Making a Desktop PC quiet/almost silent

[Tools]

[QUOTE=YodaEXE;21428614]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]

Yet another quality post by YodaEXE :golfclap:

[cryticfarm]

this is why you use noctuas, jeez

[editline]11:55AM[/editline]

they're all less than 20 dba, in fact, I think there's one with 6 dba

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=Tezza1234;21428779]My Artic Cooling freezer 7 pro doesn't even come on until maybe 20 minutes of use.[/QUOTE]

Huh? I can set mine to 0% and it won't go below 830RPM or something like that. Still completely silent, but still.

[Tu154M]

Sup, just a quick update for those waiting for a response.

Yesterday i had a dentist appointment, today, the weather is shit. I'll go tommorrow.

I did have yet another idea for saving some money on this though. Could i basically take my old motherboard and use it for the new computer? Would that have an impact on the silent components available? It's an ASRock ConRoe1333-D667.

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=cryticfarm;21463620]this is why you use noctuas, jeez

[editline]11:55AM[/editline]

they're all less than 20 dba, in fact, I think there's one with 6 dba[/QUOTE]

I have a 120mm Scythe S-Flex on the rear exhaust port that's pretty damned quiet too. Still pushes tons of air.

[jaybuz]

I'm hoping to get three of these soon. [url]http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/120mm-Scythe-Gentle-Typhoon-1450-rpm-Cooling-Fan-See-LN31513-for-Replacement[/url]

[Tu154M]

I just came back from the dealer and they put together the following offer for me. They also said a padded case is not effective with these components as they are already pretty quiet and i only have two fans anyway.

COOLER MASTER Elite RC-331-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119188&cm_re=elite_331-_-11-119-188-_-Product[/url]

Rasurbo 550W PSU (Seems to be this one)
[url]http://www.cool-and-quiet.co.uk/power_supplies/quiet_power_supplies__501w_to_600w/rasurbo_dlp551_550w_silent_and_power_quiet_psu_P334.html[/url]

ASUS M4N78 Pro
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131382&cm_re=m4n78_pro-_-13-131-382-_-Product[/url]

AMD Phenom II X2 545 Callisto 3.0GHz
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103817&cm_re=Phenon_x2-_-19-103-817-_-Product[/url]

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125&cm_re=arctic_freezer64_pro-_-35-185-125-_-Product[/url]

<Two bars of DDR2 RAM - 4GB>

SAMSUNG SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" HDD
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152118&cm_re=samsung_750GB-_-22-152-118-_-Product[/url]

<A non-specified passively cooled 9500GT with 1024 RAM>

Opinions?

[SassyCheese]

Two options imo:
1) high end passive heatsinks (not good)
2) water cooling.

go watercooling. it's expensive but now my computer is super quiet and temps across the board don't go over 48C. all you need is the radiator fans (between 2 and 6) and they run slow because radiators dissipate heat so well.

the water cooled parts are:
Q6600 OC 3ghz
GTX 260 700Mhx core OC
p35 chipset

i got a swiftech kit from ncix for 300 bucks a while ago. came with everything. 240mm rad so that could be better, but overall it's amazing.
i am never air-cooling again.
note of importance: get a big case.

[Tu154M]

I do believe water-cooling is a bit over the top. Mind i'm using my computer for graphics design and audio editing and not playing Crysis on ultra.

[sbradford26]

[QUOTE=Tu154M;21488151]I do believe water-cooling is a bit over the top. Mind i'm using my computer for graphics design and audio editing and not playing Crysis on ultra.[/QUOTE]

I would go with a better psu like an antec neo. Also get a passive heatsink where you should look is server and you should be able to find a nice one.

[Tu154M]

[QUOTE=sbradford26;21488707]I would go with a better psu like an antec neo. Also get a passive heatsink where you should look is server and you should be able to find a nice one.[/QUOTE]

You sure a passive heatsink is worth it and effective enough? Also, i'll check the price of the Antec Neo.

Any more comments and critics, please? I wanted to order this all today, working with a netbook gets annoying over time.

Also repost for new page:
[quote]
I just came back from the dealer and they put together the following offer for me. They also said a padded case is not effective with these components as they are already pretty quiet and i only have two fans anyway.

COOLER MASTER Elite RC-331-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119188&cm_re=elite_331-_-11-119-188-_-Product[/url]

Rasurbo 550W PSU (Seems to be this one)
[url]http://www.cool-and-quiet.co.uk/power_supplies/quiet_power_supplies__501w_to_600w/rasurbo_dlp551_550w_silent_and_power_quiet_psu_P334.html[/url]

ASUS M4N78 Pro
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131382&cm_re=m4n78_pro-_-13-131-382-_-Product[/url]

AMD Phenom II X2 545 Callisto 3.0GHz
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103817&cm_re=Phenon_x2-_-19-103-817-_-Product[/url]

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125&cm_re=arctic_freezer64_pro-_-35-185-125-_-Product[/url]

<Two bars of DDR2 RAM - 4GB>

SAMSUNG SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" HDD
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152118&cm_re=samsung_750GB-_-22-152-118-_-Product[/url]

<A non-specified passively cooled 9500GT with 1024 RAM>[/quote]

[ADT]

Go for an 9800GT, much better if you want to play games.

