Case Modding Whilst Components Installed

[amjedm]

I could have spent ages trying to think what thread title to have...

I've just built a basic system in a Define Mini and the hard drive noise/vibration is annoying me. I was expecting better but...

In the other two computers I have, the hard drives are installed in hard drive cages which are either sitting on foam or other dampening material in the middle of the case. I have to be careful when moving the case but that I'm prepared to accept over the HD vibration


Now on to the question, would it be okay to drill out the rivets from the bottom HD cage in the Mini whilst components such as the motherboard are still installed or is there a risk of damage?

[Macadee]

I've done in the past, just get someone to hold a vacuum cleaner nozzle next to where you are drilling so the dust and swarf are removed straight away.

[herulach]

It's unnecessarily risky imo, it'll probably be fine, but I wouldn't chance it.

[Pob255]

It's a risk, only takes one small metal burr or even the metal dust, to get onto the motherboard or gpu or psu (esp risky here as it could suck up lose stuff on the bottom of the case) to cause a major fault.
You can do it but it's a risk I'd personally not take.

I'm surprised you've got a vibration issue, the drives should be attached to the drive trays via grommeted screws, you might of over tightened the screws.
If you're only using one cage then you can remove the top cage via a couple of screws.
the other thing that might be at issue is the drive tray them selves vibrating in the cage, soft mounting the cage will not help much there, you want to look at adding some foam or rubber to the trays or cage to stop the vibration.

[Butuz]

It's a bad idea. Always disassemble.

Butuz

[amjedm]

...I'm surprised you've got a vibration issue, the drives should be attached to the drive trays via grommeted screws, you might of over tightened the screws.
If you're only using one cage then you can remove the top cage via a couple of screws.
the other thing that might be at issue is the drive tray them selves vibrating in the cage, soft mounting the cage will not help much there, you want to look at adding some foam or rubber to the trays or cage to stop the vibration.

I've probably got sensitive hearing... I find vibration really annoying.

I'm currently using some grommets from an Antec P150 as they are softer and better IMO. I can steel feel vibration when I touch the case or drive cage.

Top HD cage already removed by the way.

My idea was to remove rivets, put a layer of UHU White Tack between the base of the cage where it touches the case and then use cable ties. The cage would be dampened with the soft White Tack.


Edit: I might try and loosen the screws.

[herulach]

white tack is likely to be a pretty poor vibration damper as its relatively dense & at the frequencies you're talking about quite hard. you want a soft foam if you're isolating it , or if you have a spare 5.25" drive bay, some form of suspension mount (rubber bands/knicker elastic work well).

[amjedm]

white tack is likely to be a pretty poor vibration damper as its relatively dense & at the frequencies you're talking about quite hard. you want a soft foam if you're isolating it , or if you have a spare 5.25" drive bay, some form of suspension mount (rubber bands/knicker elastic work well).

I've used white tack previously to dampen fan vibrations and it hasn't been too bad but you could be right about the hard drives.

I've got some Akasa Paxmate, I might try and cut a couple of strips, stick to each other and then use these between the cage and case.

[Spreadie]

I've drilled out plenty of rivets, and they often start spinning, throwing the swarf all over the place - there is no guarantee a vacuum cleaner will catch those pieces.

Definitely not worth the risk, when the alternative will cost you nothing but a little time to dismantle and reassemble.

[Pob255]

Are you sure it's the hard drives? try taking the trays out, lay them on the floor or on a box or something, just so you can boot up with them still attached but not inside the case.

If the vibration is still there, then it's probably the fans not the hard drives causing the issue.

If it is the hard drives, try removing the screws so they are just loosely standing on the rubber grommets, see what effect that has.

How loose are the trays? it might be easier to stop the vibration getting to the cage than isolating the cage.

[peterb]

You need to balance the risk of damaging something while dismantling/reassembling against the risk of damage during the drilling. Two risks drilling in situ, one is that the drill bit goes through into the case and hits a component on the other side, the second is the risk of swarf.

With a careful choice of drill bit - slightly oversize would mitigate over drilling, but you would probably need to use a hand drill to give better control over drilling depth, you don't want to drill out the case hole - would make it possible, and drilling from the outside would also mitigate against swarf generation on the inside.

You then need to think about re-assembly - nut and bolt or pop rivet? Pop riveting is quick, but could potentially induce a shock wave in the case as the rivet 'pops'.

Drilling in the case is higher risk. The vacuum cleaner has been mentioned, and that would work - again, I'd use a hand drill to minimise the risk of swarf being flung out and mixed by the vacuum.

As you say it is a basic system, I'd probably dismantle first.

[Solex]

In my opinion i would dissemble first before drilling out those rivets as those small pieces of shards can or may cause short circuit to your components. My Corsair 700d case used to rattle a lot (especially at the top part of the case) but I managed to fix it by suspending the hard drives and the top Noctua fans (oddly vibrates a lot more than other fans) with bungee cord. Also I’ve tried Acousti foam; they don’t work as well as they don’t absorb low frequency hums well enough due to the thickness but good for high frequency like the seeking sound from the hd.

[amjedm]

Are you sure it's the hard drives? try taking the trays out, lay them on the floor or on a box or something, just so you can boot up with them still attached but not inside the case.

If the vibration is still there, then it's probably the fans not the hard drives causing the issue.

If it is the hard drives, try removing the screws so they are just loosely standing on the rubber grommets, see what effect that has.

How loose are the trays? it might be easier to stop the vibration getting to the cage than isolating the cage.

I'm sure it was and still is () the hard drives.

I disconnected the hard drives and the whine and vibration had gone...

Using the Antec software soft hard drive thingies did make a difference compared to the Fractal

In my opinion i would dissemble first before drilling out those rivets as those small pieces of shards can or may cause short circuit to your components. My Corsair 700d case used to rattle a lot (especially at the top part of the case) but I managed to fix it by suspending the hard drives and the top Noctua fans (oddly vibrates a lot more than other fans) with bungee cord. Also I’ve tried Acousti foam; they don’t work as well as they don’t absorb low frequency hums well enough due to the thickness but good for high frequency like the seeking sound from the hd.

I had forgotten about the bungee cord, I think next option is this...

[amjedm]

Removed all components - good advice from all, been a while since I removed rivets and had forgotten how much metal flies around...

Removed the cage yesterday and thank God I got help. I'm useless at case modding and DIY

Cage re-installed using cable ties. Two layers of Akasa Paxmate have been joined and strips cut and inserted between cage and case so the hard drive cage doesn't touch the case at the base or at the back.

Results - not happy , still feel vibration in the case, not under the drive cage now (thank God) but say mid way towards the back of the case.


Next option is to suspend the cage with the bungee cord.

[Spreadie]

If you've completely decoupled the HDD cage with two layers of paxmate and cable ties, the cage isn't your problem.

Have you checked the PSU mount?

[amjedm]

Definitely the hard drives, when I disconnect them no vibration. Maybe I'm being picky, it's not as much as it was before the mod...