What products can help me create a quiet computer?

If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably admitted to yourself that you could use a quieter computer. You’ve got two options: build a new one, or replace the noisiest components in your existing rig. Either way, we can help. But before you whip out your gold card and go on a shopping spree that’d make Paris Hilton proud, we’d like to point out the difference between quiet computing and silent computing. While you can certainly create a remarkably quiet computer, there’s just no way to achieve utter silence. (Except, of course, by turning your computer off.)

That said, let’s look at how our products can help you create a blissfully quiet PC. We’ll begin by explaining how certain features can reduce noise.

Quiet cases should include rubber grommets for internal hard drive mounts, since the grommets will absorb noisy vibrations generated by the drives. The quietest cases will also include obscured front air vents, which prevent noise from escaping through the front of your case. And finally, a case with a single large fan (say, 120mm) will be noticeably quieter than a case with multiple smaller fans. In order to move the same volume of cooling air, smaller fans spin faster than larger ones. That, of course, generates more noise.

So where can you find cases like these? Right here. Our award-winning Sonata case includes all of the features we’ve just mentioned, plus a single-fan TruePower power supply. We even added special rubber screws for the fan mounts, which soak up vibrations generated by the fan(s.) With all these refinements, it’s no wonder Sonata is the world’s quietest PC case. But don’t just take our word for it; take a gander at the independent test results. The tests prove that Sonata runs three times quieter than a standard PC. It generates just 20.4 dBA, which makes it literally quieter than a whisper.

And there’s more. Our stylish Overture case, the second model in our Lifestyle Series, boasts the same TruePower power supply and rubber grommets as Sonata, plus a large SmartCool Plus fan. If you’re on a tighter budget, consider our aggressively-priced SLK3700-BQE, which packages most of Sonata’s ultra-quiet features in a different chassis. And finally, if you just can’t resist the visual flair of fully-anodized aluminum, you could pick up our P160 case. Although it doesn’t include a power supply, it does feature rubber grommets, a single large cooling fan, and a host of other refinements. So if you’re looking for a stylish, ultra-quiet case that will blend seamlessly into your home or office, we’ve got you covered.

That’s the scoop on quiet cases. What about power supplies? By their very nature, PC power supplies generate considerable heat. That requires aggressive (and often noisy) cooling. But even the mightiest power supplies need not deafen those who use them. A quiet power supply should include a temperature-response system that adjusts the power supply’s fan speeds according to existing conditions. So if your computer is merely idling along – and therefore running cooler – the power supply should sense the lower temperature and slow its fan(s) accordingly. And as you know, slower fans are noticeably quieter. Additionally, the quietest power supplies should offer dedicated “fan-only” connectors for your case fans. Those connectors allow your power supply to slow down your case fans when your system is cool, thereby further quieting your computer. And finally, no matter which power supply you choose, make sure you buy one that’s capable of handling significantly more electrical load than you think your system needs. If you ask your power supply to perform at or near its limit, it’ll run quite hot. In response, its cooling fans will spin as fast as they can. And you’ll likely encounter a hornet’s nest of other problems, such as system instability or even crashes.

So do we offer whisper-quiet power supplies? Hmm, let’s see…ah yes, it appears that we do. It starts with our award-winning TruePower series. Each of our eight TruePower models boasts all of the quiet refinements we’ve discussed, plus stability-enhancing improvements such as dedicated voltage outputs and voltage-feedback circuitry. In plain English, this means that TruePower actually delivers its fully-rated power, unlike cheaper power supplies. And it does so with great precision, thereby ensuring overall system stability. Of course, if you buy a Sonata or Overture, you needn’t buy a separate TruePower power supply. (Both cases include customized 380W TruePower units.)

If you’re on a more modest budget, we suggest SmartPower. We first created SmartPower back in 1993, and we’ve been refining it ever since. SmartPower’s temperature-response system ensures remarkably quiet operation, while its aux power connector, +12V connector, and SATA connector make it compatible with the widest possible range of motherboards and hard drives. You’ll find SmartPower units already installed in many of our cases, including the whisper-quiet SLK3700-BQE.

Now that we’ve covered cases and power supplies in excruciating detail, let’s discuss fans. Since they generate quite a bit of noise, you should try to limit the total number of fans installed in your system. One case fan, one CPU fan, and one power supply fan should be sufficient for average systems. But if you’re reading this article, it’s unlikely you have an ‘average system.’ And the more performance you demand from your PC, the hotter it’ll run – and the more fans you’ll need. What to do? You can start by keeping your existing rig as cool as possible. (See our article “Beat the Heat ” for some handy tips.) Once you’ve done that, take a look at your existing fans. Where possible, replace small (40—60mm) fans with larger ones. Smaller fans must spin faster to generate enough cooling airflow, which makes them noticeably noisier. Secondly, look for fans with built-in temperature response systems. As your case cools down, these “smart” fans will automatically spin more slowly.

As luck would have it, we’ve got the fans you need. Why not replace your “dumb” case fan with one of our SmartCool case fans? Each of the three SmartCool models (80mm, 92mm, and 120mm) feature built-in temperature sensors. And their double ball-bearing designs ensure unbeatable reliability.

Or, if you’re concerned about a particular “hot spot” in your case, consider our SmartCool Plus. Its remote temperature sensor allows it to respond to changing temperatures in selected areas of your case. And hey presto, you’ve got yourself a cooler, quieter system.

Still with us? We’re just about done. But before we conclude, we’ve got some nifty (and inexpensive) gadgets that’ll help quiet even the noisiest computer. We’re referring to our NoiseKiller kits. They’re the very same silicone grommets that help keep our Sonata case so impossibly quiet. Just install a few NoiseKillers on your power supply, fan mounts, or hard drive cages, and let our silicone wonders work their magic. They’ll absorb noisy vibrations, leaving you with a noticeably quieter computer.

So you see, we’re quite committed to developing blissfully quiet products. But we’re not about to stop now. In just a few months, we’ll be releasing an utterly silent power supply. It’s silent for a reason: it has no fans. But it won’t overheat and melt, because we’ve got some clever ways to keep it cool. So stay tuned. There’s plenty more to come.

This article was taken from - http://www.antec.com/us/info_quiet_computing_2.html