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Active: 1369 users

So I foamed my computer case.

Blogs > iTzSnypah
Post a Reply
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iTzSnypah
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1738 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-02 05:35:20
October 02 2013 04:42 GMT
#1
I've been wanting to place foam in my case to hear the results for awhile now. So finally I decided to.
Before:
[image loading]

After:
[image loading]


$10 worth of foam plus $5 can of spray adhesive (I barely used any) + $40 NZXT Source 210 = "silent case"
[image loading]

I will say that the case is quieter (ever so slightly). I will eventually get a CM 212+/EVO as my TX3 is the loudest part atm. Also I was a tad lazy in cable management because this was the second time this week that I took my computer completely apart.

Temps: (before)
CPU: 65c
GPU: 65c

Temps: (after)
CPU: 69c
GPU: 67c

Truthfully I was expecting a higher rise in temps.

*
Team Liquid needs more Terrans.
itsjustatank
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Hong Kong9154 Posts
October 02 2013 05:48 GMT
#2
what is the point of foam for noise reduction when you have huge holes in the top and sides of your case for fans
Photographer"nosotros estamos backamos" - setsuko
Kupon3ss
Profile Joined May 2008
時の回廊10066 Posts
October 02 2013 05:51 GMT
#3
http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/103-h2-case
When in doubt, just believe in yourself and press buttons
AlexJen
Profile Blog Joined September 2013
United States37 Posts
October 02 2013 05:54 GMT
#4
On October 02 2013 14:51 Kupon3ss wrote:
http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/103-h2-case

thanks i might buy this
"All men are created equal some work hard in preseason"
itsjustatank
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Hong Kong9154 Posts
October 02 2013 06:29 GMT
#5
shameless product advertising
Photographer"nosotros estamos backamos" - setsuko
iTzSnypah
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1738 Posts
October 02 2013 07:13 GMT
#6
On October 02 2013 14:48 itsjustatank wrote:
what is the point of foam for noise reduction when you have huge holes in the top and sides of your case for fans

Noise travels in all directions. Huge holes < all directions. Also without a lot of fans temps be crazy and cpu/gpu fan spins faster therefore more noise.

Also I was looking for [any] noise reduction, not noise cancellation.
Team Liquid needs more Terrans.
felisconcolori
Profile Blog Joined October 2011
United States6168 Posts
October 02 2013 07:28 GMT
#7
You know what would solve both the noise and heat issues, but would take a lot more work?

Mineral oil immersion. Get one very quiet pump, or put the pump on the outside end of the heat exchange radiator.

Of course... you do have to remove all fans, open space, and have someplace with strong floors. And it might take some plumbing skills.

(Not as good as liquid chlorofluorocarbon immersion, but CFCs are not easy or fun to use.)
Yes, I email sponsors... to thank them. Don't post drunk, kids. My king, what has become of you?
iTzSnypah
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1738 Posts
October 02 2013 07:51 GMT
#8
My computer isn't worth going to custom liquid (which is what I would do).
Team Liquid needs more Terrans.
Rollin
Profile Joined March 2011
Australia1552 Posts
October 02 2013 09:34 GMT
#9
Or you could just have a passively cooled system. :D
Throw off those chains of reason, and your prison disappears. | Check your posting frequency timeline: http://www.teamliquid.net/mytlnet/post_activity_img.php
ImbaTosS
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United Kingdom1689 Posts
October 02 2013 10:17 GMT
#10
My DIY watercooling loop works very nicely. Dead silent, and cool at all times. I did have to get a f***ing massive corsair case for enough space to house the radiator though... But it's not so hard or expensive to do!
EleGant[AoV]
Deleuze
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United Kingdom2102 Posts
October 02 2013 13:15 GMT
#11
Um. I might be being stupid. But surely foaming your case like this is just going to add insulation making it hotter and therefore more in need of cooling.
“An image of thought called philosophy has been formed historically and it effectively stops people from thinking.” ― Gilles Deleuze, Dialogues II
Shottaz
Profile Joined December 2010
United Kingdom414 Posts
October 02 2013 13:39 GMT
#12
On October 02 2013 22:15 Deleuze wrote:
Um. I might be being stupid. But surely foaming your case like this is just going to add insulation making it hotter and therefore more in need of cooling.


That was my first thought.

Buying a good quality case and large slow fans has made the biggest difference to mine. Obviously much more expensive than foaming your case up though.

It's a shame you can't measure the decibels coming out of it for a proper before and after.
Praise the sun! \o/
Cragus
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Canada144 Posts
October 02 2013 17:20 GMT
#13
It makes it slightly warmer, but you can adjust your fan curves so you just hit temperature equilibrium a few degrees hotter. What it does nicely is damp out GPU fan noise and harddrive seek noise, which, imho, is by far the hardest source of noise to remove in a computer if you dont have the space/aren't willing to go for a full suspension (even that doesn't solve everything). Sound insulation is of pretty minor concern if one is running stock coolers on their CPU/GPU with loud case fans/PSUs/etc, but it can make a pretty big difference once you've covered the basics. If you want a quiet computer, it's rather pointless, but if you want a silent computer, it's rather key.
aka Nakji/Сталкер/Reed
Logo
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States7542 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-02 17:48:35
October 02 2013 17:48 GMT
#14
Pre-built watercooling loops for the CPU are pretty competitively prices nowadays.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181029
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181033

If you're willing to pay $15 for foam + adhesive why not shell out the extra $20 over a traditional CPU heatsink to get a watercooled one.

