How to Build a Quiet PC? A Simple Guide

1. Cooling fan inside the power supply.
2. Cooling fan for the microprocessor.
3. Case fan(s).
4. Hard drive(s).
5. Drives such as floppy, CD-ROM, zip, DVD, and CDRW when they are in operation.

• Use a very large and efficient heat sink for the microprocessor with a small cooling fan or no fan at all.
• Tighten the motherboard to the case to ensure that there is no noise amplification through resonance. Do not use plastic spacers. Always use metal screws.
• Use a large (heavy) motherboard if possible.
• Tighten the case fans to the case really well.
• Tighten the case covers and panels to prevent any noise amplification through vibration.
• Tighten hard drives and other drives to eliminate vibration through the case structure.
• Use an aluminum case to dissipate heat without adding too many case fans.
• Replace noisy drives.

• Use smaller case fans.
• Use quiet case fans, typically with lower RPM and/or at lower voltage. Most case fans are designed with 12V DC power supply. By using a 12V to 7V adapter, one can actually provide 7V to a fan, making it running slower and much quieter.
• Use case fans that adjust speed according to the temperature inside a case.
• Use quiet CPU coolers. Typically running slower and/or at lower voltage. To compensate the lower speed, a fan-duct or air guard is recommended to keep the CPU cool.
• Use enclosures for hard drives to muff the hard drives.
• Use a sound damping liner inside the case.
• Use sealing materials such as foam and rubber to seal off the case edges.
• Change the fan inside the power supply to a quiet one or buy a quiet power supply. Quiet power supplies may have fans whose RPM changes with the temperature inside the case.
• Choose quiet drives whenever possible.
• Keep the CPU box in side a cabinet.
• Use Grommets at key areas where transmission of vibration may cause noise, like in fan and drive mounts.