Fans and PVR Noise

Evil_Attorney · #1 01-07-2005, 12:56 PM

I have a computer that I am setting up to use as my dedicated media/PVR computer. However, the case fan and power supply are cheap which means they are loud.

My personal computer, a Dell, seems to keep the case fan off most of the time and only turns it on when it's very hot in the room (over 90 degrees). Is this a common feature? My PVR computer doesn't do this. I assume this is a feature of the bios and that my PVR's bios sucks. Is there any way to add this functionality to the PVR system? Should I break down and buy a better fan and power supply?

AndyS · #2 01-07-2005, 01:05 PM

It depends on your motherboard really. Check out speedfan - it can control fan speed on many motherboards. Also, you may want to look at a quieter fan and/or power-supply.

I just changed my fans and power supply to make them quieter.
I went with Nexus "Real Silent" 80mm case fans (from siliconacoustics) and a Seasonic Super-Tornado 400W power-supply. Both are very quiet and have fan-speed reporting.

Andy.

Evil_Attorney · #3 01-07-2005, 01:16 PM

Thanks. I'll try speedfan to see if it will work, although I suspect it won't since it's a cheap VIA motherboard.

How quiet did the new components make your system? (I know that's difficult to quantify)

mdmint · #4 01-07-2005, 01:23 PM

For really good fan noise control see this thread:
http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...ead.php?t=9285

AndyS · #5 01-07-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil_Attorney

How quiet did the new components make your system? (I know that's difficult to quantify)

Pretty much inaudible. The DVD drive is by far the noisiest component now and that's the final piece I'll be replacing. I also installed a Zalman 7000-Cu CPU cooler and a Zalman HDD-cooler. Both these components (esp. the HDD cooler) had a great effect on quitening the machine down.

When the DVD drive doesn't have a DVD in it I can't hear the machine from a couple of feet away. Even with my ear next to the machine I can only hear a low 'whoosh'. I'm really pleased with my results. Temps are also very good.

Andy.

Evil_Attorney · #6 01-07-2005, 02:12 PM

Thanks. I'll look into those. New Egg has the ZALMAN Fan RPM Controller, Model "FanMate-1" -RETAIL for $4.49. Any experience with this one?

If I reduce the fan noise, I think my hard drive will be the loudest. I have a MAXTOR 6Y120L0 120 gig hard drive and while very cheap, it's the loudest drive I've ever had in my life, of course my cheap case probaly isn't helping matters. I can hear the HD across the room. Also, the only way to change the performance/noise setting is to boot up a floppy with one of their dos programs.

stanger89 · #7 01-07-2005, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdmint

For really good fan noise control see this thread:
http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...ead.php?t=9285

Yeah, mine's on the way. After a test period in my "dev" box, it will be going in my HTPC (assuming no odd issues). At that point my HTPC will probably have:
Zalman CNPS-7000AlCu
2x Panaflo L1A 80mm fans
All controlled by the T-Balancer
My video card is passive, as is my power supply (Antec Phantom).

At that point I hope I will have to replace my HDD due to noise. We'll see after I play with it and give an official/verified answer, but right now my quiet PC/HTPC must have components are:

Antec Phantom (I love this thing)
Gigabyte Geforce 6800 Fanless
Zalman CNPS-7x00 AlCu
Quiet fans (ie Panaflo L1As)
With the last two running off a T-Balancer.

We'll see sometime late next week hopefully

mdmint · #8 01-07-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanger89

At that point I hope I will have to replace my HDD due to noise. We'll see after I play with it and give an official/verified answer, but right now my quiet PC/HTPC must have components are:

I thought you were already running 2.5" Laptop HD in your HTPC. Maybe bad assumption based on your recommendation when I was building mine last Spring. BTW, you were entirely correct, Laptop HD best quiet low heat way to go. And don't need a big capacity or fast rpm for Client work. Price not that bad anymore either, Pricewatch as low as $58 for 20GB right now. Add $3 to $5 for adapter w/ mounting bracket good to go.

Evil_Attorney · #9 01-07-2005, 03:13 PM

Are there any ways of reducing the noise of a desktop HDD? Rubber spacers or the like?

mdmint · #10 01-07-2005, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil_Attorney

Are there any ways of reducing the noise of a desktop HDD? Rubber spacers or the like?

I've seen them but never used them. Seems like they could reduce vibration noise, if that's a problem, but wouldn't reduce the actual spinning or drive seek accessing noise itself.

stanger89 · #11 01-07-2005, 04:50 PM

Yeah, so far I haven't moved my Sage "server" out of my HTPC, so I've still got a 200GB WD in there. I haven't moved it yet because my only other PC is much less "safe" (ie I screw with it more) than my HTPC. However I've got my array now and plan to move it to it's own server, which should be come the Sage server. Then I'll be throwing a laptop drive in my HTPC.

Evil,

Check out 3dcool or Silicon Acoustics, they both sell a buch of quiet PC stuff, including HDD isolation mounts of various types. Silent PC Review is also a good place for info on this type of stuff.

Evil_Attorney · #12 01-07-2005, 04:58 PM

Thanks. I will check them out. As always, you guys are an outstanding source of info and advice.

mdmint · #13 01-07-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanger89

Check out 3dcool or Silicon Acoustics, they both sell a buch of quiet PC stuff, including HDD isolation mounts of various types. Silent PC Review is also a good place for info on this type of stuff.

Also http://www.quietpcusa.com/
specifically HD silencer w/cooling
http://www.quietpcusa.com/acb/showpr...jectGroup_ID=1

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