CyberDruid

This FAQ is about how to build a quiet aircooled PC that you can still overclock.

A lot of details regarding which Mobo or which VPU or CPU will not be considered here--not that they do not effect the overall acoustic output--because this is a general FAQ about keeping the PC quiet while cooling via air.

The most important choices will concern the case, the kind, size and number of fans used, choice of heatsinks. and choice of PSUs--the case being number one priority. Although it is possible to make almost any PC quieter--the best reults will come from researching cases online to find one that is both appealling to you and designed from the ground up for excellent air flow without extra fan noise.

The best of the best aircooliing cases may not be the quietest--wind tunnel designs like those by Aerocool are effective at cooling--but baffling the blade noise is going to be hard with an exposed front fan. The quiet cases may offer some challenges to the overclocker however, which can be overcome by choosing the right components.

One of the most reviewed and lauded quiet cases is the Antec Sonata followed by the new P180--the P180 may be the best quiet PC Case ever. But these are only a few of the choices. A Google or Dogpile search for "Thermally Advantaged Chassis" is one way to find some lesser known brands at great prices. These "TAC" cases meet strict engineering protocols that ensure they can cool down the latest Intel and AMD superheaters.

Case choice is complicated by the individuality of each build and the aesthetic appeal it has for the builder. That is probably why the Sonata is so popular--it is easy to build in--looks good to a lot of builders--and is dead silent as delivered. In fact it is hard to mod this case without increasing noise levels.

Whatever case you settle for the following guidelines should help keep noise to a minimum.

1) The largest source of noise in an aircooled case is from the fans--usually the cavitation and turbulence of the blades followed by bearing noise followed by vibration (that is usually amplified by the mounting surface. Choosing the largest diameter fan is a start. Look for sleeve (or "hydrowave") bearing fans like the Pabst, Panaflo, certain Antec (sunon), Nexus or NMB models. Choose the model listing the lowest DB or DBA rating/highest CFM or pressure rating. Choose one more powerful and larger than you need (so you can undervolt it) Use any of the many sound dampening isolators and/or rubberwasher kits for that size fan. Blowholes or surface mounted intakes need special attention--using a fine mesh filter and/or a curved duct will baffle the blade noise better than a cool-looking grill with sharp openings. Undersized or sharp edges can create a high pitched whistle that can be eliminated by making the opening slightly larger than the fan blade diameter, rolling the edges, and/or using spacers to set the fan back.

2}The other large source of noise are the CPU VPU Heatsink Fans. Stock HS fans are usually pretty loud. High Performance HS fan assemblies range from nearly silent to deafening. All aircooled CPU coolers are a compromise between performance/price/weight/noise making it difficult to weed out the winners. The Heatsink that seems to have won universal acceptance is the Zalman 7700 and 7000 series. Another favorite (especially among OC PC builders) is the Thermalright XP 90 and 120. The point is to have a cool CPU without the noise. Zalman is the quietest unit that can still keep up with a speed-margined processor. With appropriate fans the XP-120 is clearly a better cooler and a good choice for OverClocking. Similar choices provide VPU and even Chipset Cooling. If you have a loud graphics card by all mean change the HSfan assembly out.Passive coolers are ideal--and may do the job depending on your need for speed.

3)The Power Supply generates a lot of heat and needs a lot of cooling--that's why you can find several fans in the PSU. Inexpensive, stock case PSUs might be quiet but rarely hold up to the rigors of performance computing. Inexpensive higher rated PSUs are often loaded with 80mm fans and can be deafening at full pelt. Choosing a PSU demands research to determine not just current needs, but the needs future upgrades will present. Getting a stout, reliable, quiet PSU is the goal. Numerous threads and other FAQs cover this process.
For a quiet PC you will need a quiet PSU. The quietest units are also the most expensive--fanless being ideal. In reality for most builds a relatively affordable unit will do the job. I have had good results with my CoolMax Taurus Silent 450 watt as it has one 140mm fan that is quiet.

