Using a laptop as an SLM?
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:15 pm
Is there a way to use a laptop with a long like cable as an sound level meter that can go down to the 20~22 db range? I don't really want to buy a meter for a one-off.
I ask this because yesterday I almost finished a build that seems to be at about ambient level, yet has components that are theoretically very loud. I'd like to figure out if my build was a resounding success, or if my ambient sound is so loud that it masks the noise...
My build so far:
- Antec p-182 with grills cut out and cablegami mods;
- Double AccoustiPack treatment;
- Scythe Kama bay (fan removed);
- Removed drive cages, replaced top one with foam fan mount and tunnel;
- 3x Scythe Sliptream 800rpm fans (rear, 1x middle at other end of Kama, 1x in foam tunnel);
- Gigabyte x48-dq6 motherboard;
- Inter e8500 CPU with Noctua NH1-2UP HS (no fan);
- Zalman ZM850HP PSU (removed lower chamber fan support to fit it. Big wattage for eventual crossfire);
- VelociRaptor 300gig HDD on a foam brick in the lower chamber w/icePack;
- Radeon 4870 with stock cooler;
What's strange is that I can't hear the Radeon or the VelociRaptor even under load. I was planning to remove the icePack and suspend the HDD, and also replace the GPU cooling with the HR-03 and HR-11 (already bought these), but it hardly seems necessary at this point.
One of the tests I'd like to try is raising the ambient temp with central heating since my room temp was ~17c when I finished my computer yesterday (it's winter in N-Z...). I wonder if the graphics card fan is spinning at minimum speed under load due to the low ambient (cold air coming out of my rear vent, but hot from the GPU) Eh, of course I'll turn off the heating when measuring the sound level
I ask this because yesterday I almost finished a build that seems to be at about ambient level, yet has components that are theoretically very loud. I'd like to figure out if my build was a resounding success, or if my ambient sound is so loud that it masks the noise...
My build so far:
- Antec p-182 with grills cut out and cablegami mods;
- Double AccoustiPack treatment;
- Scythe Kama bay (fan removed);
- Removed drive cages, replaced top one with foam fan mount and tunnel;
- 3x Scythe Sliptream 800rpm fans (rear, 1x middle at other end of Kama, 1x in foam tunnel);
- Gigabyte x48-dq6 motherboard;
- Inter e8500 CPU with Noctua NH1-2UP HS (no fan);
- Zalman ZM850HP PSU (removed lower chamber fan support to fit it. Big wattage for eventual crossfire);
- VelociRaptor 300gig HDD on a foam brick in the lower chamber w/icePack;
- Radeon 4870 with stock cooler;
What's strange is that I can't hear the Radeon or the VelociRaptor even under load. I was planning to remove the icePack and suspend the HDD, and also replace the GPU cooling with the HR-03 and HR-11 (already bought these), but it hardly seems necessary at this point.
One of the tests I'd like to try is raising the ambient temp with central heating since my room temp was ~17c when I finished my computer yesterday (it's winter in N-Z...). I wonder if the graphics card fan is spinning at minimum speed under load due to the low ambient (cold air coming out of my rear vent, but hot from the GPU) Eh, of course I'll turn off the heating when measuring the sound level