I have a Sandybridge K2600 based system from 2011. It is in an Antec Sonata III mid-tower case. I am using the stock CPU fan, an OCZ 120GB SSD and 3 7200RPM hard drives.
The case has 1 120mm fan... one that pulls air out the back with a 3 piece switch. It has no way to be controlled by CPU.
The thing has always run warm... around 38-40C but I've had zero issues.
However, I just got another haswell PC and I realise how LOUD this thing is. It's truly like a jet engine by comparison.
Almost -all- the noise comes from those 1 fans... NOT from the CPU fan. I don't want to replace the cooler (unless I have to) since that isn't the noise.
SO: What are my options for making this quieter without spending a ton of time/money?
I'm thinking part of the noise is also that the box hasn't much 'padding'. Does the case really make that much of a difference? (I have an extra Antec 'padded' case I could swap out.)
Are the 'silent' 120mm fans really that much better? I mean do they provide the same CFM only notceably quieter?
I also have a larger 200mm fan I could install on the side... except that the Sonata case has no holes in the side. Is it possible to simply drill some ventilation holes and use this? Would this large fan be more effective than 1 the 120mm fan?
Sorry for rambling. Just looking for some general ideas on what would help the most.
TIA,
---JC
The case has 1 120mm fan... one that pulls air out the back with a 3 piece switch. It has no way to be controlled by CPU.
The thing has always run warm... around 38-40C but I've had zero issues.
However, I just got another haswell PC and I realise how LOUD this thing is. It's truly like a jet engine by comparison.
Almost -all- the noise comes from those 1 fans... NOT from the CPU fan. I don't want to replace the cooler (unless I have to) since that isn't the noise.
SO: What are my options for making this quieter without spending a ton of time/money?
I'm thinking part of the noise is also that the box hasn't much 'padding'. Does the case really make that much of a difference? (I have an extra Antec 'padded' case I could swap out.)
Are the 'silent' 120mm fans really that much better? I mean do they provide the same CFM only notceably quieter?
I also have a larger 200mm fan I could install on the side... except that the Sonata case has no holes in the side. Is it possible to simply drill some ventilation holes and use this? Would this large fan be more effective than 1 the 120mm fan?
Sorry for rambling. Just looking for some general ideas on what would help the most.
TIA,
---JC