4)Dampening Mechanical Noise is the last gremlin in a quiet PC. HDDs make it, Optical Drives can be loud, and any fan motor can be adding to the symphony as well.
This is when design flaws in a lot of cases are exposed. Those beautiful (but thin) all aluminum cases hum like a drum--a lot of stamped steel cheapo cases have rattles or amplify the grinding of the HDDs like a sounding board. The ambient interior noise sets up a resonant hum from the overall case exterior--simply pressing your palm on the case will drop the noise noticably. Other case layouts fail to baffle fan noise and project the sound of cavitating blades outward. Some of these problems can be avoiding by choosing a case that is designed to be quiet. The P 180 or Sonata are good choices--though not the only ones by far.
Any case can be made quieter by applying sound-deadening matting to all of the interior panels. An excellent material is the high-quality blue "waffled" carpet padding--applied with contact cement it can always be removed later and the glue wiped off the case with laquer thinner.
HDDs can be quieted through the use of isolators or by enclosing them in 5.25 Bay Inserts. I use Cooldrive3--but there are many choices. This keeps the drive cool without the use of a fan.
Optical drives can be a pain--SW to control the drive noise will usually work--but choosing a quiet drive helps. I chose the Asus QuieTrack DVD/CDROM and the Memorex DualLayer DVD/CDRW for their overall low noise and dependability.

So to sum up: choose a quiet case or a TAC that suits your needs; use only the minimum of fans; use the largest/quietest fans; mount fans to minimize mechanical noise; mount fans and use ducts, filters, spacers to minimize projected blade noise; choose a quiet (or passive) CPU/VPU Heatsink; choose a stout, quiet PSU, preferable with one or no fan; minimize case noise by isolating drives, using quiet drives,and dampening resonance by using noise-absorbing matting (or carpet padding).

I have had good results building my last two PCs in this manner and my advice comes from experience--and a bin full of fans, heatsinks and optical drives rejected for being too loud.

This is only a guide and I welcome input regarding the best components, tips and tricks for quiet computing.

I hope this helps.

CyberDruid

Just spent the past few hours updating my rig--rerouted all the wiring to the mobo side--remounted the single IDE HDD below the floppy and behind the temp/fan monitor--removed the drive tray since I don't use it--enlarged the side panel intake to 120mm and mounted a POS Mad Dog on there until the Nexus arrives--rearranged the PCI cards to open up the floor (getting ready for watercooling)--reseated the Zalman with fresh Artic Silver 5.

Running about 50/52 C right now folding--a little better--and the 120 in the side panel over the CPU is turned all the way down on a Fan Mate II--all the way up it with the PSU on high I get 48/50 C--not overclocked--needed a baseline.

Lot of floor space in the case now--a straight shot from the intake back to the PCI cards.

Made a temporary duct fom a 50 pack spool CD dustcap with some scissors to replace the PVC one that used to fir on the 92mm Side Panel fan.

Tinker tinker... now to reboot and dial it up.

CyberDruid

Here's a screen shot while OCed to 3905--temps got up to 60 multitasking at 100% down to 57 just OCing and folding--acceptable--this with PSU on auto and Noisy MadDog 120 on low.

An improvement over the previous arrangement

Attached Thumbnails

 

CyberDruid

OCing/folding all night at 3905--temp logs showed 57/59 C--fans are chugging a little--maybe its the PSU pulsing or something...it's all the fans and it's intermittent...dunno

CyberDruid

Spent a couple of hours researching fans again--Newegg lists over 400 items in their fan category! 170 in the 120mm area alone. I found what looks like a winner even though it is white (odd) in the SilverStone--the 120 puts out 119 CFM at 45 dba--vyt has a speed control.

As much fun as I have had tinkering with the aircooling--getting a quiet PC cool eough to OC is a challenge. Every time I think i have it quiet mod or layout shows it's head....

comrad

yo man, ill give you a tip on your faq. Dont just write tons of info like that, no one is gonna read it. Bold somethings out, arrange the paragraphs better, put some pics in. You know, look at some other faqs, like "theinformationators" his faqs are very well organized. Once you organize this i guarantee people will look at it and even rep you for it.

Pauli

Yeah. Its very inconsiderate for all the illiterate ****heads who can't be bothered to read 200 words. Maybe next time you should limit your words to 1 syllable words so they can understand it better.

</sarcasm>

Good job on the FAQ dude :)

CyberDruid

Never got flamed on a FAQ before lol--yeah we all have different styles--I need to be adding images to my FAQs but I have yet to go with any image hosting--it will be one of the improvements--however, copying someone elses style is not my bag--so as delightful as the Informationator's FAQs are--I will not be following that format.

sooth

lol nice FAQ, but mines pretty quiet tho... unless someone would be willing to send me some spare 80mm fans :D

CyberDruid

Still working around how to build a really quiet PC--just finished the first phase of Crunch http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-wo...ost929970.html and at this point it is the quietest aircooled PC in the house. With only a PSU and HS making noise it is about ideal--and overclocks about 15% with no heat issues/ I added a Nexxus 120 , a Mad Dog 120 and an Antec thermally triggered 80mm and it is still quieter than any of the other Rigs. I believe it has to do with the overall design that makes use of convection currents by having the bottom and top open.

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