Need a DEAD QUIET desktop

audiobliss

Dad's old desktop is getting old and is about to retire, whether we have a replacement and a retirement package lined up or not. So, it's time to start looking into possible replacements.

Dad was set on a laptop for his next home computer (has a laptop for work) because he won't tolerate another noisy computer. He has some hearing problems (tinnitus), so the noise factor is a big one.

I'm hoping we can find a desktop that's dead quiet, since I think it's impractical to buy a laptop in its stead solely for the noise issue.

Where's a good place to look for a DEAD QUIET desktop? My first thought is a multimedia or HT PC. I would assume those should be quiet given their main purpose. However, Dad will only be using them for some casual card games, online access, and the usual low-end stuff.

Is there a better alternative?

Thanks!!

Ricardo

Laptop; convenient, wireless, quiet, etc, etc, etc.

audiobliss

Yeah, I understand those benefits, and those are real, tangible benefits.

However, he already has a laptop (albeit for business), and really would rarely take advantage of the mobility of a laptop for his main computer.

Might still end up being the way we go, though.

tcrossma

I agree with going for a laptop. Desktops are nice in that they are more upgradable, but really, with the price of computers these days upgrades aren't usually necessary. After a couple years just buy a new one. Get a laptop, and if necessary add an external monitor, keyboard and mouse and you've got the best of both worlds.

For card games and online access (exactly what my Dad uses his for) even the cheapest of laptops from Dell would be a good fit.

sophie

hmm. i have a fanless heatsink for socket A processors i dont use, if his current computer is a socket A you could have it cheep. then all you need to do is replace the one or two fans with "silent cat" fans.

thermaltake makes lots of nice stuff.

can you post a picture of the inside of the computer?

edit:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/product/Power/PurePower/w0029/w0029.asp

what i have: http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/product/cooler/retail/cl-p0071/cl-p0071.asp

look at last 3 http://thermaltakeusa.com/product/DCfan/Standard/standard_index.asp

fatchowmein

Well, I don't know of a model he could go out and buy that was absolutely quiet. I do know my mother-in-law's Dell is pretty quiet. He'll just need to shop around and see if he can tolerate the noise.

But if you build your own, here ya go. Have fun.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/

audiobliss

Thanks for all the info so far.

sophie - Thanks so much for the offer; very nice of you. However, his computer really is on the last leg, so it'll be getting replaced instead of 'refreshed'.

fatchowmein - Thanks for the advice. I suppose going and hearing them in person really is the best way to do it, but the typical BB and CC environment isn't really quiet enough to predict how loud it'll be in his room. Thanks for the link, too.

sophie

i think building your own is the only way to go. lots cheaper and you can get exactly what you want.

sucks2beme

Antec makes some very quiet cases, multimedia and otherwise.

dbaldus

If you're building a computer for him, just buy average parts (nothing with monstrous fans to make a ton of noise) and slap them inside of an Antec P180 case. The thing muffles absolutely EVERYTHING unless you mount a noisy intake/exhaust fan on one of the vents. But, assuming your dad doesn't play a bunch of videogames, I'm assuming the fans and high-end parts with big fans won't be necessary so the thing should be dead silent.

If you need any help with this, I'd be more than happy to talk with you about it. I built a silent PC myself for gaming, which is a very difficult task given all of the components involved in having a great gaming machine, about 2 years ago.

BaggedLancer

Whatever you buy make sure it has 120mm fans and not 80mm fans. That's where 90% of your noise comes from.

I agree with dbaldus, buy whatever you want for parts, then focus your money on the case, the Antec cases are nice, you can also buy sheets of sound deadening material and line the case with it.

120mm fans with sound deadening inside the case should be a dead quiet machine.

Fireman32

I would agree with building it yourself. My case has 6 fans in it and its nice and quiet. It makes some nioes but not enough to be annoying.

BottomFeeder

Don't mean to throw a wrench into things but, would your dad be able to use a Mac? They're just amazingly quiet. Just don't make any sound at all.

bobman1235

BaggedLancer wrote: »

, the Antec cases are nice, you can also buy sheets of sound deadening material and line the case with it.

The P180 cases are actually built with sound-deadening materials already, which is why it's such a nice case. I have two of them. Fantastic.

cmy330go

For a standard PC I agree that it would be best to build one. That way you will be able to search for low noise components such as cpu fans, hard drives, etc....

