|
Update: March 27, 2000 - Well I missed the target of when I said this page would be updated... I know better than to give ETA dates, sorry. Anyway here's what I've been working on.
Over the last several months I've tried a bunch of experiments. Only two have lowered case noise significantly, a quieter power supply and an experimental acoustic box that covers the front of the case. I say experimental box because it is so crude. I'm sure someone will come up with a more eye appealing solution.
First some info on a quiet power supply I found at our last local computer show. It's a Codegen 300W ATX with a thermally controlled exhaust fan. I picked up four of these ($24/ea. USD) at the show, and so far I'm pretty impressed. If ambient temperature is cool or the case cover is left off, the power supply noise is barely noticeable. Even full speed the fan is considerably quieter than the stock Enlight PS.
I don't run Athlons so I can't comment on the compatibility other than the vendor did have several Athlon systems running at the show and told me they used the Codegen in all their Athlon systems. The vendor told me to make sure it's a model 300X not 300XA. Your mileage may vary. Currently I have these PS's in two Intel Celeron 300A @450MHz systems and haven't run into any problems. Unfortunately it is only ATX 2.01 compliant, if you're looking for a quiet 300W ATX 2.03 PS the hunt is still on.
 
Next up is where I'm at on the acoustic noise box project. One of my WD hard drives starting showing it's age with increasingly louder spindle noise. The noise was bugging me so much one day that I grabbed a cardboard box and placed it over the front of the case. This worked so well at reducing the noise that the ideas started to flow, out came the carpet pad and glue gun.
I laughed my *** off a few days later... at why I went to all the trouble of putting a drive door in this box. At the time it seemed like a cool idea. This next shot is a second version, no vent or door just lift it off. dOh!
The box is cut so there is one inch of clearance on the bottom and sides. No cooling problems and it works surprisingly well quieting nasty hard drive spindle noise and front case fan noise as well.
Crude but effective and cheap.
Safety note: To be safe I would suggest spraying the carpet pad with an antistatic spray. I live in Florida and the humidity here is so high that static is not much of a problem. For those of you in colder or dry climates the antistatic spray would definitely be a good idea.
The next phase that I'm working on will only appeal to those of you with more ambition and access to wood working tools. In this phase I'm going after the ultimate noise reduction. This is a little confusing to explain but the frame picture below is what is used to support one of our couch computers, I guess you could call it a couch computer end table. The board that the monitor sits on is mounted on drawer slides, this allows the monitor to be positioned for comfortable surfing and slid out of the way when not in use.
Below is the guts of what holds the computer monitor. The metal frame is from our apartment dumpster (yep we be dumpster divers), it was a filling rack with wire basket drawers which I ground off. The wood is from Home Depot and is 1/2 inch medium density fiber board. Fiber board is more dense than regular particle board and is commonly used in building speakers. I was quite surprised to see Home Depot carrying it, they even carry 3/4 inch. The white panels are regular 2x4 ft acoustic ceiling tiles cut to fit. There is an inch of clearance at the bottom of each side and half an inch clearance at the top of each side. I am hoping this will be enough to allow proper air flow to the intake fans. I don't plan on totally enclosing the rear, instead make some sort of baffle that will easily allow the hot air to escape the box . The front face plate is up in the air yet too, you'll have to stay tuned to see what I come up with.
Well at least you now know that the cooling and noise projects haven't died. :) Stay tuned for more updates as this and other projects progress.
| 
