Οδηγός για Quiet PC από την Antec

[aliendna51]

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Is this computer ON?

~ The insiders guide to creating an astonishingly quiet computer ~

by Kareem Fahmi

Its 5 pm on Friday. You walk out of your workplace, feeling refreshed and invigorated after wait a minute. Whats wrong with this picture? Nobody feels refreshed and invigorated at 5 on a Friday. Its simply not possible in todays office world.

So why are workplaces so tiring? Among other things, its because they are noisy, and noise pollution is undeniably bad for you. Studies show that it increases stress and lowers concentration. And if you work with computers, you probably endure far more noise than you need to.

You see, computers are noisy things thanks to the array of fans, power supplies, and other items noisily whirring away inside. But fortunately, help is at hand. Weve provided ten useful tips that should help you quiet even the noisiest computer plus a special secret tip (#11) intended only for the eyes of expert users. It may seem like quite a bit of work, but once you experience a truly quiet computer, youll never go back. Trust us on this.

One thing to note before we start: this article intentionally does not cover water cooling. While water cooling is appropriate for some users, we wanted to address solutions that are easily accessible to the majority of users.

1. Blow smarter, not harder

Your computer needs plenty of cooling in order to work correctly. And that means fans CPU fans, case fans, hard drive fans, maybe even video card fans. But nobody is forcing you to live with the noisy fans included with your original computer. A little money, and a few minutes working with the inside of your computer, can dramatically quiet the noisiest machine.

Our overhaul starts with your CPUs cooling system. Since CPUs would melt without adequate cooling, they rely on metal heatsinks and rotating fans to keep temperatures reasonable. But since these fans are often small perhaps 60 or 70 millimeters they have to spin quite fast to produce enough airflow. And many of them spin at a constant high speed, even if your CPU is near idle and doesnt need maximum cooling. All of this means more noise.

Happily, there are two simple fixes.

First, replace your existing CPU fan with a larger model such as an 80, 92, or even 120mm fan (many computers dont have room for a 120mm CPU fan, so measure the clearances before buying one). To use a larger fan, youll either need to buy an adapter for your existing heatsink, or get a new heatsink that accomodates the larger fan size. The result is a slower and quieter fan that still does the job.

Second, your new CPU fan should feature variable-speed thermal control, which means that the fan speeds up as temperatures increase, and slows when temperatures drop. And the slower it turns, the quieter itll be. So when your CPU is just idling, for example youll be rewarded with blessed quiet.

2. How hot is your video?

Weve quieted your howling CPU fan and now it is time to do the same for your video card. A few years back, most of us didnt even have a separate video card. But todays richly-detailed games absolutely demand a powerful video card for proper animation. And the chips on those cards run hot and require a noisy fan.

Or do they? Depending on your system configuration, you can usually replace your video card fan with an aftermarket heatsink that is entirely silent. One that will usually keep your video card just as cool as that noisy old fan. (Keep in mind, however, that youll need decent air circulation inside your case for this strategy to work.)

Another possibility is to add a fan to blow air from the outside directly onto the video card. If your case does not have a special graphics card air-duct with an optional fan for this purpose, there are accessories that plug into the PCI bus to do the same thing, like the Antec VCool. And while it may seem illogical at first, two fans can do the same work as one while running at half speed, thus quieting your system.

3. Power for your tower

Now lets look at your power supply. Sure, power supplies generate significant heat. But their cooling fans do not need to run louder than turboprop aircraft. If your power supply has one of these fans, consider an upgrade. While it is possible to open your existing power supply and replace the fans, we dont recommend it as it can be dangerous and will void the warranty.

The wiser choice is a newer, larger-capacity power supply designed for higher efficiency and ultra-quiet operation. If youve repeatedly upgraded your system but havent changed your power supply, you may be running near maximum power capacity. Thatll generate more heat, which requires even more cooling.

Newer power supplies have improved efficiencywhich also means they are quieter, since if less electricity is being turned into heat, it does not need to be cooled as much. Also look for a power supply with ball-bearing fans, a temperature-response system, and a dedicated Fan Only power connector for your case fans. These features will also slow your case fans and power supply fans as your system temperature drops. And you know what slower fan operation means.

