Quiet Computing Websites

  Website: 'The Silent PC'

This website contains a wealth of useful and in-depth background information regarding PC noise, noise & health, international low-noise standards, various noise-reduction solutions, tips, and links to other quiet computing related sites. The Silent PC website was one of the first added to the World Wide Web (back in 1998 in fact).
[click here to visit the website]

  Website: 'Silent PC Review'

Silent PC Review is dedicated to reviews, news and information about quiet / silent computers and components. This is a very large review site full of excellent in-depth reviews, useful links, and also has a well-used user forum. Among other resources, there are a collection of good articles including: 'Quiet and Fast?', 'Computer Noise in the 21st Century' and 'Noise in Computing: A Primer'.
[click here to visit the website]

Articles on PC Quietness

  Article: 'Computing's Silent Revolution'

A nice overview on the rise in demand for quieter computers: 'The quest for quiet computing has inspired a cottage industry of specialist manufacturers, growing attention from major PC makers and a small underground of acoustic cultists. Will average consumers pay more to dim the decibels?' [click here for the full article]

  Article: 'Products available to control PC noise'

A nice overview on a range of noise reduction methods - covering cases, acoustic lining, CPU fans, water cooling, hard disks (mounts, heat sinks and enclosures), power supplies, heat pipes, thermal paste, chassis fans and regulators. [click here for the full article]

  Article: 'How to tame the noisy, disruptive PCs'

COMPUTERWORLD USA trial calming a noisy PC and use AcoustiPack™ Deluxe to finish the project. They also build a PC using the quiet Antec Sonata case with promising results (although the pre-cut acoustic kit for the Sonata case was not available at the time). 'Noisy equipment can drive the telecommuter to distraction. Here are some tips on reducing decibel levels in your home office.'
Article by Todd R. Weiss. [click here for the full article]

  Article: 'How to Silence A Computer'

A thorough overview of how to build and modify a computer for quiet operation. Covering Power Supplies, CPU Coolers, Hard Drives, Case Fans, Cases, Acoustic Absorbent and Dampening Materials, Accessories for Heat Control and Installation Considerations.
Article by Michael Farnsworth. [click here for the full article]

  Article: 'High Performance PC Silencing'

A well illustrated PC silencing project by 3DVelocity. Particularly helpful for overclockers. AcoustiPack™ Deluxe is used - "but the AcoustiPack™ really holds it [the noise] in and I have not been held back from overclocking".
Article by Shawn Sparks. [click here for the full article]

  Article: 'PCs and Acoustic Noise'

HP has written a white paper that briefly explains noise measurement and the perception of noise from PCs. This article also touches on noise pollution standards, the reasons why computers create noise and how this can be reduced. This is a fairly technical article but it is easy to read.
 [click here for a PDF version of the full article]

  Article: 'Disc Drive Acoustics'

Seagate's very comprehensive and readable white paper on hard disc noise touches on many issues, techniques and aspects of noise not only in hard drives but PCs in general. A must-read for PC silencers. [click here for the full article]

  Article: 'Hush, little PC '

"If Apple can make an almost silent iMac, why can't other computer makers turn off the white noise? The digital revolution has been anything but quiet."
Article by Robert Bryce, June 16, 2000. [click here for the full article]

  Article: WHAT NOT TO DO!

'How To Screw Up Your Brand New $70 Case with only $5 of Spray Foam'

"I got a new ATX case and added a big old heatsink with two fans to my CPU. Sure was loud. I couldn't sleep with that racket so I decided to do something about it. I went down to my friendly Home Depot where I couldn't find anyone, so I wandered around the 2.5 square mile store looking for something to insulate my case. Foam, rubber, cardboard, anything! I finally stumbled upon spray foam. I was thinking like "Sweet! This will be perfect!....
Article by David Craig, December 7, 2000. [click here for the full article]

  Article: 'Peace, Quiet and Power, Too.'

SmartComputing Magazine USA (February 2004, Vol 15) trial AcoustiPack™ Deluxe soundproofing materials in their article on reducing PC noise. "The World Health Organization recommends an ambient noise floor of 35dBs for easily understanding speech and to avoid irritation with the background noise. You don't need to take a decibel meter to your PC — if it is too loud, you're already keenly aware... Insulation may seem like a low-tech solution, and it is. But it works. You can use sound-dampening material, such as the stuff they use in recording studios, in and around the PC to keep noise from spreading. We tried the AcoustiPack Deluxe kit, which is available from Quiet PC for about $85. That may seem like a lot of cash for foam, but it can definitely reduce the noise level."
Article by Kevin Savetz. [click here for the full article]

Forums on Quiet and Silent Computing

  Forum: 'The Silent PC Yahoo Group'

This group is intended for exchanging experiences and information related to silent personal computers, i.e. computers that are designed to produce a low level of noise. [click here to view the forum]