Halion
New member
Today, 3 new products to silence my PC arrived. I have bought quite a few over the last 2 years and here's some reviews for those interested.
My goal was to cheaply but effective reduce the noise my PC makes to a level where recording a meter from it would not be a problem. I have purchased these products to achieve that goal:
Nexus NX-3000 silent power supply 300 watts - around 50 euros
http://www.nexustek.nl/nx3000.htm
Works well. It's alot more silent than by far most power supplies and with some extra acoustic filtering (will get to that later) it's a very usable power supply. Recommended.
Nexus AXP-3200 AMD Athlon XP cooler - around 50 euros
http://www.nexustek.nl/axp3200.htm
Same as the powersupply basicly. Works well but can be heard.
Nexus DiskTwin Hard Disk noise stopper - around 20 euros
http://www.nexustek.nl/disktwin.htm
Do NOT buy these! They work, but reduce the noise by no more than 20% I would say. A hard disk makes 2 kinds of noise: reading noise, and spinning noise. The reading noise consist mostly of high-pitched crackles, which the disktwin filters away for about 50% (not enough), while the spinning noise is not filtered away at all (the spinning noise it the airy sound you hear, and also any buzzy sound coming from the HD). There are better alternatives.
HDD Vibe Fixer Hard Disk noise stopper - around 20 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...d=289&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
This works alot better. The HD is suspended in mid-air buy rubber bands, reducing the reading noise to 0db (it's all vibrations basicly), and slighly reducing the spinning noise. This is the best alternative I've found but it still doesn't take away the spinning noise enough.
HDD Box 20 Dual Hard Disk noise stopper - around 30 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...d=510&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
Fits two hard disks of any type. Completely takes away the reading noise, and reduces the spinning noise a little bit (again, not enough though). There's a problem with the side plates and screws. They pick up vibrations from the HD causing mulitple buzzes in the mid frequency range. Highly anoying, but when removing the screws and sideplates, it's gone. The HDs are no longer secured though, so be carefull when moving the computer.
Fan noise reduction Box NT/80 - around 20 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...d=156&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
Installed on the back of a power supply or casefan. Together with the Nexus power supply, this worked pretty well, and was really easy to install. Recommended.
Any dampening mats - anywhere from 10 to 200 euros
I do not recommend any of these. They seemed to do next to nothing for me. A computer case needs openings, and as long as you've got those you've got noise coming out. If you stuff everything with dampening mats your gonna run into some mayor heat problems. In my opinion, not a great idea.
Zalman ZM 80 D HP Graphics card passive cooling system - around 30 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...=1008&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
Works great. Highly recommeded. Takes up some space but my GeForce 4 MX is running on a low temp with 0 moving parts so no noise whatsoever. Can't keep those super gaming cards cool but we don't need those anyway, right? A bit tricky to install but still doable.
Also, I made simply door in my desk right in front of the computer compartment, which keeps out some high frequencies from the fans.
I've probably spend way too much on this stuff already but I learned alot and will continue to search for new stuff to silence my PC. My next step will probably be a new HD or 2 because my current one is noisy as hell (although I have on clue if it's average or not). I'm thinking of getting a complete silencing case aswell but they are too expensive at the moment.
Also, I've made a simple door in my desk right in front of the computer compartment, which keeps out some high frequencies from the fans.
Hope this is of use to anyone!
My goal was to cheaply but effective reduce the noise my PC makes to a level where recording a meter from it would not be a problem. I have purchased these products to achieve that goal:
Nexus NX-3000 silent power supply 300 watts - around 50 euros
http://www.nexustek.nl/nx3000.htm
Works well. It's alot more silent than by far most power supplies and with some extra acoustic filtering (will get to that later) it's a very usable power supply. Recommended.
Nexus AXP-3200 AMD Athlon XP cooler - around 50 euros
http://www.nexustek.nl/axp3200.htm
Same as the powersupply basicly. Works well but can be heard.
Nexus DiskTwin Hard Disk noise stopper - around 20 euros
http://www.nexustek.nl/disktwin.htm
Do NOT buy these! They work, but reduce the noise by no more than 20% I would say. A hard disk makes 2 kinds of noise: reading noise, and spinning noise. The reading noise consist mostly of high-pitched crackles, which the disktwin filters away for about 50% (not enough), while the spinning noise is not filtered away at all (the spinning noise it the airy sound you hear, and also any buzzy sound coming from the HD). There are better alternatives.
HDD Vibe Fixer Hard Disk noise stopper - around 20 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...d=289&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
This works alot better. The HD is suspended in mid-air buy rubber bands, reducing the reading noise to 0db (it's all vibrations basicly), and slighly reducing the spinning noise. This is the best alternative I've found but it still doesn't take away the spinning noise enough.
HDD Box 20 Dual Hard Disk noise stopper - around 30 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...d=510&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
Fits two hard disks of any type. Completely takes away the reading noise, and reduces the spinning noise a little bit (again, not enough though). There's a problem with the side plates and screws. They pick up vibrations from the HD causing mulitple buzzes in the mid frequency range. Highly anoying, but when removing the screws and sideplates, it's gone. The HDs are no longer secured though, so be carefull when moving the computer.
Fan noise reduction Box NT/80 - around 20 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...d=156&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
Installed on the back of a power supply or casefan. Together with the Nexus power supply, this worked pretty well, and was really easy to install. Recommended.
Any dampening mats - anywhere from 10 to 200 euros
I do not recommend any of these. They seemed to do next to nothing for me. A computer case needs openings, and as long as you've got those you've got noise coming out. If you stuff everything with dampening mats your gonna run into some mayor heat problems. In my opinion, not a great idea.
Zalman ZM 80 D HP Graphics card passive cooling system - around 30 euros
http://www.ichbinleise.de/product_i...=1008&osCsid=549e0a05cc61035d0d64a3a09ecbccdd
Works great. Highly recommeded. Takes up some space but my GeForce 4 MX is running on a low temp with 0 moving parts so no noise whatsoever. Can't keep those super gaming cards cool but we don't need those anyway, right? A bit tricky to install but still doable.
Also, I made simply door in my desk right in front of the computer compartment, which keeps out some high frequencies from the fans.
I've probably spend way too much on this stuff already but I learned alot and will continue to search for new stuff to silence my PC. My next step will probably be a new HD or 2 because my current one is noisy as hell (although I have on clue if it's average or not). I'm thinking of getting a complete silencing case aswell but they are too expensive at the moment.
Also, I've made a simple door in my desk right in front of the computer compartment, which keeps out some high frequencies from the fans.
Hope this is of use to anyone!