sound insulation cabinet for noisy computer

mali_aber · 5th November 2005, 03:25 PM

my computer - video editing workstation, is very noisy. i do not have noise level meter, and maybe even better, considering how much noise this workstation makes. some people change fans in the computer case/power supply, but it seems that would not be enough in my case, because much of the noise comes from workstation's numerous hard drives. maybe the easiest solution for my problem is a sound insulation enclosure, a cabinet ( http://www.iso-box.com/Isobox_post_production.php?photos ). unfortunately, my computer wouldn't fit in any available sound insulation cabinet on the market, or the cabinet wouldn't fit into my budget, so the only choice left is to try build one - diy.

nominal power of the computer is 1100w. according to this diagram (http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/28508491144.jpg&s=x10 ), it seems that sufficient air flow to cool this computer in this insulation enclosure would be 200-250m3/h or 120-150cfm. is this right?

in order to muffle the noise of the enclosure ventilation fans, both intake and exhaust fans must have their own noise protection, some kind of sound labyrinth, see http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/noise-protection/section.htm and http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/noise-protection/details.htm . the biggest unknown to me are the size and design of that sound labyrinth? in theory, the sound should be weakened by passing the long tunnels of the zigzag-shaped labyrinth lined with some sound absorption material. how many 180 degree bends are sufficient to absorb both high and low frequency noises? how narrow the tunnels/labyrinth should be to absorb the fan noise and allow suficient airflow?

in my understanding, it is a must to avoid compression of the air propelled by fans and the noise of the turbulence caused by that compressed air. therefore, it seems to me that sound labyrinth surface must have at least the same area as fans. in this case, it seems that 2 papst fans model 4214nl (119 x 119 x 38 mm) are the best choice, providing required air flow. 2 fans have surface of 2 x 113cm2 = 226cm or 40 sq inch. accordingly, labyrinth surface area should be at least the same. is this right? if i build bigger labyrinth surface area, would that cancel the muffler effect of the labyrinth - and make sound pass thru easier? any thoughts? also the shape of that surface is tricky... 40 sq inch: is it the same if labyrinth is 1 inch x 40 inch or 8 inch x 5 inch? http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/schallschutz/vorne.jpg is this too narrow? http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/noise-protection/details.htm

materials for the cabinet...
it is obvious that cabinet must be built with sound insulation materials, for both, low and high frequencies. the problem is that every manufacturer of the sound insulating materials claims only his material provide real / the best sound insulation. who can guesstimate which sound insulating materials/manufacturers to be applied for the inside of the cabinet?

aditional pictures
intake fans: http://www.iso-box.com/images/post/post_fans.jpg
exhaust fans: http://www.iso-box.com/images/post/post_back.jpg
cabinets
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/30223091195.gif&s=x11
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/30223085272.gif&s=x11
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/30223081929.jpg&s=x11

i would appreciate any comments or thoughts.

mazurek · 5th November 2005, 04:37 PM

I'm sure you will get good advice here, but also make sure you post at www.silentpcreview.com forums if you haven't. They have some real silent computer fanatics there.

neutron7 · 6th November 2005, 09:41 PM

instead of building a hige cabinet, why not silence your PC instead.

instead of a small fast noisy cpu fan you could get a big 120mm fan and a duct adapter. the fan can spin much slower and move the same air.

watercooling will silence your CPU fan (many kits to choose from) water cooling is much less scary than you might think especially with a kit.

passive heatpipe cooler for the video card (zalmann makes one)

passive chipset cooler if your chipset has a nasty little fan on it just put a larger passive heatsink there instead.

then the only thing is hard drives. you can get quieter drivesmost newer ones with "fluid bearings" some are berely audiable.

to silence current drives, you can isolate them from the case with rubber grommets. it makes a big difference if the noise is not transmitted to the thin drum like metal of the case.

most of these things can be passed on to a newer machine if you upgrade, i have used my zalman heatpipr cooler on 3 different video cards so far.

If you decide to go with the cabinet, why not put the exhaust fans in another box in a different room, and run a dryer duct between them. we used that method in one recording studio, and it worked welll for humans.

dnsey · 6th November 2005, 10:20 PM

Just lining the case with ordinary PU foam can make a surprising amount of difference.

mali_aber · 8th November 2005, 02:20 AM

well, thanks for comments.

this computer is not a toy. it is very serious and expensive tool for the work. it simply needs a insulation enclosure, real big, solid cabinet with the plenty of sound blocking and absorbing materials, together with its thickenss.
main problem is this sound labyrinth, actually its design. blocking the noise and letting the air go freely. the thing is: i cant find any references on the internet.

anyhow, thanks once more for your comments and ideas.

454Casull · 8th November 2005, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mali_aber

this computer is not a toy.