[editline]06:41PM[/editline]

I don't think it's loud as graphic card

[Tu154M]

[QUOTE=ADT;21504870]Go for an 9800GT, much better if you want to play games.

[editline]06:41PM[/editline]

I don't think they are loud as graphic card[/QUOTE]

Read OP. Also, the one i have in now is passively cooled.

[sbradford26]

[QUOTE=Tu154M;21503002]You sure a passive heatsink is worth it and effective enough? Also, i'll check the price of the Antec Neo.

Any more comments and critics, please? I wanted to order this all today, working with a netbook gets annoying over time.

Also repost for new page:[/QUOTE]

Well actually the freezer should work anyways so you could try it without a fan but also check out the antec neos they are insanely quite.

[cryticfarm]

water still makes a bit of noise you know
I don't think the arctic cooler 64 is very quiet gogogogo noctuas, ugly but great

[editline]08:35PM[/editline]

[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608010[/url]

[sbradford26]

[QUOTE=Tu154M;21503002]You sure a passive heatsink is worth it and effective enough? Also, i'll check the price of the Antec Neo.

Any more comments and critics, please? I wanted to order this all today, working with a netbook gets annoying over time.

Also repost for new page:[/QUOTE]

You could also downgrade a bit.
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688[/url]
To this my friend has it on stock pos heatsink it idles at like 18 degrees so even on a fanless artic freeser 7 you should be fine you could also try out the coolermaster hyper 212+ and go passive with it.

[cryticfarm]

plus [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003&cm_re=xigmatek_hdt-s1283-_-35-233-003-_-Product[/url]

[editline]08:36PM[/editline]

you will be able to oc to like 4+

[JohnEdwards]

hold on I got a silent rig I built for a friend

[editline]05:54PM[/editline]

[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129086[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161319[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037[/URL] (overkill but silent)
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608004[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233012[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103687[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139133[/URL] X2 (or get a 5400rpm) drive
Works flawlessly

[tommyc225]

Get gentle typhoons for fans

[cryticfarm]

[QUOTE=JohnEdwards;21511613]hold on I got a silent rig I built for a friend

[editline]05:54PM[/editline]

[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129086[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161319[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037[/URL] (overkill but silent)
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608004[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233012[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103687[/URL]
[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139133[/URL] X2 (or get a 5400rpm) drive
Works flawlessly[/QUOTE]
why not:
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608010[/url]

1 dollar for 5 times quieter (if my maths are right

[Tu154M]

I ordered the computer.

I wanted to get the Antec Neo and a Noctua cooler in but neither were available and i'm afraid the Noctua was too big for the case anyway.

If they're fast i can pick it up today still and see how silent it really is now. If it isn't quiet enough i'll go beserk because all it would've probably taken were the PSU and cooler you guys suggested.

[Enishi]

I've heard good things about using rubber washers to help with vibration.

[Milky]

Get a Gold rated PSU, that way the fan wont spin up as soon.
And use either Scythe Gentle Typhoon fans or Sharkoon "golf ball" fans throughout.

[Karjanainen]

First and foremost buy quality components, PSU, CPU, GPU(s), HDD, ODD and of course fans all produce noise, but more expensive products tend to be quieter.
What you can do yourself to reduce noise with little extra costs: Cut away fan grills and do proper cable management to reduce wooshing noises made by fans, and mount everything with rubber grommets instead of metal screws to reduce HDD, fan and ODD vibrations inside the case. Also some noise dampening kits are available but it's debatable how effective they are, I'd get some bitumen mat meant for cars if I was aiming for a really silent computer. As far as components go, Noctua, Nexus and Yate Loon are good, rather silent fan brands (Noctua also makes kickass CPU coolers). OCZ ModXStream powersupplies produce a good, low hum and Antec P180 is a very sturdy case that dampens the noise a good bit. Stock GPU cooling is usually really noisy under stress, so I'd change that into something aftermarket but I've never done that so I won't be recommending anything, although I'm sure Thermalright heatsinks and Noctua fans would do the job.
Then again making a powerful computer silent is so expensive I don't even try to do it, it's manageable but you'll be buying stuff for like $200-300..

[PunchedInFac]

House it in 3 inch thick lead-steel alloy reinforced concrete with concrete vents going outside.

[Wolfie13]

Antec P series cases are fantastic for keeping noise down. The P182/P192 are unbeatable cases for their respective niches.

(Quiet, Cool and clean asthetics)