80mm fans
with ball bearings to keep cool air flowing.
See more about these cases and fans here:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=8025M-12-BLK&cat=FAN
Two steps to reduce noise include increasing the fan size and choosing a fan
with fluid or sleeve bearings. If a
120mm fan can be
installed where the 80mm fan presently resides, a noise reduction can be
achieved because the larger fan can move the same amount of air at a lower
rotational speed.
View more about these cases and fans here:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=D12SL-12&cat=FAN
In general, the slower a fan moves the less noise it will make.
View more cases and these types of fans here:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=D12SL-12&cat=FAN
The ball bearings on many fans are a source of vibration which in turn
create noise. Selecting a fan with fluid or sleeve bearings will greatly
reduce the noise created, which is generally a good thing, except for one
instance. Description: Description:
http://www.geeks.com/images/150×150/fan-DI4-7J74F-N-unit.gif
Ball bearing fans can be counted on to get even noisier just before failure,
letting you know when replacement is necessary. Fluid or sleeve bearings
will just fail without such a warning which could jeopardize other system
components. One other caveat to sleeve-bearing fans vs. ball-bearing fans is
that sleeve-bearing fans
generally tend to fail sooner than ball-bearing fans. A quality processor
cooler is essential to keep a high powered system running cool, but it isn’t
always necessary to run the fan installed at full speed. Some coolers, such
as the
Cooler Master Aero 4,
found at this link:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DI4-7J74F-N&cat=FAN
include a simple fan speed dial that can be mounted either in the back or
the front of the case for convenient adjustment. For those bold enough to
run plumbing inside a computer, water cooling kits such as the
Cooler Master
Aquagate
View at this link:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ALC-U01-U1-N
can take cooling performance and quiet operation to a whole new level. Many
cooling fans will actually list the decibel level of the noise that they
generate. The lower the number, the better. In practical terms, below 20
decibels (db) would be super quiet; 20 to 30 decibels,
somewhat quiet; 30
to 40 decibels, somewhat noisy; and over 40 decibels, just plain noisy.
2. Cases
The design of a case is a key factor in the system’s cooling performance and
noise generation. A case with ample ventilation is required to keep the
components cool, and a few things can be done to achieve this without adding
to the noise level. “Of most interest is the availability of multiple fan
mounting locations in a case, as well as the open area provided for the fans
to move air.” (not sure why there are quotation marks around this sentence.)
Description: Description:
http://www.geeks.com/images/150×150/cas-at878-sv-unit.gifTaking a look at
the back of this
Gladiator ATX Window Case shows that the user has the flexibility to mount
an 80mm fan, or opt for the previously described benefits of a 120mm fan.
View the case here:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AT878-SV&cat=CAS
But, the perforations provided for the air to pass through are somewhat
restrictive, which could add to the noise level as the wind whistles through
the small openings. This is nothing that someone handy with a Dremel
couldn’t remedy, but for those who don’t want to cut up their case, compare
the Z-Alien
ATX Window Case to the Gladiator.
Found at this link:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AT959-BK-500&cat=CAS
There is much more open area for a 120mm fan to pass the air without
restriction. Along the same lines, but applied to other areas of the case,
the X Blade ATX
Window Case has a fairly open design on both the front grill and the side
panel for 80mm fans to draw in cool air.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AT859-BK&cat=CAS
Experimenting with the size, speed and placement of case fans can lead to a
setup with adequate cooling and low noise production that might not be
expected. It is possible for some cases to be cooled well with a single
120mm exhaust fan while leaving the other various fan locations empty. The
noise will obviously be less with fewer fans running and if the temperatures
are acceptable there is no need to use all of the fans just because they are
there.
3. Fan Controllers
Description: Description:
http://www.geeks.com/images/150×150/fan-lhd-v04-uk-n-unit.gifFan controllers
are available in numerous configurations, but they all serve the same
function. to allow a fan to run at something other than full speed. Just
reducing a fan’s speed by 5-10% can have a noticeable impact on noise, but
zero impact on cooling performance. Some fan controllers operate
automatically, using a thermal sensor to vary the speed of the fan in direct
proportion to the temperature sensed. This type is convenient as it
requires no user interaction but eliminates any possibility of custom
control. Manual speed controllers put all of the power in the user’s hands,
generally with a dial that adjusts the fan’s speed by varying the resistance
on the line powering it. The
Cooler Master
Cool Drive 4 is primarily a hard drive cooler, but it also serves the
function of a four channel manual fan speed controller.
Check it out here:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=LHD-V04-UK-N&cat=FAN
From one digital control panel, up to four temperatures can be monitored,
and the corresponding fans can be monitored and controlled to maintain a
healthy balance between noise and temperature.
4. Power Supplies
The Description: Description:
http://www.geeks.com/images/150×150/pwr-psvg-450-unit.giftypical computer
power supply features two 80mm fans to keep it cool, which will obviously
also generate some noise. Fanless power supplies are now available that
generate zero noise, but none have found their way to the shelves at
Geeks.com. These fanless power supplies don’t follow the guidelines of
typical design and there are other ways to quiet a power supply without
removing the fans all together. The
MGE Vigor 450W
Power Supply incorporates two ideas already discussed in other sections in
order to reduce noise from the power supply.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PSVG-450&cat=CAS
It features a larger 120mm fan to move more air with less speed and a fan
speed control knob to allow the user to reduce the speed even more, if they
desire. Some other companies, such as Clever
Power (which Computer Geeks sells from
time to time), specialize
in making super quiet power supplies with a variable fan that automatically
increases and decreases the spin of the fan depending on the system’s power
draw.
http://www.cleverpower.com/
5. Noise / Vibration Isolators
Products are available to reduce the vibration caused by system components,
as well as to insulate the case to keep the noise from escaping. Examples
of some of these isolation products can be applied to many areas of a
computer system and may drastically reduce the overall noise, no matter what
components are installed. For the bottom of the computer case,
rubber feet
http://www.acoustiproducts.com/en/antivibration.asp#Feet
are available to replace the hard plastic ones generally found.
Silicone gaskets
can be installed between a power supply or case fan and the case to reduce
the transmission of vibrations and the amplification of noise.
http://www.antec.com/index.php?page=cookieSet&url=$@
http://www.hp.com/
If you want to keep the noise inside your case, there is even adhesive
backed sound insulation
that can be applied to the inside walls of a computer case.
http://www.acoustiproducts.com/en/acoustipack.asp]]>
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