What's your point? No computer is a toy.

mazurek · 8th November 2005, 02:53 AM

here's some I found quick on the silentpcreview.com forums search

Actual Product
http://www.norenproducts.com/

Homemade Enclosure
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/juhladude/

The thing people find I think is that it helps to start with quiet parts to begin with. If you are attached to your computer, it might be worth the investment to buy a KVM switch so that you can locate your computer in another room.

sam9 · 8th November 2005, 03:21 AM

I've been working at reducung noise in order to use a PC as a HT unit. The first tgool you will benefit benefit fropm is "Motherboard Monitor", freeware. It displays termperature info both for the CPU and locatin(s) on the motherboard. With that as a starting point you will be able top see the effect of slowing or disconnecting the varoius fans. Since a P4 CPU has a thermal protection circuit, it is supossed to be safe to experiment - just don't do so by writting a an important file. The CPU will, supossedly just shut down (at ~85C) before damage ocurrs.

So far I've found that some case fans are not really doing much and can be unplugged without consequence. The CPU fan is another mater but enen there, there are options, as well as with the PS.

Schaef · 8th November 2005, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mali_aber
well, thanks for comments.

this computer is not a toy. it is very serious and expensive tool for the work. it simply needs a insulation enclosure, real big, solid cabinet with the plenty of sound blocking and absorbing materials, together with its thickenss.
main problem is this sound labyrinth, actually its design. blocking the noise and letting the air go freely. the thing is: i cant find any references on the internet.

anyhow, thanks once more for your comments and ideas.

So, let's get this straight, you don't want the suggestions that will take your NON-TOY computer and make it a more PROFESSIONAL looking/sounding computer, but rather how we can help make it look like a TOY?!?!?

The suggestions given by several people here are very good starting points and some cost little or no money. No one seemed to imply that your computer was a toy. However, I don't see how your design is going to do anything but make your computer look like a toy.

If the hard drives are the primary source of the noise, then look at ways of making them quieter. The grommet suggestion is a cheap, quick and noticeable improvement, and it won't hurt the computer, doesn't involve doing anything dangerous, and its not visible.

Why do you have such an aversion to simple suggestions? I would agree that some of the suggestions might fall under extreme, but they're alternatives to what you want to do.

As for baffle suggestions, why not look at automotive muffler designs and see how they work? Or, why not try a design and see how much it helps?

mali_aber · 8th November 2005, 09:02 PM

this homemade enclosure link is great, thanks mazurek. moving this computer to another room is

really great trick, but in my case - it is simply impossible.

quiet components and quiet fans in this computer are simply out of the question. besides, this

computer components make maybe even more noise than the fans. that is why only the sound

insulated enclosure/cabinet would do.

the thing is design of the sound labyrinth for the forced air - principles of the sound deadening and principles of the quiet airflow are at least - oposed. please compare this diagram http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/nois...on/section.htm with this text: http://storeandserve.com/download/95...flow.pdf.html. in the simple words, it appears to me that there is no (easy?) way to deaden the sound and keep airflow quiet. i am sure that sound engineers resolved this matter with the great success, only problem is how to find some pictures of their work (for free, hehe).

454casul, this kind of computers looks to me as a toy http://www.mdmm.com/products/techietoyz/ and we both know that there is a whole industry "inventing things" for the gamers, case modders, and the other kids and cool guys. maybe i am wrong, but all those blue fans and computer neon lights looks to me as a "tax for fools", but that's just me.

best regards to all of you gentleman.

5th November 2005, 03:25 PM	#1
mali_aber diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	sound insulation cabinet for noisy computer my computer - video editing workstation, is very noisy. i do not have noise level meter, and maybe even better, considering how much noise this workstation makes. some people change fans in the computer case/power supply, but it seems that would not be enough in my case, because much of the noise comes from workstation's numerous hard drives. maybe the easiest solution for my problem is a sound insulation enclosure, a cabinet ( http://www.iso-box.com/Isobox_post_production.php?photos ). unfortunately, my computer wouldn't fit in any available sound insulation cabinet on the market, or the cabinet wouldn't fit into my budget, so the only choice left is to try build one - diy. nominal power of the computer is 1100w. according to this diagram (http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/28508491144.jpg&s=x10 ), it seems that sufficient air flow to cool this computer in this insulation enclosure would be 200-250m3/h or 120-150cfm. is this right? in order to muffle the noise of the enclosure ventilation fans, both intake and exhaust fans must have their own noise protection, some kind of sound labyrinth, see http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/noise-protection/section.htm and http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/noise-protection/details.htm . the biggest unknown to me are the size and design of that sound labyrinth? in theory, the sound should be weakened by passing the long tunnels of the zigzag-shaped labyrinth lined with some sound absorption material. how many 180 degree bends are sufficient to absorb both high and low frequency noises? how narrow the tunnels/labyrinth should be to absorb the fan noise and allow suficient airflow? in my understanding, it is a must to avoid compression of the air propelled by fans and the noise of the turbulence caused by that compressed air. therefore, it seems to me that sound labyrinth surface must have at least the same area as fans. in this case, it seems that 2 papst fans model 4214nl (119 x 119 x 38 mm) are the best choice, providing required air flow. 2 fans have surface of 2 x 113cm2 = 226cm or 40 sq inch. accordingly, labyrinth surface area should be at least the same. is this right? if i build bigger labyrinth surface area, would that cancel the muffler effect of the labyrinth - and make sound pass thru easier? any thoughts? also the shape of that surface is tricky... 40 sq inch: is it the same if labyrinth is 1 inch x 40 inch or 8 inch x 5 inch? http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/schallschutz/vorne.jpg is this too narrow? http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/noise-protection/details.htm materials for the cabinet... it is obvious that cabinet must be built with sound insulation materials, for both, low and high frequencies. the problem is that every manufacturer of the sound insulating materials claims only his material provide real / the best sound insulation. who can guesstimate which sound insulating materials/manufacturers to be applied for the inside of the cabinet? aditional pictures intake fans: http://www.iso-box.com/images/post/post_fans.jpg exhaust fans: http://www.iso-box.com/images/post/post_back.jpg cabinets http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/30223091195.gif&s=x11 http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/30223085272.gif&s=x11 http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=10/30223081929.jpg&s=x11 i would appreciate any comments or thoughts.

