Noisy HTPC :(

BlackdogZA · 2007-05-13, 12:25

Ok folks, with a bit of research (methinks I should have done more

), I have built an HTPC with following specs:

Origen Case
http://www.origenae.com/en/htpc_x15e.htm

Cosair PSU (I think its the 520w)
Asus P5B (passive cooled Mboard)
2Gb ram
8800GTS
Intel E6300 with Zalman fan
X-meridian soundcard

I have also replaced two of the 3 fans on the case with Zalman quiet fans.

Now..as the title of this note suggests, this case is noisy! Not so noisy that you can hear it when watching TV but noisy enough to be distracting. In the same room, I have my Antec P180 Case with a slightly lower specs and that is much quieter.

Any ideas ???

surfermc · 2007-05-13, 13:08

I might sound like a stupid question but what is causing the noise?

Is it the case fans, the cpu fans, the hard disk, the graphics card fan? It is difficult to suggest anything without knowing the source.

However if it is the fan related you could
1. not use them all
2. slow them down
It is good idea to monitor the temperatures of componets while doing this to see the effects.

If it is the hard disk it may have acoustic management settings or you might want to try mounting it differently (suspended or on foam).

BlackdogZA · 2007-05-13, 13:15

Thanks for the prompt response!

to my ears, it sounds like the fans are noisy and this is running all the zalman fans in quiet mode. CPU temp is about 43/44 C

The HDD is not really audible unless I am copying large amounts of stuff onto it and besides, the its a WD HDD that I bought on the recomendation of silentpcreview (or one of those sites).

I am debating whether to disconnect the 3rd (non Zalman) fan. The standard fans that come with the case are quite noisy which begs the question of why an expensive HTPC case (£400+) comes with substandard fans

Tragic · 2007-05-13, 13:27

My first guess would be your 8800GTS, I havn't heard one for myself but they dump a fair amount of heat so would require some decent cooling...

What made you opt for this video card for a HTPC?

To find out whats making the noise simply stop the fans one by one and see where you get a noticeable sound drop. My lazy mans way to do this is gentle put pressure in the middle of the spinning fan with your finger until it stops.

BlackdogZA · 2007-05-13, 14:31

reason I went for the GTS was a sticky on AVS forum that provided minimum specs for H264 playback.

What I didn't take into account was the avc codec.....

nfox · 2007-05-13, 14:34

I gotta say that Zalman fans really aren't as quiet as they could be. I'd recommend Nexus fans - really quiet even at full speed.

You don't say which Zalman CPU cooler you're using, but several of their newer coolers have been criticised for noisy fans. You could look at fitting a cooler that will take a standard fan, rather than having an inbuilt fan, that way you can fit a Nexus (or whatever fan you prefer) rather than relying of whatever is fitted as standard.

I've not heard the 8800s, but I have a 7900GTX and have been very impressed with the quietness of the standard cooler.

Check out the Silent PC Review site http://www.silentpcreview.com/, they have a lot of info on quiet fans, coolers, and so on.

2007-05-13, 12:25	#1 (permalink)
BlackdogZA Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	Noisy HTPC :( Ok folks, with a bit of research (methinks I should have done more ), I have built an HTPC with following specs: Origen Case http://www.origenae.com/en/htpc_x15e.htm Cosair PSU (I think its the 520w) Asus P5B (passive cooled Mboard) 2Gb ram 8800GTS Intel E6300 with Zalman fan X-meridian soundcard I have also replaced two of the 3 fans on the case with Zalman quiet fans. Now..as the title of this note suggests, this case is noisy! Not so noisy that you can hear it when watching TV but noisy enough to be distracting. In the same room, I have my Antec P180 Case with a slightly lower specs and that is much quieter. Any ideas ???

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2007-05-13, 13:08	#2 (permalink)
surfermc Portal Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dorset Posts: 263 Thanks: 14 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts Country: My System	I might sound like a stupid question but what is causing the noise? Is it the case fans, the cpu fans, the hard disk, the graphics card fan? It is difficult to suggest anything without knowing the source. However if it is the fan related you could 1. not use them all 2. slow them down It is good idea to monitor the temperatures of componets while doing this to see the effects. If it is the hard disk it may have acoustic management settings or you might want to try mounting it differently (suspended or on foam).

2007-05-13, 13:15	#3 (permalink)
BlackdogZA Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	Thanks for the prompt response! to my ears, it sounds like the fans are noisy and this is running all the zalman fans in quiet mode. CPU temp is about 43/44 C The HDD is not really audible unless I am copying large amounts of stuff onto it and besides, the its a WD HDD that I bought on the recomendation of silentpcreview (or one of those sites). I am debating whether to disconnect the 3rd (non Zalman) fan. The standard fans that come with the case are quite noisy which begs the question of why an expensive HTPC case (£400+) comes with substandard fans

2007-05-13, 13:27	#4 (permalink)
Tragic Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 27 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	My first guess would be your 8800GTS, I havn't heard one for myself but they dump a fair amount of heat so would require some decent cooling... What made you opt for this video card for a HTPC? To find out whats making the noise simply stop the fans one by one and see where you get a noticeable sound drop. My lazy mans way to do this is gentle put pressure in the middle of the spinning fan with your finger until it stops.

2007-05-13, 14:31	#5 (permalink)
BlackdogZA Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	reason I went for the GTS was a sticky on AVS forum that provided minimum specs for H264 playback. What I didn't take into account was the avc codec.....

2007-05-13, 14:34	#6 (permalink)
nfox Portal Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts Country: My System	I gotta say that Zalman fans really aren't as quiet as they could be. I'd recommend Nexus fans - really quiet even at full speed. You don't say which Zalman CPU cooler you're using, but several of their newer coolers have been criticised for noisy fans. You could look at fitting a cooler that will take a standard fan, rather than having an inbuilt fan, that way you can fit a Nexus (or whatever fan you prefer) rather than relying of whatever is fitted as standard. I've not heard the 8800s, but I have a 7900GTX and have been very impressed with the quietness of the standard cooler. Check out the Silent PC Review site http://www.silentpcreview.com/, they have a lot of info on quiet fans, coolers, and so on.