PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

[Mark42]

Moved the new server to a bedroom yesterday, and noticed when the house is dead quiet (10:00pm) and kids are asleep, the server fan is making quite a bit of noise. About on par with a refrigerator when the compressor is running. The problem fan is in the power supply. Its a smaller 80mm fan (about 3") and it is rather loud compared to the 120MM fans I added to the case. The big 120mm fans run at lower RPM, and are some of the quietest fans I have ever owned. But the smaller fans run at higher speeds, and that makes the noise. There is no fan speed control to make the fan match power supply temps, so its just running at full speed all the time.

I don't want to buy a new power supply for the case, but I am willing to pull apart the power supply and install a quieter fan (I think it takes a 70 or 80 mm fan).

Any suggestions for fans that run dead quiet?

BTW, another minor issue is the power LED. This case has a power button about 2" across that lights up bright blue with a bunch of LED's inside. Nice touch, but in a bedroom at night its rather bright, and when the server goes to sleep, the power button blinks to indicate sleep mode. Like having a strobe running in your bedroom at night. I can just put tape over it, but putting in a small single LED in the face of the case would probably be better. Any idea what voltage the power indicator LED's run on? My guess is either 5 or 12 V. sound right?

Thanks!

Mark.

 

[rockyrude]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

I can't help with the fan but most LED's I work with actually run at 1.2v.

 

[Mark42]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

Thanks for the reply rockyrude. I did some more browsing at PC supply sites and found the standard replacement 5 mm power led is 3.3V. They come with a wire harness w/pin ends and your choice of colors for about $4. Just plug into the mother board and drill a 5 mm hole in the case front. The case manufacturer attaches the LED's with plain silicone, so I will do the same. Seems like the best way to go.

Should have spent more time looking before posting! LOL!

BTW, PC power supplies have 3 voltage outputs, 12, 5, and 3. They make nice power supplies for projects, and can be turned on by closing the circuit on the PC harness on (typically) the grey wire. Or override that switch and use the rocker switch on the case.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

I kinda had the same issue a few months back with the noise issue and a lil can of aerosol compressed air solved it dust bounced onto the blades causing an unbalnce issue and slight vibration hence the noise. Hope this helps.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

Pull the PS apart. You might be lucky and it will plug into the PS, but if it doesn't you'll have to cut and snip or resolder the wires.

When you get a different fan, Look at the sones or noise level of the fan. Also make sure you spend the little extra to get one with ball bearings instead of bushings. Ball bearings are quieter..

 

[rbh]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

How about a little masking tape over the lights????

 

[Mark42]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

How about a little masking tape over the lights????

LOL! I actually did consider that, but it doubles as the power switch, so it has to move in/out when pressed. And I don't want my new toy to look cheezy!

Pull the PS apart. You might be lucky and it will plug into the PS, but if it doesn't you'll have to cut and snip or resolder the wires.

When you get a different fan, Look at the sones or noise level of the fan. Also make sure you spend the little extra to get one with ball bearings instead of bushings. Ball bearings are quieter..

Thanks for the tip. I think I found a nice fan, just have to double check the size. Was thinking about adding a resistor to cut down the speed a little. The PSU is a lot more than the server actually needs, so running a little slower might not make any difference in cooling. Thinks its save mod?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

There are fans that will control their speed based on temperature. I have some I mounted in my TV cabinet to cool the area where the DVR is based on how hot it gets inside.

 

[mscher]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

I kinda had the same issue a few months back with the noise issue and a lil can of aerosol compressed air solved it dust bounced onto the blades causing an unbalnce issue and slight vibration hence the noise. Hope this helps.

+1 here.

 

[nikon]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

Why not just unplug the led from the motherboard? Problem solved.....shoulda spent more on a quiet power supply...the 80mm always seem to run a little loud.

 

[scipper77]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

If the computer in the bedroom is making so much noise and light, then go sleep in the computer room.

Seriously, It's easy to unplug the led from the motherboard and easy to replace the fan. The problem is finding a quiet fan to replace with. Personally I'd turn off the computer when sleeping. Maybe even try to put some foam or rubber in between the fan and the ps to isolate the vibration (like motor mounts).

 

[NoKlu]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

I would try painting the led. Yea I know it sounds dumb but in the old days dad used to make us paint the christmas lights. Yea I know it sounds dumb but it worked. You can change the brightness with a dark paint.

 

[i386]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

Speaking of adding resistors, you can dim the existing LED with a resistor. It'll take a little trial and error though.

 

[Mark42]

Re: PC Fan Noise.... How to quiet it?

Thanks for all the suggestions. What I ended up doing was disconnection the bright blue power LED and took a LED from a salvage PC. Drilled a hole (about 1/4" ) in the face plate next to the reset switch and pressed in the salvage LED. Works great. Its small LED that is yellow/green and doesn't light up the whole room. Drilled another hole right below it and will put in a small red or blue LED for the disk drive access.

For the power supply fan, I got another that is quiet, and will wire it in soon.

BTW, I can't turn off the PC because its a server and should be on 24/7. But it will go to sleep on its own after 20 minutes of not being accessed (all other PC's are off or asleep). So most of the night, its in "hibernation" mode with no lights, no fans, totally silent.