[SOLVED] How to make my retro gaming PC a *quiet* retro gaming PC?

[Dungeon_Crawler]

I dug out my old Sony VAIO PCV-RX270DS (and 17" CRT monitor!) this weekend with the intention of playing through some old games on more period-appropriate hardware.

I had prepared myself for the antiquated software and smaller screen size, but what I hadn't prepared myself for was how LOUD this thing is! It's kind of hard to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a good RPG with something that sounds like a jet aircraft whooshing in the same room.

So, I'm thinking about what it would take to upgrade this thing to make quieter.

The video card is a Nvidia GeForce 2 MX, which doesn't seem to have a fan on it, so I'm thinking that the noise must be coming almost entirely from the power supply fan.

The current power supply in there seems to be a NMB (that's the manufacturer) MSP-150A1, rated for 159W.

Is this something I would be able to replace with a currently made power supply? If so, could you recommend one? Or have things changed too much since this computer was made (back in 2000)?

 

[superninja12]

Hey dungeon crawler !

I think you're better off with a rasperry pi 3 model b.
Otherwise look for a new psu and replace the stock fans, cpu cooler.

picture would help!

 

[Karadjgne]

Good bet all the noise is from the cpu cooler. My old Sony had 0 intakes, and used the psu as exhaust, just a grill on the side panel to supply air to the pathetic excuse of a cooler. To make that pc quiet will take adding a decent cooler (cryorig H7 is short enough) and getting decent fans to add intake and possibly exhaust. Noctua makes decent 80mm fans.

 

[justin.m.beauvais]

Well, there are a few options available to you. The first is as many people have stated, the CPU cooler. You should be able to find a much quieter cooler, or grab some quiet fans to swap out the current fans with, and add one or two to keep temps down. PWM was in its infancy, so just expect the fans are going to run full speed all the time. Next, the noise is probably also coming from the PSU, in which case you can use any ATX PSU that has the 20+4 configuration on the motherboard power. Your current PSU is a 20 pin ATX standard.

Finally, you could try to soundproof your case. Some soft foam, rubber grommets for screws, and some small eggshell foam on the panels will help to cut down on noise transfer and vibrations. As long as you have some airflow in the case it won't trap heat, too much.

It might be helpful if you posted some specifications on the system, and REALLY helpful if we could get some pictures. At this point, I have no idea what is in this machine other than what you've told me.

 

[Karadjgne]

It's Sony. They use proprietary connections for power, so not always easy just to swap out the psu. They also used the stock coolers, which were seriously pathetic back then, barely able to keep a cpu between 60-80°C if put under any loading higher than websurfing. No intake possibilities with the design of the case, all air from a grill on the side panel 3inches wide and 8inches tall.

Really was a bunch of seriously pathetic case designs back then.