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5th November 2005, 04:37 PM	#2
mazurek diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	I'm sure you will get good advice here, but also make sure you post at www.silentpcreview.com forums if you haven't. They have some real silent computer fanatics there.

6th November 2005, 09:41 PM	#3
neutron7 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Toronto Canada	instead of building a hige cabinet, why not silence your PC instead. instead of a small fast noisy cpu fan you could get a big 120mm fan and a duct adapter. the fan can spin much slower and move the same air. watercooling will silence your CPU fan (many kits to choose from) water cooling is much less scary than you might think especially with a kit. passive heatpipe cooler for the video card (zalmann makes one) passive chipset cooler if your chipset has a nasty little fan on it just put a larger passive heatsink there instead. then the only thing is hard drives. you can get quieter drivesmost newer ones with "fluid bearings" some are berely audiable. to silence current drives, you can isolate them from the case with rubber grommets. it makes a big difference if the noise is not transmitted to the thin drum like metal of the case. most of these things can be passed on to a newer machine if you upgrade, i have used my zalman heatpipr cooler on 3 different video cards so far. If you decide to go with the cabinet, why not put the exhaust fans in another box in a different room, and run a dryer duct between them. we used that method in one recording studio, and it worked welll for humans.

6th November 2005, 10:20 PM	#4
dnsey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Shropshire, England	Just lining the case with ordinary PU foam can make a surprising amount of difference.

8th November 2005, 02:20 AM	#5
mali_aber diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	well, thanks for comments. this computer is not a toy. it is very serious and expensive tool for the work. it simply needs a insulation enclosure, real big, solid cabinet with the plenty of sound blocking and absorbing materials, together with its thickenss. main problem is this sound labyrinth, actually its design. blocking the noise and letting the air go freely. the thing is: i cant find any references on the internet. anyhow, thanks once more for your comments and ideas.

8th November 2005, 02:53 AM	#7
mazurek diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	here's some I found quick on the silentpcreview.com forums search Actual Product http://www.norenproducts.com/ Homemade Enclosure http://personal.inet.fi/koti/juhladude/ The thing people find I think is that it helps to start with quiet parts to begin with. If you are attached to your computer, it might be worth the investment to buy a KVM switch so that you can locate your computer in another room.

8th November 2005, 03:21 AM	#8
sam9 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Left Coast	I've been working at reducung noise in order to use a PC as a HT unit. The first tgool you will benefit benefit fropm is "Motherboard Monitor", freeware. It displays termperature info both for the CPU and locatin(s) on the motherboard. With that as a starting point you will be able top see the effect of slowing or disconnecting the varoius fans. Since a P4 CPU has a thermal protection circuit, it is supossed to be safe to experiment - just don't do so by writting a an important file. The CPU will, supossedly just shut down (at ~85C) before damage ocurrs. So far I've found that some case fans are not really doing much and can be unplugged without consequence. The CPU fan is another mater but enen there, there are options, as well as with the PS.

8th November 2005, 09:02 PM	#10
mali_aber diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	this homemade enclosure link is great, thanks mazurek. moving this computer to another room is really great trick, but in my case - it is simply impossible. quiet components and quiet fans in this computer are simply out of the question. besides, this computer components make maybe even more noise than the fans. that is why only the sound insulated enclosure/cabinet would do. the thing is design of the sound labyrinth for the forced air - principles of the sound deadening and principles of the quiet airflow are at least - oposed. please compare this diagram http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/nois...on/section.htm with this text: http://storeandserve.com/download/95...flow.pdf.html. in the simple words, it appears to me that there is no (easy?) way to deaden the sound and keep airflow quiet. i am sure that sound engineers resolved this matter with the great success, only problem is how to find some pictures of their work (for free, hehe). 454casul, this kind of computers looks to me as a toy http://www.mdmm.com/products/techietoyz/ and we both know that there is a whole industry "inventing things" for the gamers, case modders, and the other kids and cool guys. maybe i am wrong, but all those blue fans and computer neon lights looks to me as a "tax for fools", but that's just me. best regards to all of you gentleman.

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