If money isn't an issue..... I would heavily recommend the new Ultra thin MacBook Air with the solid state drive. That thing is super quick and dead silent since there are no moving parts.

edbert

cmy330go wrote: »

If money isn't an issue..... I would heavily recommend the new Ultra thin MacBook Air with the solid state drive. That thing is super quick and dead silent since there are no moving parts.

+1 on this idea if money isn't a problem. Also know that there is no optical drive, which is why the thing is so dang thin.

bobman1235

I think the Macbook Air is a ridiculous recommendation for a "main PC". It's great for someone who travels a lot but for someone's dad to use as his home PC is just silly. No optical drive, small screen, etc....

audiobliss

No problem, Zero.

As the others have already suggested to me, it's not that difficult to build a quiet PC. Get a nice case (wish I had splurged more on mine) such as the P180, and make sure all your fans are the larger 120mm instead of the smaller fans that are always screaming.

That sounds like the perfect solution except for two things: Dad doesn't want to wait for all the parts to get here and then get built,....and....then I'd be jealous 'cause he'd have a nicer case than I do!


Thanks for all the suggestions, guys; really appreciate it. Might spend some time in BB or CC listening to see how loud the average new PC is, but looks like I'll have to succumb and let Dad get a laptop like he originally suggested.

Thanks!

markmarc

I'm a computer teacher these days and when we replaced the lab computers last summer my 1 absolute was the the computers be extra quiet as 26 running at once can lead to hearing issues if they aren't. We chose the Dell Optiplex 745. Even though they are a small form factor, after the initial startup "whoosh", they are incredibly quiet.

Plus, it allows you to get him a 19" monitor, much better on aging eyes.

SKsolutions

Picked up two new HP business machines for the office lately. The fan comes on when you start it, and after that I've never heard it. Of course no one is gaming on it. Quiet office. Have to send my main laptop out for a mobo repair, so picked up a brandy new Dell Vostro 1500 (35W Centrino Duo2) for the time that I'd be without. I'm blocking the intake, and I still can't hear the fan. For a cheap laptop, it's extremly quiet, has a good keyboard, and the screen is quite nice. I'd keep it, but it's way too big to carry everyday.

nikolas812

I haven't read the whole thread so if this has been posted already I am sorry for the repeat.


But.... What about buying one and lining it with dynamat?

Bamadude

Upgrading the fans will help since there are much quieter fans available than stock. There are fans with controllers on them to let you adjust the speed to your liking which is good as long as you don't turn them too low. I just bought this one.

Face

Power supplies can be noisy too. I just installed a PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750, and it lives up to it's name.

I also replaced the CPU fan with a ZALMAN 9500A 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler, it's also very quiet.

Both will also hold their own in a gaming rig.

Airplay355

Macbook Air is pretty and sexy but without a house full of Mac's to have it link with (share HD space and an optical drive) it's not really a desktop replacement PC.

My Macbook Pro is very quiet, but still pretty expensive for just internet and games, plus they get really really hot whenever you do anything semi-intensive with them.

ViperZ

I have not read the whole thread, but here is my suggestion.

Obviously, you need to eliminate all fans. How? Simple. Buy Zalman fanless products - Zalman makes fanless CPU and bridge coolers - check their website.

To eliminate fan in the power supply, you can either replace it with controlled fan (and reduce rpm to an acceptable minimum), ultra-quiet fan (i.e. Panaflo Lo), or buy a fanless power supply (I believe, either Enermax or Antec make these). I used to have Enermax's whisper-quiet PS, which had 2(!) fans, but was uber-quiet.

To completely eliminate noise, you can buy hard drive with fluid bearings. You can also use some sound dampening material on the inside.

There are several sites that sell parts for quiet PCs. Here is one (found on Google): http://www.endpcnoise.com/

Demiurge

BottomFeeder wrote: »

Don't mean to throw a wrench into things but, would your dad be able to use a Mac? They're just amazingly quiet. Just don't make any sound at all.

I have a MacBook pro with max hardware in it and when I am running any of my graphics programs that SOB gets jet engine loud for a spell. It's not annoying (to me), but it's hardly quiet.