Soundproof PC by case modding, doable? worth it?

hojo · 09-30-2008, 11:55 PM

I've been trying to get a quiet PC for months now, for that purpose, I've been changing components back and forth with little or no success.

I've had it with trying to silence the fans, so I'm looking at the problem from another angle, which is, keeping the noise inside the case itself.

I've heard of people modding their cases by adding sound absorbing material on the side panels, I was thinking of attempting something like that except my case only has one removable panel (left), so it would be pointless.

Therefore, I'm thinking of making an external closure for the case itself, that covers the top and sides only (since that's where most of the sound comes from and I can't cover the front or back for obvious reasons).

Temperature issues aside (my setup is relatively simple by today's standards and works well without a case fan, I'm willing to trade a little temp rising IF it will help me reduce the noise considerably), will such a thing even work? I don't know much about acoustics so honestly I have no idea.

**manic** · 10-01-2008, 01:19 AM

I was given a aleinware case. I love the thing. It has a shell built
around the case I suppose, and it does use sound absorbing foam.
ultra quiet. I thought heat would be a issue, not a problem. Even has
a fan on the side case cover, and back, very quiet, and heat is not
a issue. Running sli board with two video cards. One of the best
freebee's Ive ever got.

Fewmitz · 10-03-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manic

I was given a aleinware case. I love the thing. It has a shell built
around the case I suppose, and it does use sound absorbing foam.
ultra quiet. I thought heat would be a issue, not a problem. Even has
a fan on the side case cover, and back, very quiet, and heat is not
a issue. Running sli board with two video cards. One of the best
freebee's Ive ever got.

I've been hunting for an Alienware tower for what feels like forever. All of the ones that are being sold have no sound proofing, no fans, no lightning, no nothing. -.-

**manic** · 10-03-2008, 09:44 PM

Theres a few on ebay.

Fewmitz · 10-04-2008, 11:37 AM

They're all classed under "barebones" though. And if they don't have the lightning, I can only assume they don't have the sound-proofing.

Zombeast · 10-12-2008, 03:31 PM

try newegg.com for really quiet fans and other parts like side panels for your case, or just buy a new one

**magnethead** · 10-12-2008, 07:14 PM

dynomat. used in car stereos to remove resonation.

09-30-2008, 11:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
hojo Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: WinXP Pro SP1	Soundproof PC by case modding, doable? worth it? I've been trying to get a quiet PC for months now, for that purpose, I've been changing components back and forth with little or no success. I've had it with trying to silence the fans, so I'm looking at the problem from another angle, which is, keeping the noise inside the case itself. I've heard of people modding their cases by adding sound absorbing material on the side panels, I was thinking of attempting something like that except my case only has one removable panel (left), so it would be pointless. Therefore, I'm thinking of making an external closure for the case itself, that covers the top and sides only (since that's where most of the sound comes from and I can't cover the front or back for obvious reasons). Temperature issues aside (my setup is relatively simple by today's standards and works well without a case fan, I'm willing to trade a little temp rising IF it will help me reduce the noise considerably), will such a thing even work? I don't know much about acoustics so honestly I have no idea. Last edited by hojo; 09-30-2008 at 11:56 PM.

10-01-2008, 01:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,254 OS: xp	Re: Soundproof PC by case modding, doable? worth it? I was given a aleinware case. I love the thing. It has a shell built around the case I suppose, and it does use sound absorbing foam. ultra quiet. I thought heat would be a issue, not a problem. Even has a fan on the side case cover, and back, very quiet, and heat is not a issue. Running sli board with two video cards. One of the best freebee's Ive ever got. __________________

10-03-2008, 09:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,254 OS: xp	Re: Soundproof PC by case modding, doable? worth it? Theres a few on ebay. __________________

10-04-2008, 11:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
Fewmitz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 134 OS: Vista 64	Re: Soundproof PC by case modding, doable? worth it? They're all classed under "barebones" though. And if they don't have the lightning, I can only assume they don't have the sound-proofing.

10-12-2008, 03:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Zombeast Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Moreno Valley, CA Posts: 364 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit My System	Re: Soundproof PC by case modding, doable? worth it? try newegg.com for really quiet fans and other parts like side panels for your case, or just buy a new one

10-12-2008, 07:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Soundproof PC by case modding, doable? worth it? dynomat. used in car stereos to remove resonation. __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System