Noisy PC

[Yuko Imada]

O.O! Hellos, I'm new to the forum..I figure that I should give a mini introduction. I'm Steph...And I've had my heart set on computer modding for a loonnggg time. I built my own PC a few years ago, I customized the case and made it spiffy. It was noisy then, but I put up with it. Just recently, the MB died on me, so I decided to get a new MB, swap the processor (Pentium 4, 3.0GHz) and retire the case entirely.

I got a Mini MB, so to match that..I got a Microfly case.
http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=13&pPath=439&productID=442

My biggest problem right there and then was that I had an Ultra X-Connect...And the cables do NOT fit when you put the case in the upright way...

I had to turn my power supply upside-down and mod the case a little to fix that problem.

((As a side-note, I'm VERY angry at Ultra right now because of the fact that a nice Ultra power supply does NOT fit correctly in an Ultra case...And they sooo did not pay attention to that.))

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/yukoimada/P10601842.jpg



It wasn't much of a problem, I thought....I turned it on and it was nice and quiet, compared to the previous case.

The temp on the front stuck around 40-48, depending on what I was doing.

But the bigger issue was the higher the temp got, the harder the fans worked...The harder the fans worked, the more the case rattled.. I actually had pressure points on MY DESK that would start/stop the vibration.

Well, I deduced that it was because I had to flip the power supply around, the intake fan for that had no room to suck in air...
The hotter that the power supply got, the hotter that the air on the inside got, the hotter the CPU got, the harder the fans worked and thus gave me the rattling.


So, I just popped out the plexi on the top and one side.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/yukoimada/P1060182.jpg

That fixed my problem immediately..I'm running around 37-42 C now.

>.< Now that I've found the heat problem..I believe that another problem is definitely arising...


Dust.


I'm considering to put a fan on the side to suck some of the air sitting around out......But what do I do for the ventilation of the top for the power supply?





I took my plexi and just sat it on top, covering half of it...Leaving the portion near the Power supply open...The temp rose a little..And the vibrating came right back.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/yukoimada/P1060183.jpg

I'm just so agitated with this case right now, I'd love to throw it out the window...But it's my only form of entertainment...And my only way of completing my homework.



What would reduce the dust, the heat, the noise and let me relax? T_T!!



I was thinking...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/yukoimada/P1060186copy.jpg

Arr..Well, I am a broke college student just looking for a nice, quiet and functional computer mod.. (O.O!! FOR NOW!! ^_^)


I certainly hope that someone can give me some info...

>.<!! I apologize for being so lengthy...


Thank you VERY much ahead of time!!

[Silenced_Coyote]

Not sure if this would fit. But how about a row (or just one fan like you have in the last pic) of intake fans on the left. And a row (or just one) of exhaust fans on the right?

I would suggest putting mesh on the top. But I'm not sure as you said the case gets warmer and rattles with just placing the plexi over half of the top. If you happen to have any mesh, just place it over the top and see what happens before you mod it. I guess you can figure out how much surface area you can cover on the top with the plexi to figure out if mesh would work or not. It is a rough estimate though, since plexi won't replicate the "breathablility" of mesh, even if you have the same surface area. It's more even. Sorry for making this so confusing...

You could try replacing your current fans with better ones. Like a 120x120x38mm fan for the rear fan, which I assume is only 25mm in thickness. The thicker fan should provide more static pressure, so the airflow doesn't "die" because of the cramped space inside.

[Yuko Imada]

Thanks so much! I've got major airflow issues, that I know of...

I will try out the Mesh on the top soon - I've got to make a journey to the hardware store soon enough.
I appreciate your help, you were not confusing at all!

The fan in the back is 120x120x20mm, I will Definitely try out the x38mm fan.

I was considering to get some rubber fan silencers
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=127&products_id=2173

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=127&products_id=3507
And replace the screws with the rubber ones (for the fans only)


Any further advice? Once again, Thanks a ton!

[Drew]

Maybe just stick some rubber washer grommet things on the fan screws to dampen the vibration?

Between the fan and case is what I mean.

Welcome ^.^

Rubber screws? Cool.

[Yuko Imada]

Yeah = Definitely what I thought about the rubber screws - "cool". It's something new and different...Hopefully, they'll hold up. I've had issues with plastic screws - They strip and crack almost instantly...And aluminum screws just strip after a few uses. I figured I'd look for something new.

Would I be able to get the Rubber Washers at a hardware store?

[thatslife]

nice that kit should help alot in quieting the machine and yup you can get them at the hardware store

[Drew]

Er, yeah you should be able to pick some up.

thatslife: I don't mean to be a Nazi, but are your comma and fullstop buttons broken?

Sounds like you're on speed.

[Nagoshi]

nice that kit should help alot in quieting the machine and yup you can get them at the hardware store

Punctuation, please...?