Search found 30 matches

by gud4u
Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:49 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: HDD suspension: best elastic material?
Replies: 13
Views: 7536

Browse the women's hair notions department (dressed in a rain coat and dark glasses), and check the selection of women's hair bands.

Walmart, RiteAid, etc.

My drive is supported by two of them. Excellent isolation.

Hope this helps!
by gud4u
Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:53 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: My suspended hard drives
Replies: 6
Views: 3907

I've seen other posts about using Stretch Magic for drive suspension. All were pleased with results. As long as there are no problems with long-term materials decay (like rubber bands), enjoy! Regarding shock, just don't move the case while the drives are powered up. When powered-down, drive heads a...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:59 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Quick, Quiet 160GB HDD?
Replies: 22
Views: 8162

I recently bought a 250GB Seagate (ST3250410AS) that might do.

HDTune numbers:
- 15.4ms random access.
- 84.5 MB/s avg read.
- 180MB/s burst.

Those numbers beat my WD2500KS, except random access time is 13.3ms on the WD drive. It seems a bit quieter than the WD drive.

Hope this helps!
by gud4u
Sat Feb 14, 2009 5:24 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Fan location in regards to filter
Replies: 6
Views: 5653

I think the air filter media that Bluefront posts about is the same spun-glass filter media I use. It's quite good for noise-isolation directly in front of the fan. I think the 'pleated surface' helps a bit, by providing most of the media surface at a 45-degree plane relative to the front face of th...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 14, 2009 5:08 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Low Cost Custom Pleated Air Filters
Replies: 1
Views: 3277

That air filter media is excellent, but it can be cut-to-size very easily with common scissors/shears. It is usually reinforced with a soft wire backing mesh, but it really does little damage to decent-quality scissors. Large panel (14"X24"X1", etc.) filters are so cheap (Walmart. etc.) that I would...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:56 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Silent vs cool
Replies: 17
Views: 12106

There is no real impediment to combining quiet and cool - except many cases force you to hack them to realize a good combination. I remember one tower case review with a possible combination of 7 120mm fans. If all fans were used, it would have to sound like a helicopter. The last time I hacked a ca...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:19 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Positive or Negative pressure?
Replies: 25
Views: 18551

I was about to say I favor positive-pressure, but I'm actually running identical 120mm Panaflos at 7.5V in push-pull front-intake and rear exhaust. I guess you'd call this simply forced front-to-back air flow. No other intake or exhaust ports. Even flow over all components. HD cages removed, HD is e...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:57 pm
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Intake fans...next to useless?
Replies: 29
Views: 22196

Ah, the perfect case that is quiet and cool with hard drives almost frosty! My last case resulted in a bit of hacking to get a decent combination of quiet operation with all devices in cool air stream. Some of my findings: - Side-intake vents tend to short-circuit air flow - leaving HD in a hot spot...
by gud4u
Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:19 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: computer won't boot
Replies: 23
Views: 9725

From your post, I understand the PC boots to DOS, but won't boot to Windows. True? Try to isolate the problem as much as you can. Reset BIOS to safe defaults. Check PS voltages in BIOS for proper nominal values.. Physically remove and re-install video card and all cables, checking for physical conne...
by gud4u
Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:46 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Help! Unreliable Booting. <SOLVED>
Replies: 17
Views: 7044

It looks like the BIOS memory test has diagnosed a problem with memory at current timings and/or voltage on at least one memory stick. That can be tackled by patient memory testing with Memtest86, one stick at a time, with adjustments to memory timnings and/or memory voltage. That means that reliabl...
by gud4u
Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:26 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Is this really right?
Replies: 10
Views: 4803

From your description of your internal temps, I suspect you have case ventilation problems. When you add high-efficiency device-coolers and temps rise , it seems to indicate that the coolers are simply dumping hotter air into the case and it's not being swept out with cooler room ambient temperature...
by gud4u
Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:38 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: best prog to backup hd with
Replies: 29
Views: 11664

Terabyte offers excellent imaging solutions: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ Least expensive solution is 'Image for DOS' at $18. Better solution is 'Image for Windows' + 'Image for DOS' combo for $27, which is faster and provides image_Windows_from_Windows capability. Full byte-for-byte image veri...
by gud4u
Sun Mar 26, 2006 11:42 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Is there a mobo list which can accomodate Scythe Ninja?
Replies: 2
Views: 1954

If your case has removable mobo tray, check whether the combined height dimension of the Ninja + tray height dimension allows clearance with case side panel. Same for any side ducts or side-panel vent filter assemblies.

Hope this helps!
by gud4u
Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:59 am
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: wedging foam underneath hd........smart/stupid?
Replies: 1
Views: 1891

The drive probably runs warmer, since there's no air-flow to the side of the drive covered by foam. Consider two parallel foam strips, instead of solid foam, to allow some air-flow under the drive. If the HD cage uses trays, you could remove two trays and mount the drive rotated 90 degrees (width ve...
by gud4u
Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:21 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: ATX backplane--better off without it?
Replies: 3
Views: 2081

I'm not convinced positive vs. negative pressure case ventilation would matter much for cooling efficiency in my case. Audible noise is another matter. My case: - Sits under my desk. - Has optimized front-to-back air flow (no side vents). - Uses a single 120mm Panaflo M1A rear vent fan at 7V, vibrat...
by gud4u
Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:28 am
Forum: Video Cards & Monitors
Topic: Very promising vid card cooler
Replies: 3
Views: 3885

Very promising vid card cooler

Check out this review: http://www.sytrin.com/3B-II-2-b.html

EDIT: Sorry - the review is here: http://www.ocia.net/reviews/sytrinvf1/page1.shtml

Dumps hot air in the case, but otherwise it looks very promising.
by gud4u
Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:56 am
Forum: The Silent Front
Topic: Musings on Future Designs
Replies: 16
Views: 10410

I recently read a lot of case reviews that left me with the opinion that there just is no such thing as the perfect case. You just have to pick a case that satisfies your preference for how you'd like your case to look, and is easily modified to satisfy your silence and air-flow requirements. I see ...
by gud4u
Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:18 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Best intake air filter media?
Replies: 2
Views: 2597

Best intake air filter media?