If you cant afford a top of the line power supply, you can certainly live without some features the dedicated Fan Only power connectors, for example. But be sure to buy a high-quality power supply from a brand that you trust.

4. Size matters

Youve replaced your CPU fan, swapped your video card fan for a heatsink (or installed an additional fan) and upgraded your old power supply. Yet your computer still isnt the quiet angel you have always dreamed of. Do not fear. Youve got plenty more things to do, like quiet your case fans. Many existing cases use multiple small, high-speed fans to circulate air. Unfortunately, such fans create a lot of noise. To quiet things down, replace the two small fans with one larger, low-speed fanand make sure your new fan adjusts its speed in response to system temperature.

5. The fast and the furious

Still with us? Were about halfway done. As weve seen, speed generates noise. And one of your most critical components your hard drive regularly reaches speeds that would make Michael Schumacher proud. While older drives have typical speeds of 5,000 or 7,500 RPM, newer drives can reach 15,000 RPM and higher. Thats fine for speed freaks, but not for those of us who could use a quieter computer. To put it simply: if youve got a loud hard drive, get a quieter one or quiet the one you have.

6. Silicone is good

Admittedly, our previous tip can be expensive if you decide to buy a whole new, quiet hard drive. So heres one thatll cost you little more than a few cups of coffee. Try installing silicone gaskets and washers in certain areas of your computer. Your case fans, hard drive trays, and power supply can all transmit noisy vibrations to your computer case. Installing these gaskets and washers can really help silence your computer.

7. Everybody likes curves

While youre rummaging around inside your machine, take the time to replace your original flat ribbon cables with rounded cables. Not only do flat cables look terrible, they significantly impede your systems airflow. Rounded cables, on the other hand, allow air to flow much more freely inside your system, which should keep temperatures down and allow your fans to run even slower. Plus they just look cool.

8. Soak it up

Believe it or not, weve got a tip that will cost you very little. Grab a thin foam pad and put it under your computer. The foam will soak up noisy vibrations transmitted by your case to your desk.

9. A little padding where you need it most

While were speaking about foam pads, heres another clever trick: attach some acoustic padding to the inside of your case (dont cover any case fans or air vents, obviously). The padding should muffle much of the remaining noise emanating from your case. Just be aware that your case temperatures will almost certainly rise. So keep a close eye on that temperature monitor, and remove the padding if your system temps rise too much.

10. Brand new

At this point, some of you are probably wondering just where youre going to find the time to make all of these upgrades. And others are thinking, Remove my video card fan? Are they crazy? We understand. If you are more interested in a quick and simple way to get a dramatically quieter computer, we honestly suggest that you buy an ultra-quiet case. Find one thats specifically designed for quiet operation, and transfer your components to your new case. Youll be amazed.

So there you have it. Our pain-free, idiot-proof, guide to quiet computing. But before we go, we humbly present our super-secret, extra-special quiet computing tip, intended for expert users only. If youre not an expert user, stop reading now.

11. Turn your computer off and go outside for a change.

Lets be honest: the only way to create a truly silent computer is to turn it off. Really. Once in a while, turn off that machine. Get up. Go outside. Feel the sun on your skin and the wind in your face. And be happy. Because thats what lifes all about, isnt it?

[Cube8]

Αν το εγκρίνει κανείς, ας το μεταφράσει. Το διάβασα, αλλά προτιμώ τα ελληνικά.

[ATi]

Αρχική απάντηση από aliendna51 [Σήμερα, στις 03:32]

11. Turn your computer off and go outside for a change.

Lets be honest: the only way to create a truly silent computer is to turn it off. Really. Once in a while, turn off that machine. Get up. Go outside. Feel the sun on your skin and the wind in your face. And be happy. Because thats what lifes all about, isnt it?

:D

[aliendna51]

Κυρίως για αυτό το τελευταίο το postαρα ATi...

[cabrinha]

Με λιγα λογια μας λεει ο ποιητης να βαλουμε υδροψυξη!!!

[pigassos19]

Απο την αλλη αν δεν ζητας επιδοσεις αλλα μονο ενα απλα αθορυβο πι-σι που κανει τη δουλεια του βαζεις παντου παθητικη ψυξη και τελειωνει η υποθεση!!