Sound Dampening Foam's Effectiveness?

just1ncase · Post by **just1ncase** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:34 am

Hello,

I am new to this forum so bear with me.

I'm planning use sound dampening foam to quiet my PC, but I was wondering if it would be effective in my situation. Most of the noise is caused by my two HDDs. One's a Seagate 120GB (ST3120026A) and other is a Western Digital 30GB (WD300BB). One of them is creating a subtle high pitch whine. It's bearable, but it would be even better if it's gone because I usually leave my computer on overnight. I think it's from the Western Digital because it's much older compare to the Seagate and it might be a Ball Bearing HDD, not sure.

So would it be worth getting a foam dampening kit? If so, which would you recommend me getting and why? or go with my very last resort: To just replace my HDD to a much quieter one?

datapappan · Post by **datapappan** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:50 am

From my experience, foam doesn't take away much noise at all, unless you're really low already, then it might take from silent to quiet, but that's for the fanatics. If you can hear it now, you'll hear after applying foam.

Two alternatives:
1. Replace HDD. As you mentioned yourself, it's old, but this will cost you.
2. Enclose HDD. I have no personal experience of this, but a good enclosure, pre-built or DIY would probably take care of some of the whining noise.

/datapappan

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:14 am

Sound deadening material will help some, especially near the drives. It will also help immensely if you mount the hard drive differently. Read the threads on Silent Storage for details. The hard drive mounting method you use will depend partly on what case you have.

EndoSteel · Post by **EndoSteel** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:03 pm

Imo there's no use of any sound absorbing material if you have your front blowhole open.

theyangster · Post by **theyangster** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:25 pm

I have the same seagate drive suspended and it only has a very faint idle noise

so i'd say it's the WD based on these assumpstions

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:44 pm

theyangster wrote:I have the same seagate drive suspended and it only has a very faint idle noise

so i'd say it's the WD based on these assumpstions

Since the OP has not suspended his drives (like you have) I don't know how you can come to that conclusion.

theyangster · Post by **theyangster** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:53 pm

I think my conclusion is valid

well i know that it's not the best assumption based on that fact, but he did say it was more of a whine than any other noise and usually regardless of mounting method, you probably wouldn't hear a high pitched whine (right?) it'd be more resonance than whine if it was hardmounted.

hmmm i just made another assumption....

just1ncase: why don't you disconnect one of the drives, perhaps the WD first (powered off of course

) and turn it on to see if the whine is gone. I want to know if I'm right (or wrong)

just1ncase · Post by **just1ncase** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:03 pm

Okay, I'll check which HDD asap.

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:17 pm

just1ncase wrote:Okay, I'll check which HDD asap.

If you isolate the drives properly, even the old WD drives (pre fluid dynamic bearings) can be made quiet. Read the threads in the Silent Storage section for ideas on how to do this, depending on which case you have.

theyangster · Post by **theyangster** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:20 pm

yes, what kind of case do you have?

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 6:56 pm

theyangster wrote:yes, what kind of case do you have?

I think he has a justincase.

theyangster · Post by **theyangster** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:49 pm

hehehe Just1ncase hehehe

but you spelled his name wrong

just1ncase · Post by **just1ncase** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:18 pm

Yea, I check the HDDs and it's coming from the 30GB Western Digital HDD (WDC300BB)... The Seagate HDD had no high pitch whine whatsoever. The current case I'm using right now is an Antec Solution SLK3700AMB case.

flarkit · Post by **flarkit** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:32 pm

You should find a number of good tips around here for hard-disk suspension. The SLK3700 does allow for this, although improved cooling may need to be considered.

just1ncase · Post by **just1ncase** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:05 pm

Why would I use the Harddrive Suspension method? The HDD has nothing to do with the HDD's vibration.. To me, it has to do with more of noise from the inside of the HDD.

m0002a · Post by **m0002a** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:19 pm

just1ncase wrote:Why would I use the Harddrive Suspension method? The HDD has nothing to do with the HDD's vibration.. To me, it has to do with more of noise from the inside of the HDD.

Maybe after 4 posts on this forum you are an expert on hard drive noise supression, and the hundreds of others who have been dealing with this issue for several years are a bunch of idiots.

theyangster · Post by **theyangster** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:22 pm

just1ncase wrote:Yea, I check the HDDs and it's coming from the 30GB Western Digital HDD (WDC300BB)... The Seagate HDD had no high pitch whine whatsoever. The current case I'm using right now is an Antec Solution SLK3700AMB case.

haha i was right

in your face

j/k

do you need the 30 gb drive? I mean with HDD are so cheap these days, it be easy to replace (of course with a quiet drive)

actually i found with same seagate in the same case(antec slk3700AMB) in the HDD cage tended to be louder than suspension, because there still is metal on metal contact (near the front of the hdd cage) even with the proper rubber shoulder groments. try suspension out, it can't hurt

wanna see how other similarites our builds have?( Antec 3700AMB, 120 gb seagate drive) check my sig

just1ncase · Post by **just1ncase** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 11:39 pm

wanna see how other similarites our builds have?( Antec 3700AMB, 120 gb seagate drive) check my sig

[/quote]

Hah, yea.. we have somewhat similar build.. Well, yea.. I might as well get a new quieter hdd instead.. but I'll get one later... College and upgrading my computer isn't a good combination.