Zalman HD135 /Ahnix D5 /Origen HV5 cooling and silencing
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:53 am
I just lost the post that I was writing So this will be a shorter version.
This is the configuration that will be inside
viewtopic.php?p=371250
I choose the zalman after 2 WEEKS of searching, because it just LOOKS decent in the hi-fi room. And I dont have 800$ to spend on a A-Tech. The overall budget (excluding existing components) is around 1000€. Any commercially made htpc with similar characteristics costs double that.
OK, so this post is how to make the poor-performing zalman quite and nice (yes, i have read the review and all the posts in the old thread).
This is the list of changes that I'm gonna make (sorry if it's not detailed as it was but i lost my post -thanks firefox):
1. Remove the exhaust fan (worthless and noisy)
2. Remove both HDD cages. And put the HD over a foam sheet, and in a NoVibes (actually the Vantec clone). When I will need to add more HDDs I have to find a way to position the drives better and probably use the space on the other side of the dvdrom as well. I'm NOT good at bricolage
3. Add 120mm silent case fans: I was thinking One sucking air in the front left vent and one exhaust onto the right side, after the HDD.
Which fans? I have access to all the recommended fans, plus the papst for cheap - 15€ each. I dont like to undervolt, because i dont need a totally silent machine. 25db would be fine, possibly a little less. So the Nexus as its default 12v speed would be perfect.
4. More fans: the vent above the mainboard at the back could host 2 60mm fans. They are indeed used on the Origen and Ahnix cases of similar size. Are they worth it?
Alternatively I could put another 120mm fan on the left back vent, but this may need to go when i'll add more pci cards (audio and tuners), unless i can find a pci-e DVB-S HD tuner.
5. Rubber/silicone fan dampening: are these stuff worth it? I plan to use plastic screws anyway, so maybe these are overkill. The one for the PSU probably is not.
6. case dampening: would something like Magic Fleece really help? i'm concerned about the case resonance. Keep in mind that there will be the AMP over the HTPC and that will put some 10kg weight and absorb lots of vibrations.
I think this is all. Comments/suggestions welcome
This is the configuration that will be inside
viewtopic.php?p=371250
I choose the zalman after 2 WEEKS of searching, because it just LOOKS decent in the hi-fi room. And I dont have 800$ to spend on a A-Tech. The overall budget (excluding existing components) is around 1000€. Any commercially made htpc with similar characteristics costs double that.
OK, so this post is how to make the poor-performing zalman quite and nice (yes, i have read the review and all the posts in the old thread).
This is the list of changes that I'm gonna make (sorry if it's not detailed as it was but i lost my post -thanks firefox):
1. Remove the exhaust fan (worthless and noisy)
2. Remove both HDD cages. And put the HD over a foam sheet, and in a NoVibes (actually the Vantec clone). When I will need to add more HDDs I have to find a way to position the drives better and probably use the space on the other side of the dvdrom as well. I'm NOT good at bricolage
3. Add 120mm silent case fans: I was thinking One sucking air in the front left vent and one exhaust onto the right side, after the HDD.
Which fans? I have access to all the recommended fans, plus the papst for cheap - 15€ each. I dont like to undervolt, because i dont need a totally silent machine. 25db would be fine, possibly a little less. So the Nexus as its default 12v speed would be perfect.
4. More fans: the vent above the mainboard at the back could host 2 60mm fans. They are indeed used on the Origen and Ahnix cases of similar size. Are they worth it?
Alternatively I could put another 120mm fan on the left back vent, but this may need to go when i'll add more pci cards (audio and tuners), unless i can find a pci-e DVB-S HD tuner.
5. Rubber/silicone fan dampening: are these stuff worth it? I plan to use plastic screws anyway, so maybe these are overkill. The one for the PSU probably is not.
6. case dampening: would something like Magic Fleece really help? i'm concerned about the case resonance. Keep in mind that there will be the AMP over the HTPC and that will put some 10kg weight and absorb lots of vibrations.
I think this is all. Comments/suggestions welcome