Hey Facepunch
Over the good last 3 years i've primarily been working on laptops. I love how you can carry them around and they stay on when the power goes out but one of the thinks i really appreciate about using a laptop is that they are quiet, some you can't even hear unless very near.
However now, the time has come. My old Amilo Xi2528 is about to die, or rather the graphics card. A few months ago it just went to a black screen with occasional white stripes. Since the 8600M GS in it is a special variant just for this one particular model, i had to order it directly from Fujitsu. They just took about 2 months to deliver it, charged me 220€ for it and even sent me a used one (It had left over thermal paste all over it and the stickers turned yellow). Since there was a lot of important shit on that laptop i just built it in and paid anyway. It worked.
Now, a good 6 weeks later, it starts breaking again. At least it's not fully gone, it's just artifacting to hell and only runs in 8bit color. So i can at least back all my stuff up.
I don't even know why i explained all this to you but let me come to my final question.
I've travelled across the Interwebs, searching far and wide, a bunch of websites to understand the question that lies inside:
Can i buy/build a desktop PC that as about as loud as a laptop? And if yes, how and where? I don't want these quiet PCs they sell on every corner today, they're still loud enough to annoy the heck out of me and i really don't see why you wouldn't be able to do that.
I really don't need anything fancy, anything like my current laptop's specs will suffice. I hardly ever play games. Those that i play run just fine on the 8600. Here's the most important (i guess) technical data:
Core 2 Duo T7250 / 2 GHz
Geforce 8600M GS
4GB DDR2 RAM
I have an old desktop PC which i could salvage the following parts from:
- DVD drive
- Soundcard (PCIe AFAIK)
- GeForce 8600M (Probably not though because of the fan)
Also
Monitor, keyboard and mouse
I'm gonna visit my fav computer dealer tommorrow and ask them for a deal on a custom built for that but before i make a fool of myself i'd rather ask if my demands could even be met and to what price.
Thank you for reading my rhetoric poop and the first one to find the hidden reference gets a free e-peen extension.
tl;dr I want a desktop computer as loud as a laptop and i want it cheap
Fans make noise. You're going to have to deal with it. If you want a quiet computer, you can buy a crap prebuilt that has poor cooling, or you can build an expensive desktop with water cooling, that will still be loud because of the fans needed to cool the radiators and such. You're never going to get a silent computer. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that the reason your laptop keeps having trouble is due to heat frying the GPU, because it isn't cooled properly.
[QUOTE=YodaEXE;21428614]In fact, I'd be willing to bet that the reason your laptop keeps having trouble is due to heat frying the GPU, because it isn't cooled properly.[/QUOTE]
Well, it worked for two years prior to breaking, i never had any overly high temperatures and the graphics cards in the Xi2528 are known for dieing too fast because of some manufacturing problem that in some cases spontaneously overheats some transistors or something. I don't think i would have this problem if they just sent me a new one.
I'm well aware that fans make noise, but howcome most (newer) laptops are so quiet that you hardly notice them and a desktop PC with the exact same specs needs more power and is louder.
I'm putting together a quiet system on Newegg, either order from there or bring the list of parts to your computer dealer and ask him to do it.
And ignore Yoda, that's simply not true.
Due to my computerised music studio I had a major requirement for noise reduction:
Power supplies and Harddrives are the major noise makers.
I bought a Tagan 580W PSU - This thing is damn near inaudible. Has a temperature controlled fan and I don't run it anywhere near its capacity.
My harddrives are mounted in drive bays with sound insulation. You could go for 2.5" Laptop drives, they are much more quiet.
Modern CPU coolers (4Pin type) Don't even spin up until load is applied. My Artic Cooling freezer 7 pro doesn't even come on until maybe 20 minutes of use. even then you can't really hear it. IF you don't have the option of a PWM controlled fan, get a fan controller and turn it down.
Now for the biggest offender: The GPU. The size of these cards necesitate small, loud fans. ... What did I do? I prised the fan off and attached a 120mm one, Noise gone... You could go passive cooled for a new build.***
I then put the PC in a semi-enclosed area of my desk. The result? Pretty damn quiet, just a small wir from the drives but apart from that... it's perfect for my needs.
And stay away from cases with windows. I have found that windows leak sound.
*** If you have ever owned an x850XT you will know what I mean, They are damn lawnmowers with stock cooling.
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;21428746]I'm putting together a quiet system on Newegg, either order from there or bring the list of parts to your computer dealer and ask him to do it.
And ignore Yoda, that's simply not true.[/QUOTE]
Thank you, i already had a look at Newegg while trying to research into the thing myself. Unfortunately they don't ship to Europe, but as you said i can just take the list to my dealer.
You could do what NZXT did with the Hush and put foam padding in it. Or just get that case... but I don't know if it's any good, though.
[QUOTE=Tezza1234;21428779]
Power supplies and Harddrives are the major noise makers.
[/QUOTE]
Hm, yeah. In an attempt to make my desktop PC i use for toying around quieter i put in a new CPU cooler and it was still pretty loud.
Our appliances are pretty similar, i'm doing web radio and some voice recording from time to time. I'm afraid to put the computer in the actual desk because it might transfer vibrations over to the microphone. That isn't such a big issue though, i can always just fix the stative somewhere else. What experiences did you make with heat building up with the computer inside an enclosed space?
Do they still do passive cpu heatsinks? Like ones with no fans, then just use a decent 120mm setup in the case to do the further cooling?
nvm saw buttsexv2 post down below
[URL="http://www.ebuyer.com"] [/URL]
[url]http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11588131[/url]
I would normally advise against an FSP Group PSU, but in this case it's worth it. The power supply is one of the loudest parts in the system, and this is quite possibly the most quiet power supply on the market. They don't often die on you, most issues people have involve them arriving DOA. If you're buying through a dealer, the entire system will be under warranty and that isn't going to matter.
