My Server is Too Loud

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:47 am

I am posting this on a couple of different forums just to get some different points of view.

My server is way too loud. It's a standard tower computer with a couple of SATA hard drives. I think it's a quad core. There's a fan in the power supply and two external ones on the side of the case. On a loudness scale of 1 to 10, the ones on the side are a 5 and the one in the power supply is a 3. When I disconnect the ones on the side, the one in the power supply kicks it up a notch and becomes an 8.

Upstairs I have two rooms to deal with. One is a guest bedroom, the other is my computer room. I moved all of my server and network equipment out of the bedroom because I thought it was too loud to leave in there for when guests stay. Now it's all in the computer room, which is fine except it's becoming a problem when recording podcasts. If you listen carefully, you can hear my server fans blowing in the background of most of my recent shows.

One thing I don't understand is my main workstation, an Acer tower, has comparable specs (quad core machine) and is totally silent.

One possibiliy is moving the server into the guest bedroom closet. I am sure it will be hot as shit in there and I would have to add an exhaust fan or something. That's really a last case scenario. I'd much rather make what I have quieter. I have also considered making some sort of sound proof box to put around the server, at least while recording.

The Happiness Engine · Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:14 pm

first step: quiet fans. Get a quiet CPU cooler. Zalman makes the one I'm using now, it is like 3 lbs of copper and I'm always scared it will tear the cpu socket right out of the motherboard. I'm also using Antec's 120mm chassis fans because...

second step: an Antec Sonata case to put them all in. It has rubber matting inside it and rubber grommet on the HDD trays or you can even go HARDCORE and hang your drives twisted up in a little rubber band to prevent them from transmitting vibration to the case.

I can go look up the specifics if you really care, but mainly I just needed to replace my PC in a hurry and bought whatever looked quiet from Newegg after 20 minutes of research. In a completely silent room I can JUUUUST hear the PC. It is quieter than the Macbook work issued me.

A cheaper idea: Mount your nerd pile down wherever your breaker panel or washer/dryer are and use the magic of networking to remote into it for whatever you need. Your hurricane shelter might be a good place.

RetroRomper · Post by **RetroRomper** » Thu Jul 11, 2013 11:08 pm

My file server is currently at 11 hard drives, is driven by an ancient Phenom X4 and used to be a constant ear sore all hours of the day, then I switched cases. Specifically, I went from a generic Asus case to an NXZT one that was designed to dampen sound (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811146071). With four intake / outtake fans blowing, the system running five or six instances, all I can hear is a gentle hum if that.

I'd say its definitely worth $100 just for the sound dampening, but its also the only case (full or midsize) I found that was capable of housing 10 internal 3.5 inch drives.

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Fri Jul 12, 2013 2:30 pm

I like the looks of that thing. About half of my sound is coming from the fan inside the power supply so I'm guessing that would have to be replaced too.

RetroRomper · Post by **RetroRomper** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 5:09 pm

I've been using an Antec Earthwatts 380W PSU for my server and I have exactly zero complaints. The thing is rated 80+ bronze, has the best reviews of any PSU I've seen and has been my stock choice for every build I've made for the last two or three years without any problems.

(Erm... Available at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817371033) But it is a quiet (especially combined with the NZXT case) and efficient little thing.

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pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Nov 18, 2014 3:22 pm

Well, there's your answer.

Jizaboz · Post by **Jizaboz** » Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:59 am

Hahahah adbot

Yeah, it sounds like mainly you should get a more high-end PSU. My Corsair is very quiet and I payed a little over 100$ for it. I'd never paid more than 50 for one before, but it was worth it.

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 6:30 am

Since starting this thread, my server died. I replaced it with a new machine and a new, quieter case. What I discovered was only about half the noise was being generated by my tower. The other half is coming from these external SATA RAID devices I have set up. They too have fans that move a lot of air and get pretty noisy.

I fixed my recording issue long ago with the PODCART. The PODCART (PODCART must always be typed in all caps) is a metal utility cart that I purchased from Meridian Tools. When I bought my new laptop I took my old one, along with my good microphone, and set them up on the PODCART. Bonus, since it's on wheels, I can wheel it into the closet when I'm not recording to save space. I use the PODCART in the Star Wars room, which has no other electronics and is dead quiet.

Also I dug out all my old stickers I was saving for a rainy day (a Rob Zombie sticker, a "Stay Weird, Austin" sticker, and a couple of local rock radio bumper stickers) and stuck them to the PODCART. This lets people know I mean business. Actually, nobody else has ever seen the PODCART in person, but if they do, I think that's the impression they will get from the stickers. That I am an edgy individual who likes to live on the edge and will place non-removable stickers on a metal cart. The last thing I did was pick up a sheet of mailbox letters and stuck the letters P O D C A R T on the side. That spells PODCART. But the letters only come in all capitals which is why PODCART must always be written in all caps. You don't have to shout it when you read it, but you can if you like.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 11:22 am

Do some Star Wars figures get to stand on the PODCART? Or in the case of Jabba, get to sit? Or in the case of Uncle Owen, get to be sprinkled?

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Fri Nov 28, 2014 12:09 pm

No. I mean, I guess they could, but usually the PODCART is sticky from spilled beer, which I don't want to get on my Star Wars figures. Which is funny because I have no problem with spilled beer being on my laptop I guess.

My Server is Too Loud

My Server is Too Loud

quiet noise and reduce heat with USRD Enclosure