[slinkelist] Recommendation for quiet PC?

[Mike Zmuda]

Hey, Jeff.

Don't know how good you are at using tools, but if you have a PC
already (and it's too loud), you can make a "Baffling Box" which is
essentially a muffler for a loud component. We used them extensively
where I used to work to house projectors (that do generate a lot of
heat) computers (what you're looking to do) and other things.
Essentially, a baffling box is a box (5 sided - no bottom) that is
insulated. A professional baffling box that we would use would
essentially be nothing more than a box made of 3/4" plywood, 3 times
the size of the component you'll be muffling (larger for high heat
producing items such as a video projector). Inside that, you should
insulate it with Sonex or FoamCore, but some of the pink stuff (Sound
Dampening Fiberglass Insulation - not Pepto Bismol) would suffice. To
make it look nice, either laminate some formica (or regular mica)
sheets onto it (something to match the decor of the room) or carpet it
(which will also help with the sound dampening). Depending on how much
you want to spend, you could conceivably tile it or use stone, like
marble, or apply a natural wood to it (oak and the like if it works in
your living / viewing room) and you'll probably still come in under a
grand.

Just to put it into perspective, assuming you have the tools and the
know-how to build a box, the materials (minus the laminate) should
cost under $25, so splurging a little on the exterior won't be as bad.

Remember, that the bigger you make it, the more air will be in the
system and the longer the computer will last. If you make the system
too small, it is conceivably possible to burn out the components. But,
like I said, using a box 3 times the volume would work just fine. On
the down side, you'll have this "BOX" in your living / listening room.
On the plus side (depending on how you do it), you may end up making
yourself a nice mahogany end-table!

Also consider this : weather or not your box will have a cut-out for
its various ports (ie : disk / CD / DVD drives) If so, you won't have
to lift up the box to do any maintenance (ie : access the disk drives
to install Windows 2002.) Simply cut the hole to the size and location
of the port that will need accessing (ie : reset switches - disk
drives, etc...) and stuff a little extra insulation at the part where
the box joins the computer case. In the same way, cut out a circle for
your cables and stuff and just insulate that with more of the pink
stuff (or the foam core if you can get it.)

If you want to go just a little farther, you *CAN* install vent ports
on the box, but honestly, it's just not worth it. I have yet to see a
system fail that's been in a warm box, and the boxes rarely ever
exceed 95 or so degrees anyway. Also, venting the box will end up
lessening the efficiency of the box in quieting the component.

If none of this is to your ability (building and finishing a box like
this), consider buying a table with a large enough cabinet to house
your system. It may cost you a few hundred dollars, but will be
functional, nice looking, and do the job. Just put a piece of remnant
carpet under the computer to dampen the vibrations between the
computer and the base of the cabinetted area of the table.

Assuming THAT doesn't work, you can create a natural dampening area.
In the corner of the room, put a table and surround it with stuff. I
did that in my bedroom by placing a table in the corner of the room,
my bed along the long side of the table, and a garbage can on the
other. While it doesn't do as good a job as the baffling box I use to
house a few of my computers and network gear in my basement, it does
do a good enough job of quieting the whole system down just enough.

Aside from that, you could invest in a white noise generator (which
I'm assuming your computer already does or you wouldn't have written
in the first place) or just turn up the volume when listening. All
told, most systems that you buy commercially (ie : DELL, GATEWAY,
ACER, etc...) will tell how loud the system operates at.

If absolute quiet is an absolute must, putting the computer in another
room and running cables may be your only bet of getting 0dB out of
this setup. But barring that as an option, a Baffling Box will be the
next best thing.

Mike Z.

On Wed, 3 Jan 2001 14:42:46 -0500, you wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I was wondering if anyone could recommend a model of PC that is=20
>particularly *quiet*. I need to operate it on my living/listening=20
>room, and really want to keep the noise level to a minimum. The=20
>machine will be dedicated to running CDJ, Timbuktu (remote control=20
>software), and occasionally IE.
>
>Here's a kind of a target configuration:
>
>Absolute minimum:
>
>	Cost < $1,000
>	Quiet!
>	Small (desktop or tiny tower)
>	500MHz or faster
>	96MB RAM minimum
>	3GB Hard drive minimum
>	CD-ROM drive
>	Video card to support 1024x768 or larger in True Color
>	10/100Base-T Ethernet
>
>Highly desirable:
>
>	Cost  closer to $500
>	Windows 2000
>	Video out (or PCI slot to add) for TV connection
>	Digital Audio input/output (or 2nd PCI slot)
>	Serial (or USB-only for $100 less)
>	FireWire (IEEE 1394) port
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>Jeff
>

MZmuda@MiraclesOnDemand.Com

Mike Zmuda
c/o Miracles-On-Demand Productions
1069 Cathedral Avenue
=46ranklin Square, NY 11010-2750

516-448-0289 - OmniPhone
516-437-0793 - Fax