(Provided you think it'll fit).
Logo
LaNague
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Germany9118 Posts
October 02 2013 18:14 GMT
#15
GPU is more of a problem than CPU for gamers.

I dont think you can buy watercooled GPUs easily, so you would have to do it yourself and void any warranty.
Burrfoot
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
United States1176 Posts
October 02 2013 18:20 GMT
#16
I came into this thread thinking you were going to fill the entire air volume inside the case with foam. Disappointed!
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Davlok-1847/career
lantz
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States762 Posts
October 02 2013 18:28 GMT
#17
put on some earplugs/headphones and your computer will be quieter. thats what i do
iTzSnypah
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1738 Posts
October 02 2013 18:32 GMT
#18
On October 03 2013 02:48 Logo wrote:
Pre-built watercooling loops for the CPU are pretty competitively prices nowadays.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181029
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181033

If you're willing to pay $15 for foam + adhesive why not shell out the extra $20 over a traditional CPU heatsink to get a watercooled one.

(Provided you think it'll fit).

CLC's are terrible. First off they have weak pumps. Second and most importantly they use Ethylene Glycol which is in every way inferior to water. Last off they have jet engines of fans just to be competitive cooling wise.

From frosty tech:
[image loading]
Team Liquid needs more Terrans.
ZeaL.
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States5955 Posts
October 02 2013 18:50 GMT
#19
The problem with watercooling is that you need a water pump which itself makes noise. With the current spate of bigass tower coolers and 120mm fans on everything + PWM, air cooling isn't much louder than liquid anymore.

I barely hear my computer and I'm not even running 120mm case fans, just a super old Thermalright Ultra Extreme with a slow 120 and an arctic accelero 2 on my 5870. Having an SSD helps too I guess. Going liquid would probably bring down temps but I doubt it would make it any quieter.
CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
October 02 2013 20:41 GMT
#20
I foamed my airsoft gun with cotton balls, and made a wooden silencer. Worked perfectly. Sadly your case has huge fan holes

Pretty neat idea anyway!
a176
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada6688 Posts
October 02 2013 22:56 GMT
#21
You should have just bought a fan controller.
starleague forever
a176
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada6688 Posts
October 02 2013 23:03 GMT
#22
On October 03 2013 03:32 iTzSnypah wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 03 2013 02:48 Logo wrote:
Pre-built watercooling loops for the CPU are pretty competitively prices nowadays.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181029
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181033

If you're willing to pay $15 for foam + adhesive why not shell out the extra $20 over a traditional CPU heatsink to get a watercooled one.

(Provided you think it'll fit).

CLC's are terrible. First off they have weak pumps. Second and most importantly they use Ethylene Glycol which is in every way inferior to water. Last off they have jet engines of fans just to be competitive cooling wise.

From frosty tech:
[image loading]


or, http://www.anandtech.com/show/6984/thermaltake-water-30-closed-loop-cooler-roundup/3 ?
starleague forever
MaxField
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2386 Posts
October 02 2013 23:53 GMT
#23
Just pop some dry ice in there any time you use it, and then just seal it all closed. All problems solved!
"Zerg, so bad it loses to hydras" IdrA.
iTzSnypah
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States1738 Posts
October 03 2013 00:39 GMT
#24
On October 03 2013 08:03 a176 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 03 2013 03:32 iTzSnypah wrote:
On October 03 2013 02:48 Logo wrote:
Pre-built watercooling loops for the CPU are pretty competitively prices nowadays.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181029
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181033

If you're willing to pay $15 for foam + adhesive why not shell out the extra $20 over a traditional CPU heatsink to get a watercooled one.

(Provided you think it'll fit).

CLC's are terrible. First off they have weak pumps. Second and most importantly they use Ethylene Glycol which is in every way inferior to water. Last off they have jet engines of fans just to be competitive cooling wise.

From frosty tech:
[image loading]


or, http://www.anandtech.com/show/6984/thermaltake-water-30-closed-loop-cooler-roundup/3 ?


Page 4 is better:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6984/thermaltake-water-30-closed-loop-cooler-roundup/4
You can see for thermal performance they're near the top of the list, beating all of the air coolers. The problem is that, as you can see below, the air coolers are nowhere near as loud. Noctua's excellent NH-U14S is able to produce performance only 4C warmer at a staggering 14dB lower.
Team Liquid needs more Terrans.
IgnE
Profile Joined November 2010
United States7681 Posts
October 08 2013 06:07 GMT
#25
This seems really dumb to me? Have you compared temperatures pre- and post-foaming? Who cares about the noise that much?
The unrealistic sound of these propositions is indicative, not of their utopian character, but of the strength of the forces which prevent their realization.
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