sound deadening...

[Outlaw]

My PC case is a Chenbro SR10769-BK (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811123126&Tpk=sr10769-bk).

It has 3 case fans, 2-Mid (Intake), and 1-Rear (Exhaust) along with the PSU fan exhausting (but is kinda separated from the motherboard area). The issue is that they are 46.5dba each and 5krpm. This pc is in my basement and I can stand in my bathroom on the main floor with the door closed and still hear it running. I had a cheap fan contoller, but don't like it. The sensor only goes to 115*F and keeps beeping(had it touching hs/f core). Anyways. I have eggshell foam that I was thinking I could use inside the case to deaden the sound since the fans push enough air around (approx. 100cfm ea.). I think the eggshell part of it would also break up the dead spots since it is bumpy and create some turbulence in the "quite" areas.

Do you guys think this would hurt the inside temp and only make a heat issue, or it would probably work with the amount of airflow I have? Please don't recommend buying new fans or a different fan controller. I don't have the money to do so and if I did have the money, I would have boughten one or the other (or both) already.

Thanks in advance,
Outlaw

[dgrmkrp]

Hmm.. tough problem.. I would recommend to got o silent pc review.. they make it a bit clear there that sound dampening only works for a given degree of silence already established. In case of 5k fans, that's not gonna do a lot of good...
some things you can do:
*cut all grills or stamped metal that could impede airflow >> does wonders on the sound quality of the noise.. in a good way I mean..

*considering this is a server case.. hide it somewhere.. make a box for it, that has air intakes, but not direct, more of a 90 degree corners intake, and a straight exhaust, but pointed away from you. Use the foam to line that box.. it will cut from the high pitched tones, but the bu will still be there...

*depending on the hardware you have, I'm sorry to say but with that hell of a cool case, you need new fans, holes, heat sinks and then some multi-layered sound proofing :) expensive, but if you want silence...

[Omega]

Cutting out metal grills really will help. Both for airflow and noise. When the air passes over it, it creates turbulence just behind the grille which makes more noise because of more air movement. If you get rid of the grilles there's nothing to slow down the air and nothing to make turbulence.

[Outlaw]

Ok...got an update... I did a little checking and it's only:

* model AFB1212SH
* DC12V
* 0.80A
* 6.36W
* max speed 3400rpm
* max air flow 113cfm
* ball bearing type
* 3-pin connector

I didn't really think of the grills although I do remember that now. :) With the making another box. I don't have the funds and the foam I have is small. I took it out or our recycle bin at work. lol I'm a garbage picker. lol the pieces I have are like 14"x16"(x2) and 6"x8" (x2). To make box to go over the case would have to be pretty big. Here (http://usa.chenbro.com/corporatesite/products_02spec.php?serno=14) is the spec sheet on my case. But to give you a general idea of size it's 24.4" x 8.7" x 16.7" and net weight is 39.68lbs (without hardware).

Do you guys think that maybe cutting the grills and putting the foam will help a little? To get that 90* that you were talking about for the intake, I would have to make something off the front. I know this is a modding forum but I would just buy replacement fans if I had to do that.


Thanks for the quick responses.

[w0lv3r1n3]

Before making a box for it, you could try these steps:

Replace the Fans... I have an external dual radiator with 2 SlientX
120's and my pc is like 1 1/2 feet away.. You can barely tell the fans
are on.. Here are 2 different ones depending on your usage:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835191013
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835226013

You could also try these:
http://www.spirecoolers.com/main/product_detail.asp?ProdID=473
Spire Soundpads.. I also have this inside the right panel of my
Thermaltake Armour Case.. The side that faces me.. Seems to help
some.. Don't expect miracles, but every little bit helps.
You can pick them up here for $7.50 a set:
http://www.coolgods.com/shop/Scripts/prodView.asp?idProduct=36

Good luck and tell us how ya do..

[Outlaw]

I would have to look into the sound deadening material as that is the cheapest. Like I said in my first post. I am looking to spend as little if any money as possible.

**If your interested in the strength of this case**
All 198lbs of me standing on my case (http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m127/outlaw1985/DSCI0106.jpg). I don't think I would do this on any other case...


Thanks again.

[danthegeek]

You could also run the front fans off of the 5volt line from your power supply. I would slow them down a lot and make them much quieter. You case temps will probably go up along with your hardware temps. I dont know how much air flow you need threw it but you could do this to the rear fan as well and make it almost dead quiet.

Hope this helped

-danthegeek

By the way, it wont cast a dime because you can just re-wire the fans and call it done.

[Jim Beam]

you could goto your local car stereo shop and get some dynamat . Spray glue a few pieces here and there. It will keep the metal from resonating any vibrations. Then use the same dynamay to separate the fans from directly contacting the metal.

[Outlaw]

This is true. To do that, do I just put in a big resistor? They do draw quite a bit of current (.8A at 12V), assuming we'll say 6v for the sake of argument, wouldn't that still be close to .4A current draw? I just don't want to fry anything and end up paying more then I wanted to. My motherboard and memory are out on RMA at the moment, so I can play with the fan settings in the mean time. Just want to do it right.

**update**
Jim- updated while I was posting...nice! lol I did think of that, but our local best buy or circuit city is insanely priced as far as I have seen/heard they are the only ones to sell it retail. When you walk in, they hand out knives for the cashiers to help you insert into your back and they don't supply enough Vaseline for when they rape you. hahaha


Thanks again for all the quick responses. +rep

[danthegeek]

This is true. To do that, do I just put in a big resistor?

If they run off of a 4 pin molex in your case all you have to do is take the connectors for your fans and switch the yellow and red wire. Thats it. Dont switch around the red and yellow on your power supply, just on the fans.

[Jim Beam]

ebay .......

here (http://cgi.ebay.com/10125-DYNAMAT-Original-4-Sq-Ft-Sheet-Noise-Damping-New_W0QQitemZ180157489993QQihZ008QQcategoryZ67760Q QtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem)

[Luke122]

I totally agree that noisy fans can drive a person nuts.. I went with the Antec P180b case because of how quiet it was. And it was still loud to me!!!

Anyways, I"m 100% laptop at home now, so I"m doing better on the noise front. :)

I'll check out this one fan I have.. cant recall the brand, but damn is it quiet! I'll find out tomorrow am when I get to the office.

[Outlaw]

Dan- Thanks for the tip. They don't run off 4pin though, just 3pin. Red, Blue, Black. I think I did it when I was messing around with it though. Sounded like half speed when I was running yellow to blue and red to red (hope that is ok).

Jim- Thanks for the link. I always forget Ebay. That stuff is cheap though.

Luke- Thanks. I went with the case because of it's size and strength (didn't realize when the review said the fan was loud, they meant like jet turbines). 2 daughters (1 and 2yr). Needed to withstand them standing and climbing on it. lol

**update**
I was kinda bored and not really tired so I cut up that foam and put it in. Surprisingly it seemed to make a difference, even with fans on full (from the side anyways). Put red wire to red wire (5v?). it sounded less then half speed and with the foam I could barely hear it. I guess I just have to wait now until I get my parts back to see if that half speed will be ok or if I need to put back on full. Can let you guys know the outcome if you want?

Thanks again guys for all the quick responses and help!!