Easy Mods to Silence your System

[Tyreal]

Easy Mods to Silence your System


HardwareLogic or I takes no responsibility for any modifications you make to your hardware.

Chances are if you've been in the overclocking scene for more than a year you've got a pretty noisy rig sitting next to you. With more than 8 fans circulating more than a couple hundred CFM's you'd be lucky if your not deaf yet.

It might be hard sacrificing a couple mhz to ease your pain but with some modification, you won't need to.

Noise can be a big annoyace for some, for others it can give them satisfaction. I know some people who like their computers noisy... mostly delta owners.

Before I get into any real case/system modifications (mods) lets discuss airflow. One of the easiest ways to minimise noise is to revamp your airflow. More fans does not necesarrily convert into lower temperatures. Take a good look at how your airflow is. If your not sure if its ideal, post it here in the forum, we'd be happy to help you out.

Now since this thread is about silence mods and not how good your airflow is, im gonna go ahead and start.

Note that these modifications won't cut your noise significantly. These mods will benefit with people with systems that are already fairly quiet. It may help a tiny bit with very noisy systems but nothing big.

Case Modifications


Sound Dampening Foam
Difficulty - Easy
Time - 30 minutes to an hour
Supplies - Your Choice sound dampening foam
-3M Super 77 or Similar Spray on Adhesive
-Knife or Similar cutting tool


Sound Dampening Foam is a good way to silence a system that is already fairly quiet. Sound Dampening Foam is designed to absorb high frequency noises like fan motor noise. Note that foam also has the tendecy to raise case temperatures.

Start by unpacking your kit and reading the instructions. There may or may not be a manufacturer guide on how to install it.

The ideal places for foam are:
Both Side panels, top and floor of PC. Possibly on CD Drives. DO NOT apply on Components

Application of Foam is fairly simple. Take your knif eand cut a size appropriate for the area where you will be applying it, Then spray the adhesive onto the area. Be modest but do not put too much. Carefully align and place the foam onto the adhesive-applied area.


Removing Stock Fan Grills
Difficulty - Easy to Moderate
Time - 1 - 2 hours
Supplies - Dremel or other similar rotary tools. Or Tin Snips
-File or grinding bit for dremel
-Reinforced Cutting Wheel for Dremel


If you didn't buy your case from a quality manufacturer, chances are you've got a case that has restrictive fan grills. Restrictive fan grills do several things. They impede airflow, cause uneeded turbulence, and may actually lower fan life.

If you've never used a dremel before, this maybe slightly difficult, but take your time. Depending on the style of your fan grill it may be hard to cut out. Cut along the outside of the design so that the whole grill is cut out. Once again, take your time and be patient, do not rush or you may not like your result.

When the grill is completely cut out, do not touch the edge or you may suffer from unwanted cuts. Take your file or grinding bit and grind the edges until its soft as a baby's butt.

You can either leave it as it is, or you can spice it up a bit. If you've ever been to a computer store or a computer site, I'm sure you've seen those cool looking fan grills. If you want, nows your time to put one on. These grills are usually not as restrictive and look fantastic.

MNPCTECH, a professional modder sells U-Channel which is sort of like a rubber lining for your hole and can make your it look much more professional.

http://www.mnpctech.com/UChannel.html

Replacing your Powersupply Fan
Difficulty - Easy
Time - 15 - 30 minutes
Supplies - Soldering Iron or Electric Tape
- Wire Stripper
- Fan of your choice

This is a great modification if you've got a really noisy fan in your powersupply that is just getting on your nerves. Remember that you cannot use a very weak or low cfm fan because your powersupply may be unadequately cooled resulting in system problems. Your warranty will be void after this mod.

Begin by popping open your powersupply. Be careful not to touch any of the big capacitors as you may get electricuted. It is advised that you leave the powersupply unplugged for a few days to a week for safety.

Locate the rear or front fan. Follow the black and red wire to the PCB. Depending on your PSU, it might be attached to the PSU by a plug or hardwired onto the PCB. No matter the method, cut both of the wires about half way. Unscrew the fan and remove it.

Take your new fan now and cut it somewhere in the middle. If your fan has a yellow wire, just cut it off totally, this wire is for fan RPM monitoring. Strip the ends of all four of the wires about an inch down. From here you can either use a soldering iron or just tie the wires together. Take the Black wire from the fan and the black wire from the powersupply and tie/solder them together, do the same for the red wire. Black to black and red to red always.

Always cover it with electric tape after or you could get arching.

Screw the new fan in and TADA! your done.

More little guides will be added shortly. I know that this is very incomplete.
I Plan to fix it up very soon.

[fps justin]

OR you can also buy a fan controller and turn down your excess fans. like your intakes. A fan controller can be as cheap as 25 dollars or up to 60 depending if you want a simple one or a more complex one.

personally my computer is hella loud and i don't really care that much but i'm concidering getting one anyhow.

[Tyreal]

thats not that same thing. You don't get the modding satsifaction. Plus, when you turn it down... what happens? High temperatures. And what do you get with higher temps? lower stability. therefore resulting in you lowering your o/c.

[bennet]

Hey, where I can purchase the Dampening foam at? thanks

[Tyreal]

ther are several places actually. here are some links:
http://www.mnpctech.com/SonexWilltec.html
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...roducts_id=674

Mutemat:
good review: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article270-page1.html
official site:
http://www.mutemat.co.uk/products.php

those are just a few. IF you want to find more about foam look here:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article71-page1.html
thats a great comparison between a couple different foams.

Hope you find what you need.

[bennet]

Thanks, can I purchase this locally? like homedepot or something like that?

[Tyreal]

I'm not sure. If you go into homedepot and ask the guy if he has any foam that can help dampen noise i'm sure he can help you.

MNPCTECH, is a great place to buy from, its fairly cheap and his shipping is awesome. I've bought from him and it came in two weeks (im in Canada.) less if your in the states.

[bennet]

Wispermat <--- is he a guy? Does he has a website? How much does it cost? I live in the US (Texas).

[Tyreal]

Wispermat does have a site actually.

http://www.muffledcomputing.com/foam.html

Wispermat has a sticky backing so if you use the guide above you don't need the super77. Pricing is on the site.

[Capper]

Ty, you have been a busy little bee today...All full of good ideas and knowledge.