[questchen]

I just open my new dell desktop (Dimension 4600) and hook it up with monitor. I found it very noisy probably due to the video card fan. I noticed that there is big fan at the back of desktop which most likely to give this noise continousely. My Wharfedale speaker also arrive today. But now I lost the interest to hook them with my desktop. The noise make me very uncomfortable. I will be very grateful if any of you can give me some suggestions on how to reduce the noise of desktop.

Btw. my video card is 128M ATI Allinwonder 9800 pro. Is there some way to change the video card cooling fan? Thank you very much.

 

[Budley007]

Being a new computer and under warranty, I wouldn't suggest modifying anything without prior authorization from Dell. I know this doesn't help you with the noise issue, but I wanted to warn you before someone suggested changing fans or modifying components. Good luck with it.

 

[skitlets]

If you have the guts to replace the video card fan, the artic cooler is very good, with an adjustable high/low speed. You can also switch exhaust fan at the rear of the computer with a panaflo l1a. The L1a is one of the most trusted quiet fans and operates at about 21db. It doesn't push a lot of air (23cfm or so), but it is quiet. The problem is, with only 1 exhaust fan and it being the weaker panaflo, things might get a little toasty. You can look into the medium version of the panaflo too, tho the model number escapes me at this moment. svc is a good place to look up fans and cooling.

 

[purplesun]

I think the best place to look for help and ideas is: <http://www.silentpcreview.com>. As mentioned earlier. most of the mods are warranty voiding. Good luck and good fun.

 

[questchen]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Seems that I'd better not to change the video card fan bymyself. Anyway, thank you for your help.

 

[proxops-pete]

What you could do is try to isolate the computer. Perhaps put a vented cardboard box over it to absorb some of that noise energy.

Just a thought-ouf-of-the-box (no pun intended!)

 

[Publius]

Zalman sells a fanless heatsink for video cards (quite large - it takes up another slot on the system). I'm unsure if it would work on 9800-class cards, but apparantly it's pretty safe for GF4s, which is why I'm buying it for my 4200 after its fan died. (!)

Short of that, you can try using long cable runs to keep the computer stuff in a separate room. I'm told this solution works best when you can knock holes in walls though

 

[Mr.Radar]

The Zalman fannless heatsink is only good with 9800's if you get the optional fan. Another good option to look at is the Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer. I have one and it's a) quiet b) cheap and c) very easy to install (the hardest part is removing the old heatsink).

 

[Moskau]

Got about $250 for a good DIY Water Cool hookup?

 

[HTFW]

Not that this helps with your Dell, but I just built a home theater PC using the quietest components I could. I have it in on my electronics rack right next to my TV and you hardly notice it. It also runs nice and cool with my 2.5GHz P4 CPU. Here are some things you may consider now or down the road:

1) Use a power supply with a 120mm fan. I am using a Seasonic Tornado.
2) Acoustifan makes some low-rev fans with thermistors that are great case fan replacements. I have one 80mm fan in my case.
3) Use a video card without a fan, or replace the fan with a large, passive heatsink. I did the former (9600se).
4) Use a quiet CPU cooler. I have the Zalman 7000 series with a fanmate so I can drop the CPU fan down to really low revs.

Hope this helps;
SteveO