them. But after trying a few between myself and friends, we've found them to be a lot quieter than just about everyone else.

I was most surprised about the Vantec "Stealth" PS's. WTF is stealth about those things? They were some of the loudest PS's I've ever seen!

And the Papst case fans are sweet. Can't hear 'em at all. Get a heatsink for your CPU that'll accept an 80mm case fan and stick the Papst on and you're good to go.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #10 on:** 3 Feb 2004, 11:42 am »

If you can believe their rated specs, the NX-3500 Nexus 350 Watt Special Edition Quiet Power Supply makes the Enermax PS's sound like a leaf blower!

Under 20 A-Weighted dBa! Now that is quiet. Add a shroud for the HD and a fanless video card, along with the Papst 120mm fan and you've got a seriously quiet machine (assuming you go with a heatsink/quiet fan for the CPU. Plus a wee bit o' Dynomat, I presume.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 08:49 am »

Another update: I did a little poking around and found some P/S's & case fans quiet enough to make the Papst's & Nexus's sound like lawn mowers. Check out http://www.silenX.com to check 'em out.

bubba966 · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 09:23 am »

Ahh, so they've got some PSU's that put out more than 400w. The Nexus PSU's that you mentioned a week or so back might be quieter than the Enermax PSU's. But Nexus doesn't make any PSU that puts out more than 400w. And for a dual MP processor setup, I'd need 400w minimum.

But that 450w SilenX PSU at 14dBA looks promising. But damn, is it spendy! I thought my 450w Enermax was steep, but it's still $40 cheaper than the SilenX. If I can find someone that wants and Enermax EG465P-VE(FCA) I might get me a SilenX...

And their 14dBA CPU fan looks nice too. But I'd need 2 of 'em, and they're $57 a piece!

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 11:54 am »

SilenX has a PSU that's nearly 600W @ <15 dBa!

That's a lotta power and a lotta quiet. The reviews are very positive and the thing weighs a ton (a good sign, PSU wise).

bubba966 · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 12:11 pm »

I can't say that I'd need a 600w PSU. I'm sure the 450w is fine for my use.

But I am starting to think about just opening my Enermax up and replacing the 80mm & 92mm fans with the 14dBA 80mm & 11dBA 92mm SilenX models. That'd help a bunch. And as the 80mm in my PSU is adjustable, I could back it off a bit until it starts cutting into the case & CPU temps.

And it'd be a lot cheaper to just swap out the fans.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 12:17 pm »

Yeah, I hadn't thought of that. The fan is the only part of a PSU that makes noise. I only wonder if the SilenX PSU might control the fan differently: they do mention having heat hardened parts. It may use a lower fan speed and simply operate at a higher temp. I'm just speculating, though.

bubba966 · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 12:21 pm »

If I'd heard more about SilenX, I might not be so hesitant about them. But I don't recall hearing about them at all last year when I was looking, and looking, and looking for PSU comparos as I needed lots of very reliable power that didn't sound like a damn jet engine (can you say "Vantec Stealth" PS?).

It seems like a fairly new company to me. And I'd rather have a PSU from a company with a good track record.

So, tomorrow if I can get around to it, I'll pull out my Enermax and check the feasibility of swapping the fans out. Hopefully it's doable.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 12:50 pm »

Actually, from what I've read, they were the first company doing the silent stuff and have been around since '95. They started out in the pro realm doing noise control for movies & recording studios before they branched out into silent PCs. I can't personally vouch for them, but the things I've read have been very positive.

Of course, the Nexus is reasonably quite, albeit 6-7 dB louder than the SilenX. In a Dyno-matted case w/quiet fans the diff may be minor.

JoshK · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 02:23 pm »

too bad I didn't see this thread a couple of days ago, I would have taken that PSU off of you Brian. I accidentally fried my PSU. Shorted the damn thing out.

I just ordered a new one.

HarleyMYK · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 Feb 2004, 03:28 pm »

Yeah, I wish I saw it too. On the other hand, I saved some money buying this:
Cheap and Pretty Quiet PS