Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action (
More info?)
"Anssi Saari" <as@sci.fi> wrote in message
news:vg37jfxt2w8.fsf@jolt.modeemi.cs.tut.fi...
> "Magnulus" <magnulus@bellsouth.net> writes:
>
>> I simply don't understand why manufacturers don't design the hardware
>> quieter.
>
> I take it you mean why more manufacturers don't design the hardware
> quieter? I suppose it's not a selling point. But there are quiet
> components. For example, I recently replaced my fanless Radeon 9600
> pro (Sapphire) with a fanless 6600 GT (Gigabyte). A little earlier, I
> got a fanless PSU (Etasis). I don't think I ever bought a motherboard
> with a fan.
>
> So, remaining noise sources? CPU fan, two case fans, three HDs. I'll
> probably get rid of one of the HDs next and hopefully the other case
> fan can go too.
I have done a some experimenting and research to make my PC's quiet. I
needed a quiet PC so I don't keep my wife awake late at night while gaming
or downloading, but also I just like having it quiet when I use it.
I think the key is managing the airflow efficiently and good heat
transfer(heatsinks). A larger fan can run at slower (and quieter) speeds and
move the same amount of air and more efficient heat sinks need less air
flow.
Some PC cases do not have the room for larger fans and good air flow so you
might be limited on how much you can change it to make it quieter.
I built my gaming PC from scratch last spring and picked components that I
thought would be as quiet as possible and still good performance.
This is my system:
Case- Antec P160 (for its large vents and fan openings and air flow over
the hard drives. I modified it by opening the vents even more and lining the
inside with sound absorbing material.)
Case fan- (yes just one fan in the case) 120mm fan (set to exhaust out the
back at 1200-1600rpm variable. Don't be fooled by fans that are advertised
as stealth or claim to be quiet. Also most reviews are very subjective)
PSU- Coolmax 400w CX-400B with 120mm fan (very quiet, helps flow the air out
case good and only $35)
MB- Asus K8V Deluxe with 2GB Corsair XMS. (no fan needed on VIA chip)
CPU- Athlon 64 3400 with Zalman HSF #CNPS7000A-CU RT (CPU good performance
and not a lot of heat. Fan is at 1300-1500rpm and very quiet)
Graphics-ATI X800XT PE with Arctic Cooler (very quiet and blows hot air out
back to keep nearby cards cooler)
Sound- SB Audigy 2
DVD-ROM LiteOn 16x (one) (a bit noisy when in use.)
DVD+/-RW NEC (one) (also noisy when in use.)
HD- Samsung SpinPoint 160GB (two drives in RAID 0) (very quiet drives and I
also mounted the on sorbathane rubber to make them silent).
I can run this PC at normal temperature and performance settings (ATI card
in overdrive setting) and its very quiet. At idle its no louder than a VCR
or my Tivo unit. Under load it only gets a little bit louder as the fans
speed up only a couple hundred rpm.
Oh and my headphones are the Zalman ZM-RS6F 5.1 surround sound. A bit big,
but work good for gaming with true surround sound and only $50.
Lou