My new build came about when changing cases to something more solidly built, and a new desire for noise-free computing. There are the components:
Antec SLK3000B with TP-II 380 PSU
Asus K8V motherboard
512MB x 2 Corsair RAM
AC Freezer 64 (imported)
Nexus 120mm fans x 2 (imported; one rear one front)
Seagate Baraccuda HDD
Gigabyte Geforce 6600GT AGP with Zalman VF700
Asus QuieTrack CDRW/DVD Combo
Silencing details:
- the Freezer 64 is set to around 60%. At this level it is inaudible and cools very well. Along with CnQ enabled, my processor idles at 28, loads at around 40.
- the Nexus fans are fantasticly quiet, bought on the good reputation it has attained here at SPCR. There is a bit of wind noise from the rear fan but very low levels exist. This can be fixed by cutting out the grill which I DON'T plan to do
or by reducing the speed of the fan using a Fanmate or Speedfan.- the VF700 at 5V is inaudible with the case closed and keeps the card chilled at 42 degrees, loaded at around 50.
- the FDD and its cage have been removed, as well as the HDD cage. This allows for more room and improved airflow.
- the HDD is mounted on the metal piece protruding from the bottom of the chassis, where the cage normally attaches to. I have a layer of packing foam, followed by two strips of sorbothane (imported) followed by the HDD itself
Other slight mods include:
- taped up all air holes in the front panel using masking tape to prevent dust intrusion.
- will be putting on a thin layer of acoustic foam on the side panel which will simultaneously cover the VGA/CPU duct grilles. This is because I do not need them, and the CPU duct had to be taken off anyway (too big to allow the case to close!)
- all cables have been managed using spiral wrap. This is the best stuff on earth! IMO it is much better than braided sleeving because it was quick and easy to apply; it looks pretty good (case is closed in anycase!) and it allows the cable to be bent into positions and it keeps its shape! Plus it doesn't tear like sleeving, and did not require molex removal.
- I used 6mm spiral wrap for almost all the cables except the bunch of cables which I don't use. These are bunched together with 10mm wrap and taken behing the motherboard panel, taped into position (see pictures).
- cables ties are also used quite a lot in order to keep cables in fixed positions.
- the two 120mm fans are mounted using the Vantec anti-vibration kit (with the Antec purple fan holders obviously removed). Testing with the fans off reveal that they are silent, other than the slight exhaust wind noise
- the PSU fan is very quiet too. It idles at around 750 RPM, and I have yet to see it go over 1000RPM.
Well, onto the pics! Enjoy and all suggestions/comments welcome! Thanks again to everyone here for your advice and suggestions.
1. the cables spiral wrapped and PSU installed.
2. an angled view of the case internals
3. the back panel with excess cables spiral-wrapepd and taped down
4. a head-on view of the insides of the case
Cheers,
X
. I also thought about going for something like the Reserator but was weary of a) water in the system and b) the cost.