Help! My computer is very noisy!

[papaya4duron]

Hi,

My computer is powerful but is noisy too. How can I let it quiet so that I can sleep with it on?
I think I have to install something on the fan, am I right?
Thanks.

 

[FordLorider]

Well high power fans usually mean a lot of noise. They have some sound dampening sheets over at plycon but that's going to be a lot of money. Maybe you could invest in some different fans.

 

[ojai00]

Can you post some of the stuff that you have running? Actually, just post your entire rig. If you have a lot of fans running, you might want to consider purchasing a fanbus. You can switch the fans off when you don't need them, and turn them back on when you're doing intensive work that requires cooling. Hope this helps.

 

[Imdmn04]

ear plugs would be the cheapest and easiest solution but probably not the most comfortable

 

[oldfart]

I keep pimping Speedfan (can you tell I like it)? If your mobo supports it, you can have it vary the rpm of any fan in your system connected to a mobo header. It can do it manually, or automatically based on any temp reading. And it will cost you $0, and you don't need to touch a screwdriver.

 

[darkside9923]

Im with ojal00 the fanbus was defintley a solution I used for one of my systes. Also you might want to check out Dynamat they actually have Pc solutions now, I havent used it yet but it looks like a good solution. I use to use that stuff in my car to keep the thump in the trunk from ratling everything,.....

 

[HouRman]

argh I just spent good money coating the entire internals of my computer with Dynamat Extreme which is supposed to be 4X better than original dynamat and now there's a PC solution?

I've been on the same quest to quiet my PC and I've gone pretty much full out as you'll notice:

step 1: Fans are loud.. Install insanely large heatsinks and remove screaming small fans and use a silent 120mm fan blowing over them all. I'm using a golden orb without fan to cool my geforce ddr and took the fan out. the Gorb is so big it's cooling the max o/ced GPU just fine from my 120mm intake fan.
step 2: Quiet and control the large fan further with a variable resistor (Rheostat) found at radio shack in the pentiometer section for under $4 each.
step 3: replace hard drive with Barricda IV
step 4: replace PS fan with silent one and u may also use a rheostat as well to manually control RPM.
step 5: Apply the most expensive dynamat on all sides, double coating panels that are able including covering some components.

My final step is to construct a 3/4" MDF wooden house with hinged door to act as a sound shield for the system with ventilation. Reason behind this is though my system is very quiet, my Pioneer 106S is screaming in comparison which will be the purpose of the sound wall. My best friend is a contractor so making sub enclosures and custom furnishings is a hobby

I could make a tutorial on how to mount/adjust and part numbers for rheostats to control fan rpms manually on the outside of a computer. It's really quite simple and the best part it looks trick with chrome knobs on the front of my case. Next I'll mount an LCD temp gauge next to the rpm controllers.... sweetness

 

[HouRman]

Just visited the dynamat site... the PC solution is nothing more than a gimmick to get pc ppl to buy more expensive dynamat.

At Fry's electronics you can buy 4 square feet of dynamat extreme for 29.99. (Cheapest I've ever seen it anywhere)
Best Buy sells it for $35 and I think so does Crutchfield.com

anyways you'll need 2 of those to COMPLETELY cover the internals of a standard medium atx case. PC dynamat is the same thing as dynamat extreme, so i'd save money and buy a bulk pack of extreme you can then use a razor blade to cut into custom shapes for cases.

 

[papaya4duron]

Thanks for your helpful inf. It sounds not very simple. I will try it.
BTW, my computer is Gateway 6400 server with two PIII 933 CPUs.

 

[Mavrick007]

Watercool that puppy. Takes temps down on the cpu and is quiet too cause no fan!

They also have hd watercooling as well and combos where you can cool cpu and hd at the same time with one apparatus.
It's more costly to setup but once you go this route, you won't go back.