SPCR

I've been slowly upgrading my HTPC to be quieter.

My case has:

2 60mm exhaust fans
1 92mm intake fan
1 CPU cooler
1 1TB HDD

I replaced the 60mm and 92mm fans to be the quietest ones to be found. The CPU cooler is quieter than the stock cooler, but not the quietest. Since I'm limited on space in this case, I can't put in a huge fanless tower CPU cooler and depend on case airflow, so I need a CPU cooler with a fan.

I also replaced the 1TB drive (not the system drive, that's an SSD) with a quieter model (was Hitachi 7200rpm model, now it's a WD 5400rpm "green" model). The PSU is one of the new Seasonic fanless models.

Still, when I turn the box on, I can definitely hear a few devices whirring away. I don't have space for some kind of HDD dampening box. The only thing left I can think of is the CPU cooler, and if it fits, I'll be putting in a Scythe Big Shuriken like in my other box, which seems pretty quiet. I'm wondering if that will bring down the noise at all. Right now I'm using the Alpine 11 Pro Rev 2:



What, in a generally quiet rig (especially a small HTPC form factor box) do you find to be your most noise-generating moving part?

- Tim

The fans

My rig has a medium tower: vibration, air rush and acoustic resonances seem to be the noise makers here. The fan bearings themselves are not audible.

So a heavy case (panels) and acoustic deadening could solve the issue but this lowers airflow.
Under load or at higher RPM air rushing trough the heatsink fins becomes audible too.

The power supply.

frenchie wrote:The fans

Har har.

- Tim

just take the lid off, turn it on, and start unplugging fans.

you'll figure out what makes the most noise; then start undervolting it, or replacing it.

danimal wrote:just take the lid off, turn it on, and start unplugging fans.

you'll figure out what makes the most noise; then start undervolting it, or replacing it.

Well yes indeed, that's what I intend. I've done a lot of that already, tho' it's not as easy to recreate the sound once the cover is on and it's in its cubbyhole.

From what I can tell, even the "quiet" 5400 rpm drive is probably the main culprit. I'll be doing more testing soon. All I've got to work with at this point is the CPU cooler, however, since everything's been as quieted as possible, unless I want to do some custom work (covering things in plastic and foam cases, etc), which I'd rather not do if I can help it.

The case itself has lot of silicone spacers for things to limit vibrations.

- Tim

Difficult to say. Probably the PSU which has a 800rpm fan.

tbessie wrote:

danimal wrote:From what I can tell, even the "quiet" 5400 rpm drive is probably the main culprit.

That would be my guess too.

Even the Green Power ones emit a (generally acceptable and "pleasant") whooshy noise, that can easily be mistaken for a fan.

I had to enclose a 2.5"-drive in a 2.5"-Quiet Drive by Scythe and put that into yet another 3.5"-Quiet Drive to get rid of all whoosh-noises.

tim851 wrote:

tbessie wrote:

danimal wrote:From what I can tell, even the "quiet" 5400 rpm drive is probably the main culprit.

That would be my guess too.

Even the Green Power ones emit a (generally acceptable and "pleasant") whooshy noise, that can easily be mistaken for a fan.

I had to enclose a 2.5"-drive in a 2.5"-Quiet Drive by Scythe and put that into yet another 3.5"-Quiet Drive to get rid of all whoosh-noises.

Well, actually, *I* wrote that. (re: the culprit)

- Tim