The quest for a completely silent PC

[mouser]

I’ve been trying to make my computers quieter for nearly three decades.  Custom liquid cooling loops, magnetically-stabilised fluid-dynamic bearings, acoustic dampeners, silicone shock absorbers, you name it.  Well, last week I finally managed to build a completely silent computer.  Without further ado…

https://tp69.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/completely-silent-computer/

from http://www.osnews.com/story/30358/A_completely_silent_computer

[Deozaan]

Neat! Now all he needs is a good mechanical keyboard and all his time, effort, and money will be for nothing.

[4wd]

Took him a lot longer than necessary, Zalman had a silent computer case years ago, so long ago it's been discontinued (about 12 years): TNN 500AF

[tomos]

Took him a lot longer than necessary, Zalman had a silent computer case years ago, so long ago it's been discontinued (about 12 years): TNN 500AF

I wonder why they replaced it with a liquid cooled case though...

Replaced by the Zalman LQ1000 Z-Machine Hybrid Liquid Cooled Case (w/WB5+)

[4wd]

Possibly for the gaming crowd they needed a higher cooling capacity than just straight passive.

Plus it has more "bling" 

[Deozaan]

No moving parts means this PC is also completely silent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32g1ByDRzO0

[mateek]

I ran into a lot of videos a few years ago about "mineral oil" submerged computers.  If you want to go that far and to that expense you might try an internet search on mineral oil cooled computers which brings up lots of variations. 

I came to those videos by accident trying to look up how to silence my own normal PC.  For a while I used a Sapphire Ultimate Radeon R7 250 which is fanless with huge fins.  I've now got an Nvidia card which I made sure only used one expansion slot, as those using two allow a lot of extra noise.

I only got brave enough to leave my Sapphire behind because I did a lot of sound-proofing of my computer case.  I discovered long ago the Antec 300 I bought for my first build happened to a have a lip on the side-covers that held standard poster board very well and that was my first step to muffle my PC.  Then I got into modding and came up with my own idea for an "air scoop" inside the case here at my website, which did quiet things a bit, together with more poster board.

Then about two years ago I felt I needed a larger case.  I went with an Antec 302 which at first seemed like a mistake, but again I found a modification, as well as the same existing lip on the side-covers.  This time I google learned about self-adhesive vinyl floor tile, tried that instead of the poster board, and also purchased Silverstone dampening foam.  I absolutely packed the front panel with that adhesive foam around the air filter screen, closed the unused fan mounts and I'm very happy with the results.  One drawback is that the tiles I added makes the PC heavy, but I never move it anyway.

Hope this all helps.

[4wd]

One drawback is that the tiles I added makes the PC heavy, but I never move it anyway.

You can go to an automotive shop and buy sheets of under-bonnet, self-adhesive sound dampening foam, it's about 10mm thick.

[Target]

or cut the corrugated cardboard out of the side of a box...

[cranioscopical]

or cut the corrugated cardboard out of the side of a box...

I did that and then put the box over the computer. Now the machine is still very noisy and I can't reach the switch to turn it off.

[Target]

I did that and then put the box over the computer. Now the machine is still very noisy and I can't reach the switch to turn it off.

clearly someone forgot the duct tape...

[IainB]

or cut the corrugated cardboard out of the side of a box...

I did that and then put the box over the computer. Now the machine is still very noisy and I can't reach the switch to turn it off.

I had a similar problem and fixed it by wiring up a switch in parallel with the first switch, as an extension, inserting the new switch itself into the outer cardboard box. Still the PC was too noisy, so I hit on the idea of layering a slightly larger cardboard box around the one just done, and giving that an extension switch also. I got the idea whilst showing my son a set of nested Russian dolls. After 8 carboard boxes and extension switches,  the PC was noticeably much quieter - almost silent actually.

I was so pleased with the result that I went off downstairs to the kitchen to brew up a triumphal cup of tea to celebrate my success. Unfortunately, I had left the PC switched ON and hadn't thought about the potential heat build-up with all those nested cardboard boxes, and the whole thing must have caught fire whilst me and the missus were enjoying the triumphal cuppa tea. By the time we came out of the kitchen there was smoke curling down the stairway and the fire had just about consumed the upper storey of our 2-storey house. We called the fire brigade and fled outside. When they finally damped down the last embers the house had been pretty much levelled.
Fortunately we were well-insured and safe and the pets also escaped unharmed, but once we moved into our new house I never seemed to have much enthusiasm for restarting that project after that experience, and I always get a funny feeling in my tummy when I look at Russian dolls now.

[mateek]

As technology advances PC's will look like living beings, and we'll all remember to poke air holes in the cardboard boxes.

My poster board mention has the caveat of no leaking capacitors. 

[cranioscopical]

I always get a funny feeling in my tummy when I look at Russian dolls now.

You get a funny feeling in your tummy? Spare a thought for the Russian dolls, they have much more to stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach...

[IainB]

I always get a funny feeling in my tummy when I look at Russian dolls now.

You get a funny feeling in your tummy? Spare a thought for the Russian dolls, they have much more to stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach...

That's a rather insightful comment. Is that what they call "duodenal insight"?

[cranioscopical]

Is that what they call "duodenal insight"?

I'm afraid you've thrown me a curve...

[Shades]

I always get a funny feeling in my tummy when I look at Russian dolls now.

You get a funny feeling in your tummy? Spare a thought for the Russian dolls, they have much more to stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach, stomach...

That's a rather insightful comment. Is that what they call "duodenal insight"?

Not in and off itself, no...

[Curt]

I can't hear my PC, until I shut it down and I notice it got even more silent.