Same with the case, I wouldn't normally recommend an NZXT case, but this one is extremely quiet.
[QUOTE=Tu154M;21428916]Hm, yeah. In an attempt to make my desktop PC i use for toying around quieter i put in a new CPU cooler and it was still pretty loud.
Our appliances are pretty similar, i'm doing web radio and some voice recording from time to time. [b]I'm afraid to put the computer in the actual desk because it might transfer vibrations over to the microphone. That isn't such a big issue though[/b], i can always just fix the stative somewhere else. What experiences did you make with heat building up with the computer inside an enclosed space?[/QUOTE]
At Bold: I put mine on some carpet squares (2 layers) I cut to size, seems to work. Poor-mans Iso-pads :D
I've not had much of a problem, The computer itself is stable, at the back of the enclosed area I put a vent at the top to let excess heat escape.
This computer never does anything but audio so the graphics card is never taxed (To be honest I could probably get away with onboard graphics if it had some and supported dual monitors) - the CPU get's a good smacking, 32-50 Audio tracks with processing.
Stock fans on CPUs are usually loud, at least in my experience, a C2D would probably be quiet enough, you could get an aftermarket HSF for like $30 that would quiet it down and cool it better.
[QUOTE=Kabstract;21429293]Stock fans on CPUs are usually loud, at least in my experience, a C2D would probably be quiet enough, you could get an aftermarket HSF for like $30 that would quiet it down and cool it better.[/QUOTE]
that's why I put one of the quietest LGA1156 HSFs in my build.
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;21429124][url]http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11588131[/url]
[/QUOTE]
Thanks, that looks like a great list to start with. The price is a bit over what i imagined but i guess you can't have a quiet computer for free. I'll be sure to take that list with me tommorrow.
There are a lot of aftermarket ambient coolers.
Look them up on newegg, it may be worth it.
The case can have a lot to do with it, too.
You could also get a cheaper case, say an Antec 300 or something similar, and do the padding yourself. That will save you a good 50 bucks.
I'm pretty sure you can replace most cooling solutions with a passive counterpart.
You trade off noise for larger size (and possibly higher temps if you buy a shit one).
If you want a really really cold processor that you won't hear with the stock hsf, get an amd 240. In my basement, 54F, it got down to 16C. I have pictures for proof. usually doesnt run more than 50C on the stock cooler overclock to 3.5ghz. lol and the stock htf almost looks like a joke, no copper and low profile
[img]http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/Athlon_II_X2_240/images/athlon_x2_240_contents.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=Mr Drover;21435573][url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146051[/url][/QUOTE]
That's the same case I put in the build I put together.
buy a cheap case like antec 300 or something and stick some notuas in it and pair it with a scythe zipanh and passive cool graphics card and you're good to go
[QUOTE=cryticfarm;21453397]buy a cheap case like antec 300 or something and stick some notuas in it and pair it with a scythe zipanh and passive cool graphics card and you're good to go[/QUOTE]
A home theater case might also work since it is ment to be quite.
for added quietness you can get soundproofing :v:
The build I made about 2 years ago worked really well in terms of noise output, without me actually trying for it.
The main things are a recent hard drive, large fans (With low RPMs and noise reduction features like bearings), PSUs with the fan on the bottom, inside part of the PSU, rather than a small fan coming out the back. My Intel E7500 has a pretty quiet stock fan.
I swear my desktop idling/watching movies/browsing the web is quieter than my netbook's fan, which is pretty annoying actually.
[QUOTE=sbradford26;21453516]A home theater case might also work since it is ment to be quite.[/QUOTE]
Home theater cases are smaller, and require smaller, faster fans. You'll be better off with a standard case with padding.
[QUOTE=Tezza1234;21428779]Due to my computerised music studio I had a major requirement for noise reduction:
Power supplies and Harddrives are the major noise makers.
I bought a Tagan 580W PSU - This thing is damn near inaudible. Has a temperature controlled fan and I don't run it anywhere near its capacity.
My harddrives are mounted in drive bays with sound insulation. You could go for 2.5" Laptop drives, they are much more quiet.
Modern CPU coolers (4Pin type) Don't even spin up until load is applied. My Artic Cooling freezer 7 pro doesn't even come on until maybe 20 minutes of use. even then you can't really hear it. IF you don't have the option of a PWM controlled fan, get a fan controller and turn it down.
Now for the biggest offender: The GPU. The size of these cards necesitate small, loud fans. ... What did I do? I prised the fan off and attached a 120mm one, Noise gone... You could go passive cooled for a new build.***
I then put the PC in a semi-enclosed area of my desk. The result? Pretty damn quiet, just a small wir from the drives but apart from that... it's perfect for my needs.
And stay away from cases with windows. I have found that windows leak sound.
*** If you have ever owned an x850XT you will know what I mean, They are damn lawnmowers with stock cooling.[/QUOTE]
I had an AGP X850XT :D
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;21456590]Home theater cases are smaller, and require smaller, faster fans. You'll be better off with a standard case with padding.[/QUOTE]
Yeah but they are usually quieter.
[QUOTE=sbradford26;21456746]Yeah but they are usually quieter.[/QUOTE]
more constricted too, a padded ATX case is usually quieter than any home theater case.
[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;21457212]more constricted too, a padded ATX case is usually quieter than any home theater case.[/QUOTE]
You could get the cosmos. :3:
[QUOTE=lemonlimecom;21456652]I had an AGP X850XT :D[/QUOTE]
Yeah I had an x800 gto a long time ago too.
Sounded like a jet taking off at 100% fan speed.
I later slapped a big cooler on it and oced it like crazy.
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