What makes a quiet system?

[Ttaskmaster]

Ha ha all this modern technology and the solution could be as simple as an elastic band. I like it.

One of the bestest ever mods to my joystick has always been a couple of elastic bands around each axis mechanism - Has worked since the 80s and still applies today!

If everything was that simple, we'd be really happy people!

[Tyrannosaur]

I've been pleasantly surprised by the responses to this thread. Rather than the spend more approach I was thinking or maybe hoping cause we all like new stuff, on the whole it's been much more about home made tweaks that you can do yourself.

[Ttaskmaster]

Buying in the parts is the initial fun but once you've got everything, the last thing you want is to buy it all again - especially if the solution costs 30 seconds of your time.

I have a £40 OCUK voucher, but there's nothing I actually need/want right now - I'm busy configuring the stuff I have and cracking out the Dremel to mod everything

[dturtill]

my major noise is the graphics card but cant get a watercooler for it and isnt worth building a rig on it

[Tyrannosaur]

I did watch a YouTube video by TastyPCTV where she set it up so all the fans only start when the system gets to a certain temperature. Under normal load the system was silent but under heavy load the fans would kick in and keep the temperatures in check.

[Tyrannosaur]

Well I've ordered myself a new CPU cooler by Phanteks so I'll see how that helps over my current stock AMD cooler.

[WellofSouls]

Well I've ordered myself a new CPU cooler by Phanteks so I'll see how that helps over my current stock AMD cooler.

Should work wonders, knowing how noisy the stock AMD coolers can be

[Tyrannosaur]

Got the new cooler on Friday and installed at the weekend. So much better. The new 140mm fan runs at 500rpm where as the stock fan was 1500rpm and getting about the same temps. Makes such a big difference and definitely something to spec on a new build.

Also while I was tinkering I decided to give the elastic band/bungee thing a go with the noisiest HDD I have. Moved it from the HDD cage to a 5.25" bay and suspended it from there. That also worked amazingly well. Now can't feel any vibrations through the desk and HDD noise has reduced to hardly anything. So thanks to all that made me aware of that trick.

[LiverpoolsNo9]

Basically you want silent fans or fanless cards, and an SSD drive, and you will be almost whisper quiet at that point, with probably just the psu fan making a tiny amount of noise.