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10-12-2009, 02:11 AM
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#1 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Fribourg, Switzerland
Posts: 265
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Reducing case fan noise
OK, so now I have my new HTPC running OK (fingers crossed), is there anyway to reduce the case fan noise? It is not overbearing, but noticeable. My PSU is virtually silent, I have a passively cooled Gfx card and the CPU fan only makes a very faint whirring. The main noise generators are the 2 case fans. The case is a Silverstone La Scala SST-LC10B-E. I've heard it is possible to reuce the fan voltage to make them run more quietly, is this true and how do I do it?
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Desktop: Gigabyte EP35 DS3R, Intel Core Duo E8400 3.0 Ghz, Asus EAH5850 1GB, Western Digital 750 GB 7200rpm 16 MB cache, Corsair 4 GB DDR2 800, Thermaltake 650W PSU, Antec 900 Case, Windows 7 64 bit on Corsair 80GB SSD HTPC: Asus P5QL PRO, Intel Core2Duo E5300 2.8 Ghz, Sapphire HD4550 512MB, Samsung HD103UJ 1TB F1 7200rpm 32MB, Mushkin XP2-8500 2x2GB DDR2-1066, Be Quiet! Straight Power BQT E6-400W 80plus, Lite-On IHOS104-37 BluRay ROM, Silverstone La Scala SST-LC10B-E, Windows Vista 32 bit |
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10-12-2009, 05:52 AM
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#2 |
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Ride 'em Cowboy
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 9,018
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When you buy fans you normally see: Noise Level: 56.4 dBA
The lower the number the more quiet they are. |
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10-12-2009, 05:59 AM
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#3 | |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Fribourg, Switzerland
Posts: 265
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Quote:
I did not buy the fans separately, they came with the case. |
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10-12-2009, 06:38 AM
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#4 |
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Ride 'em Cowboy
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Dallas, Tx
Posts: 9,018
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Oooops. I left off the obivious part about getting fans that are more quite then the current fans
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10-12-2009, 06:53 AM
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#5 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Fribourg, Switzerland
Posts: 265
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Sarcasm aside
, if I wanted to go and buy new fans, I would have asked for details (make, spec, dBa level etc). However, I asked for a reliable procedure for modifying the fan voltage. I've read about it and would like to know if it's worth doing/feasible or not. |
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10-12-2009, 08:33 AM
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#6 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI USA
Posts: 302
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It's feasible but it also reduces the amount of air that moves through the case. The program Speedfan will show you your current temps and allow you to manipulate your fan speeds. Use caution though. If you drop them to low, you could damage your system from overheating.
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10-12-2009, 08:50 AM
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#7 | |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Fribourg, Switzerland
Posts: 265
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Quote:
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10-12-2009, 10:37 AM
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#8 |
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Techphile.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,746
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Consider a fan speed controller. A fan running at 100% is a LOT noisier than say a fan running at 75%.
The other solution might be to buy a fan that is thermostatically controlled so it only runs at high speeds when the case temperature is getting unacceptably hot. Otherwise it runs at slower, quieter speeds. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...oller%20Panels http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Produc...S=1141&ID=1726
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Asus P8P67 WS Revolution | Intel 2600K @ 4.7 GHz | Win 7 Pro 64 |8 gigs Corsair 1600 | Two Diamond 6990's in Crossfire| Corsair AX1200 | Thermalright Silver Arrow | Western Digital Black 2TB 64 meg cache | Lian-Li PC-A71B | Logitec Z-5500 | Three Asus 26" VW266H monitors running under Eyefinity | Last edited by David M; 10-12-2009 at 10:41 AM. |
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10-12-2009, 05:38 PM
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#9 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Fribourg, Switzerland
Posts: 265
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Damn, the instructions for Speedfan are extremely difficult to follow, is there anywhere that has a simpler, "Speedfan for Dummies" guide?
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10-13-2009, 01:48 AM
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#10 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Mt. Hope, NY
Posts: 1,208
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Something like this might help.
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10-14-2009, 02:52 AM
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#11 |
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Techphile.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,746
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I would use hardware over Speedfan anyday I think the fan speed hardware is more reliable. The instructions are certainly easier.
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10-30-2009, 02:27 PM
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#12 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 25
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There's lots of good info on this website for reducing fan noise:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/ Look in the Aritcle Index for fan-related articles. I have a tower case but it is located right next to my TV and functions like an HTPC. After trying several things to reduce fan noise, I had the best success by installing a manual fan speed control (for controlling up to 4 different fans) in a 3.5" external bay, and also replacing my case fans with Scythe S-Flex 120mm fans. I currently have the two case fans plus the CPU fan (Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro) being controlled by my fan controller. The fan speed controller is used to manually dial the speed of the fans down until they are virtually inaudible. A check of temps shows that everything is running wonderfully cool and I am very happy with this arrangement. If you don't have a spare 3.5" external bay for a fan speed controller, then you can buy a few Zalman Fan Mates http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118217 and tuck them away inside your case. |
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