Nuts. Crazy. Cuckoo.
Two years ago I was using an aluminum Chieftec Dragon-style case with (count 'em) 9 high speed fans. Deltas, Tornados, anything with high CFM I could lay my hands on.
Then I found this place, and my life has never been the same. A short rundown of my current system specifics should be sufficient to explain the transformation and my current conundrum.
Mobo: ABit AN8 Ultra (silent)
CPU: A64 3200+ @ 2.4 GHz
CPU Heatsink: Thermalright SI-120 w/ Nexus @ 5v
Video: Leadtek 6800GT
VGA Heatsink: NV Silencer 5 Rev.3 @ 25%
Case: the ubiquitous Antec SLK3000B
PSU: Antec NeoHE 500
now for the noise makers:
Exhaust Fan: Antec Tri-Cool on low @9v (suspended)
Optical: NEC 3540a; Panasonic (old, loud CD-RW)
HDD: Maxtor DiamondMax9 80Gb (soft-mounted)
Now, I'm not quite crazy enough to immerse my components in oil (yet), or place my tower in a closet on the other side of the house (yet). In fact, it's not that loud; it's not that irritating. The problem is that I Can Still Hear It !...and you are all to blame.
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
There is a point to this little rant. You see, by far the most intensely irritating racket occurs when loading a program, on startup, or when burning/watching DVDs. I've tracked it to the optical drives (wind up, high-speed wind noise) and the hard drive (monster lawnmower on nitro sounds).
Since I do not want to lose any performance, here's the plan:
Stage 1: Operation HDD Harmony
Objectives:
-install Smart Drive 2002 Copper Cool (in the mail)
-suspend Smart Drived HDD
-purchase new Spinpoint in February
-rinse, repeat
Stage 2: Operation Optical Obliteration
Objectives:
-enclose DVD/CD-ROM drives in foam
-figure out how to soft-mount an optical drive
-if all else fails, use sledgehammer
Stage 3: Operation Fan Fling
Objectives:
-remove Tri-Cool
-throw Tri-Cool as far as possible
-install/undervolt Nexus
Just a couple questions:
1. Where can I buy industrial O-rings? I do not want to use elastic, but recommendations for another rubber-type substance are welcome.
2. Has anyone enclosed their CD/DVD-ROM drives in foam? My primary concerns are increased temperatures and effectiveness of foam installation. Since I have no screw holes in my case (drive rails), I'm curious about the possibility of suspending the optical drives like HDDs.
...and in the spirit of the holidays:
Happy Thanksgiving!