Isolate PC sounds

[DJMatt]

Hi,
I have had a corsair carbide 300r build for nearly a year now and I was wondering about noise. Before I went and bought any case fans I wanted to know exactly where the noise was coming from in my pc, whether it be the stock cpu cooler I have in there or the stock case fans that came with the 300r. I know you can just take the fans out on by one but I was wondering if there was an easier way to find out which sound was the loudest.

 

[Gam3r01]

Are you just using the stock case fans?
As someone who owns a 300r I can say the 140mm and 120mm fans included are very quiet, and should not be what you are hearing.
This leaves the power supply (generally quiet, model?), processor heatsink (again, model of processor so I know the stock cooler?) and the graphics card (one last time, model?).
Given that, the stock cpu cooler is the most likely source of the noise.

 

[dudio]

I believe it is okay to stop a fan momentarily with your finger and then let it spin up again

 

[DJMatt]

Hi again,
I actually just went into my bios and manually turned the fans on and off and didn;t hear a difference when the case fans were turned off so I think the culprit is the cpu cooler. My gpu and power supply are high quality units that only operate their fans when needed.
Thanks for the response!

 

[DJMatt]

I believe it is okay to stop a fan momentarily with your finger and then let it spin up again

I know it is but I like to baby my computer 😉

 

[DJMatt]

Are you just using the stock case fans?
As someone who owns a 300r I can say the 140mm and 120mm fans included are very quiet, and should not be what you are hearing.
This leaves the power supply (generally quiet, model?), processor heatsink (again, model of processor so I know the stock cooler?) and the graphics card (one last time, model?).
Given that, the stock cpu cooler is the most likely source of the noise.

Hi again,
I actually just went into my bios and manually turned the fans on and off and didn;t hear a difference when the case fans were turned off so I think the culprit is the cpu cooler. My gpu and power supply are high quality units that only operate their fans when needed. btw I have a EVGA 750 G2, EVGA GTX 960 SSC 4GB, Intel i5 4690k.
Thanks for the response

 

[Gam3r01]

That would be the intel stock cooler then.
EVGA PSUs are extremely quiet, as are the ACX models at low load.

 

[envy14tpe]

As another 300R owner, case fans are quiet and culprit is 100% the stock intel cooler. Any $15+ cooler will be quieter and much better.

 

[DJMatt]

That would be the intel stock cooler then.
EVGA PSUs are extremely quiet, as are the ACX models at low load.

Ok thanks do you have any recommendations for a new cup cooler? Also I was thinking of putting a corsair AF140 in the top as an exhaust fan to create negative pressure in the case.

 

[envy14tpe]

120 or 140mm for top exhaust...just make sure it has bearrings and can lye horizontally.

As for cooler, how much you willing to spend? Corsair has lots of good budget coolers..

I added a top rear 120mm fan 1450rpm and a front 140mm 1450rpm fan. Helped, but move Corsair front fan down and put better one in top front position.

 

[DJMatt]

Ok would you suggest getting a SP fan because there is that black piece of metal behind the fan in the front of the case

 

[Gam3r01]

AF fans would be better for intake, SP means nothing outside of high density areas. There are plenty of spaces for air to get through, so moving more air is more important.
SP fans are valuable in high density situations like radiators, not cages.

 

[DJMatt]

AF fans would be better for intake, SP means nothing outside of high density areas. There are plenty of spaces for air to get through, so moving more air is more important.
SP fans are valuable in high density situations like radiators, not cages.

Ok thanks,
Just out of curiosity, On a water cooler how often do you need to replace the fluid or never at all?

 

[Gam3r01]

On a CLC, never.
On an open loop, 6 months to a year.

 

[DJMatt]

On a CLC, never.
On an open loop, 6 months to a year.

Thanks, but do you have any suggestions on cpu coolers that use air?

 

[Gam3r01]

Cryorig H7, NH-D14, NH-U14s/12s

 

[DJMatt]

What about the NH-D15?

 

[Gam3r01]

Its just a bigger DH-14, if you can fit it, its a very well performing cooler.

 

[envy14tpe]

I totally agree with Gam3r01's choices: Noctua H7 < NH-U12S/Nh-U14S. For me the DH series is too huge. But it does cool well.

 

[DJMatt]

Its just a bigger DH-14, if you can fit it, its a very well performing cooler.

How loud is the cryorig H7 compared to the intel stock cooler. I know the cryorig says its rated to about 20-25 dba but how does that compare to the intel stock cooler?

 

[Gam3r01]

Easily 4-6 times quieter, you shouldnt be able to hear it under load.

 

[DJMatt]

Easily 4-6 times quieter, you shouldnt be able to hear it under load.

Ok thanks

 

[DJMatt]

Easily 4-6 times quieter, you shouldnt be able to hear it under load.

If I got the cryorig would it have to be installed with the fan facing the rear of the case or could I have the fan facing towards the top of the case?

 

[Gam3r01]

The fan should be on the front side of the cooler, facing the drive bays.
That way the air blows across the cooler to the rear of the case.

 

[DJMatt]

The fan should be on the front side of the cooler, facing the drive bays.
That way the air blows across the cooler to the rear of the case.

So it's not as good to have the fan blowing hot air to the top of the case of the fan was vertical of silk it not mount that way?