Silencing HDDs - foamcore box

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:36 am

On my sig box, i have taken care of the fan noise, so all i have left to quiet is the hard drives. i had an idea today, to build a box of 6mm foam core board to fit the HDDs to act as acoustic damper, and then suspend that in a 5.25 bay. Will this work?

BrianE · Post by **BrianE** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:49 pm

If you mean you want to fully enclose it, it might cut down on noise, but you had better watch the drive temperature.

Also, if it's the same (hard) foam core board that I'm thinking of it's more of a barrier (much like plywood, plastic, metal, etc.) rather than a damper. Depends on what you're trying to achieve I suppose. If you can figure a way to cool the drives and enclose them at the same time then it doesn't matter.

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:18 am

Thanks Brian, maybe I'll just suspend them with elastic.

omgy · Post by **omgy** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:37 am

The only problem with suspending hdd's in the 5.25" bay is they tend to run hotter. Mine run 5-8°C+ in the 5.25" bay as opposed to the bottom of the case.

Chris Chan · Post by **Chris Chan** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:10 pm

And that is because you lose the heatsinking effect provided by the case metal. Mine run 29-31C in the 3.5 bays, I think 34-39C is an ok temp but I may put a fanmated quiet 8cm in front.

Trunks · Post by **Trunks** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 2:25 pm

Chris Chan wrote:And that is because you lose the heatsinking effect provided by the case metal. Mine run 29-31C in the 3.5 bays, I think 34-39C is an ok temp but I may put a fanmated quiet 8cm in front.

Or he might have a fan in that area. I think convection is a big part too.
Hot air moves up in cases, unless you have a vent or something in the front top that air can be trapped.