Modding Be Quiet! PC Noise Absorber Kit

[Tim S]

http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/2007...absorber_kit/1

Is your PC too noisy? Tried everything from low noise fans to silent PSUs and quiet hard drives and it's still not good enough? How about a foam kit to cover the inside of your case as well!

[Mankz]

So, If it weren't for the hole in the side of your case, do you think it would be any better?

[ComputerKing]

mm I agree with this "prevention is better than a cure" as Bit-Tech said, Because this thing make the case ugly.. And why waterproof! Who the idoit will wash his computer with water! It's useless thing really... This is my view and my thinking..

Thanks BT for the review.

[capnPedro]

Originally Posted by ComputerKing

And why waterproof! Who the idoit will wash his computer with water!

there's moisture in the air. If it's not waterproof, you can get mould growing in it.

These kits aren't totally useless. My HTPC was quiet. Real quiet; 1 Coolink SWiF-801 (7v) (9dB) and 1 Noctua NF-S12-800 (10v) (<5dB). In an attemp to get it quieter, I cut up one of the "egg crate" foam tiles you glue to walls for a recording studio or whatever and stuck in in my case. It made a noticeable difference in reducing the fan noise (or at least 'bouncing' it out the back of the case, instead of the front). It didn't affect the HDD noise, though. Different pitch/frequency I guess.

So in my experience, the foam works. But only under limited circumstances. So, £20 is a bit much, but £4, like I paid is more like it. It looks like crap though, I wouldn't want it in a case with a window.

[Mankz]

Also, I'd actually be quite interested in some of the blue stuff.

[Zut]

From the article...

A CPU might not reach 75ºC but we've just last week recorded the temperature of PWMs on a Shuttle motherboard in a new XPC hitting 100ºC!

A new XPC eh? Can we expect a review of the SP35P2 next week then?!

[atanum141]

Fantastic exactly what ive been looking for coz the Akasa stuffs not enough and pricey.

[ComputerKing]

Originally Posted by capnPedro

there's moisture in the air. If it's not waterproof, you can get mould growing in it.

Oh right, Thanks for clear this to me

[Spacecowboy92]

One day, I'll fill the hole in my Aurora with Acrylic. I rember I asked in the modding section before about Noise absorbtion foam and you basicly said the same, fans, hard drives and heatsinks first. Not for me I think.

[p3n]

Might be interesting to see if you can drown out HDD's in one of those zalman passive cases for a completely silent PC

[Bluephoenix]

if nothing else it makes for a nice internal finish, might use some of this for sound deadening when I'm running on silent setting, or as an interior backdrop for the components when on display.

[Loggitt]

You should have asked me about it, first. I used the Akasa stuff several years ago. It did absolutely nothing to reduce noise, but made my case's inside temperature (motherboard temp) just keep rising and rising as the hours wore on. The junk absorbs heat and doesn't dissipate it out through the side of the case it's glued to. Bummer! Even though I have no experience with the currently reviewed product, after reading your review, I won't recommend it, nor would I use it. Like you stated (thank you), once it's on, it's on forever. Unless, of course, you like to torture yourself! LOL

[g3n3tiX]

Originally Posted by Article

it's all strawberries and waffles

cheesecake ?


Good product seconded by an apparently good manual.

Interesting buy, I'd say. And I like the way it looks like when done. The Dark matting is cool !

[Spacecowboy92]

Originally Posted by p3n

Might be interesting to see if you can drown out HDD's in one of those zalman passive cases for a completely silent PC

I used the ghetto elastic band mod on my harddrive. Completly silent now, exept for the rest of the computer that is.

[Cupboard]

Originally Posted by Spacecowboy92

I used the ghetto elastic band mod on my harddrive. Completly silent now, exept for the rest of the computer that is.

So how much difference did it actually make? In my computer, fans are the biggest noise producer (but thats because I have a cheap case and cheap fans and it has a window)

[Irvine]

I suspended my hard drive with an elastic band, and it made a HUGE difference, quite honestly. I built my latest rig for silence, and I thought it was quiet, until I later suspended the hard drive. Apparently, the hard drive vibrations carry through the case and essentially amplify them, so removing the source of the vibration will remove the case vibrations.

[Bindibadgi]

Originally Posted by Zut

A new XPC eh? Can we expect a review of the SP35P2 next week then?!

TR, yes.

[cpemma]

Just for info,

Originally Posted by SPCR

The brand name (Be Quiet!) appears to be owned by Listan GmbH und Co. KG of Germany, which also distributes other computer component brands such as Cooler Master, Arctic Cooling, Zalman, AeroCool and MB/Papst fans. It also offers a line of products such as fans, cases, case accessories, water and air cooling, and cables under the name of Revoltec (Revolution Technology). The brand appears to be fairly well distributed in the EU, but not in North America, where search engines turned up no retail visibility.

Their PSU seems to be genuinely low-noise, modular too.

[wafflesomd]

I'd buy it.

I'm looking to silence my pc anyways.

[Xir]

Heh...Heheh...Heheheheh-HAAAA!

I knew the seventies were returning in furniture design, but now the nineties are returning to Bit-Tech ;-)

1998 we spent getting dual-celeron boards to run and overclocking them and having to cool them with like 10 40-60mm fans. (yeah, we were grateful for 80mm fans back then.)

1999 we spent soundproofing the things because they quickley became unbearable. I must've fitted about 6 cases with the stuff you show here. (or was it in 2000?)...and many others with cheaper alternatives...carpet, insulating sleeping mats, bitumen roof covering (essentially the lower 2 mm of your test mat only stickier)

My start into modding, really ;-)

Eventually we (I) learned, soundproofing:
makes more heat makes more cooling makes more noise makes more soundproofing andsoonandsoon. Also makes for heavy cases (back then when to play in a network, we actually had to get together)

Leaves 2 possibilities:

a) Live with lower power: Noise is best canncelled out by avoiding it in the first place, this means usually avoiding dual garphicscards, 10.000rpm harddrives and overclocking.

b) Live with decreased portability: Go for watercooling, maximum power at low noiselevel.

Xir