I'd appreciate comments about what filter media you've found that combines: - Effective dust filtering, and; - Minimal flow restriction. I've been using 1" thickness loose-mesh fiberglass media, cut from air conditioning return-duct filters. It's tucked between case front bezel and metal case front,...
by gud4u
Sat Mar 04, 2006 5:41 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Sonata rubber grommets...useful?
Replies: 13
Views: 5634

geekbanter:

I apologize - I was going by case photos, since I don't have a Sonata.

In my drive cage, suspending the drive by elastic cord resulted in the drive barely clearing cage sides. I would have to foam-snub the drive anyway.

No slight intended toward either yourself or your case!
by gud4u
Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:10 pm
Forum: CPUs and Motherboards
Topic: Asrock 939SLI32-eSATA2 Opinions?
Replies: 3
Views: 2129

I don't think anyone other than reviewers have that board yet. I have the 939Dual-SATA2 predecessor. It's rock-stable at 11X250 and build quality is fine. My only disappointment is that 2T command rate is required for overclocking stability. The new board you cite doesn't seem to have this flaw, per...
by gud4u
Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:03 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Bad Vibes, lol
Replies: 5
Views: 2527

Simple 'first aid' approach would be to simply wedge a bit of foam between left-side case panel and mobo tray - just under the spot you pressed to silence the vibes.

Not an exotic fix, but would probably work just fine.

Hope this helps!
by gud4u
Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:50 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: Sonata rubber grommets...useful?
Replies: 13
Views: 5634

The sonata drive cage is similar to mine (I-Star Nitro AX). The width of the drive cage is too narrow for effective elastic cord suspension. The drive cage is not removable. Consider: - Removing two drive trays. - Use foam to support drive. - Rotate drive 90 degrees (width dimension vertical). - Use...
by gud4u
Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:15 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: where to get these soft grommets?
Replies: 3
Views: 2757

I think you'll find that hardware-store grommets are too hard. They simply pass on fan vibration to the case. They're made for preventing wire-chafing and electrical insulation.

Good article here: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article262-page1.html

Hope this helps!
by gud4u
Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:47 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Strange noise from the harddisk (any ideas?) Is this normal?
Replies: 3
Views: 2388

Hard drive cache is solid state, thus no intrinsic noise at all due to the cache. I suspect the root of the problem is the 256Mbyte memory. I've run Windows XP with 512Mbyte RAM, but never with only 256Mbyte - so I can't be certain. I'd add RAM ASAP and repeat your test - just be certain - and be su...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:26 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Serious System Instability - Help!
Replies: 14
Views: 5673

I'd download Memtest86 and install it to bootable floppy or bootable CD. You'll have to set Command Rate to 2T with your 2GB memory. Basically, loosen memory timings until you can run multiple error-free passes of Memtest86. You can save quite a bit of testing time by running only the most critical ...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:03 pm
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: Antec rear case fan causing problems.
Replies: 17
Views: 7759

Check out air-flow restriction through your front intake vent. A quick check would be temporary removal of your case air filter and running with the plastic front door open also. If front-restriction is a problem, you see a noticeable internal case temp drop with the front end opened up. From review...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:27 am
Forum: System Advice / Troubleshooting
Topic: As Quiet As Possible
Replies: 10
Views: 4903

Since ventilation is dependent on a single rear case fan, and you don't list your case, I'd suggest the following: - Optimize front-to-back air flow path, remove restrictions. - If front air filter is restrictive, replace with less-restrictive filter media. - Remove any side-ducts, if you have them....
by gud4u
Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:10 pm
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: What do you think of this case? Antec TX-635
Replies: 3
Views: 2497

Just general comments: One problem with side-vents is that the principal ventilation air flow path tends to be in-through-the-side-and-out-the-back. This can result in reduced air flow over the HD bays, thus warmer-running hard drives. For this reason, I favor optimizing the front-to-back air-stream...
by gud4u
Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:23 am
Forum: Cases and Damping
Topic: I-Star Nitro AX Case: Pluses and Minuses
Replies: 1
Views: 1928

I-Star Nitro AX Case: Pluses and Minuses

There are numerous full reviews of this case - this is a summary of my own likes and dislikes about this replacement for my ugly old Antec 10xxx-series case. I bought this case with attractive appearance and doored case as high priorities, aware that some mods would probably be required. System: - A...
by gud4u
Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:22 pm
Forum: Silent Storage
Topic: Mounting HDD with double sided tape?
Replies: 1
Views: 2615

The problem with suspending a drive with tape is that the tape is not elastic - thus it would probably not decouple mechanical vibrations very well. For my older Antec 10xxx case, the best drive-decoupling suspension I've found is pillar-mounting the HD from the floor of the case, using 4 each 5/8" ...