How to reduce the noise of your computer and have a quiet computer

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3. Graphic Card. The fans in graphic cards produce some noise. There are specific heat sinkers to reduce this type of noise (such as Zalman Graphics card heatsinker ZM-50HP). However, they are usually quite difficult to install.

4. Hard Drive. The noise made by the vibrations of the Hard disk touching the metal of the cabinet contributes to the overall noise, more than one can imagine (this is because the noise of the vibrations is amplified my the metal structure of the cabinet). In order to avoid this, you can look for different solutions, from cheap imaginative do-it-yourself ones such as attaching the hard disk to special ropes and let it hang (which although cheap it looks horrible and rather disconcerting), or you can buy some specific product, within which you can insert the hard disk. In addition to reducing noise, these hd-heatsinkers also help to reduce a bit overall heat (for example Zalman ZM-2HC1, or Silentmaxx 8004). They are very easy to install although quite expensive. I do NOT recommend any of the low quality boxes as they make the temperature of the HD increase a lot thus reducing its 'life' (the noise may decrease, but as the temperature increases the lifespan of the HD shortens).

5. Fans. If you need to add some fans inside your pc to avoid that heat raises above certain levels, look for quiet high quality fans. Avoid fans smaller than 80mm, given that in order to cool the computer they have to spin faster, and go for those quiet ones of 80mm, 92 or 120 mm, which due to their bigger size don't need to go too fast. They will cool the computer a little bit less, but our ears will most benefit from them!!!! Try and pick quiet fans (possibly below 25 db) from companiers such as Panaflo, YS-Tech, PAPST or Noise Blocker. They are not very easy to find, but it is definetly worth looking for them.

6. PC location. Noise can vary greatly according to where you have located the pc in your room. If you have the chance, try and move it around changing its position twice or three times and see whether there is any difference (you can also place a sound absorbent sheet by the wall, more or less at the same level where the fans are).

7. Sound absorbent sheet. You can buy some cases already reasonably acustically insulated, or you can use some sound absorbent sheets (those used in contruction work are generally cheap and do a good job). However, keep in mind that the effect of materials that are acustically insulated is not really suffiecient by itself for the type of result that we are trying to achieve (and you also have to be careful in not making the temperature of the pc raise). They do a bit, but not much.

To summerise, if you use high quality quiet components, the pc will no longer be noisy. If on the other hand you have bought a cheap power supply or you have overclocked the cpu, you will have the typical sound of the noise made by airplanes...by your desk! Unfortunately high quality does not come cheap, and if you want a quiet pc you'll have to spend more.