FREE and easy Fan silencer mod!

[Tovas]

I was sitting with my daugther watching Home On The Range tonight when an idea hit me for my Alienated mod that some of you may be following.

"MOUSE PAD!!!" This was my brilliant idea. Unfortunately my daugher had to watch the rest of the movie by herself as I wanted to strike while the iron was hot.

I have gotten up to the rear case fan section of the mod and its been sitting for a few days as I could never get a good idea for what to actually do to mount the fans, and get over the spacing problem. The back of the case has bulges in it not unlike your typical Antec, Chieftec, or Chenming case where the stock blue fan mount brackets lock into the back of the case.

http://img46.exs.cx/img46/9672/000_159.jpg
Your typical bracket. I hate these things as there ugly and bulky and dont look very good inside a custom case.

This mod will serve 2 purpouses for me. 1. To quiet the fan vibrations and 2. To act as a spacer on the back of the case where these bulges are present. Im going off the beaten path here slightly and mounting my fans on the outside of the back of the case, so this is a perfect fix for me.

On to the mod!!!

http://img46.exs.cx/img46/517/000_0153.jpg
All the tools youll need to complete the mod. All item should be typical in any house hold. I chose a silver Sharpie as it would show up best on my mouse pad as it is a dark color. Pork and Beans *The first can I grabbed from the cabnet." And a pair of ordinary sissors.

http://img46.exs.cx/img46/6504/000_148.jpg
My mouse pad. It was free and its from AMD so its not of much value to me as im not a big AMD fan, and I though it would be a cool way to actually intergrate something from AMD into my project.

http://img46.exs.cx/img46/6605/000_149.jpg
First take your fan and line it up on your mouse pad. Using your Sharpie, draw around your pad so you have a guide to cut out the damper. I found that You can get up to 4 80mm, or 92mm dampers from one standard mouse pad.

http://img46.exs.cx/img46/361/000_151.jpg
Check your fit on your damper. Again you can get 4 dampers from 1 pad so screwing up isnt a big issue. And Im sure everyone has an extra pad or 2 lying around the house.

Next take your can and center it into your square. Again using your Sharpie draw a line around the can and start cutting.

http://img46.exs.cx/img46/6612/000_155.jpg
This was the most tidious part of the mod as you have to keep making tiny snips around the inside of the circle, especially around the thinner wall areas.

http://img46.exs.cx/img46/3709/000_0155a.jpg
Check your fit again *ahh looks nice*

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4420/000_0156.jpg
Now to the back of the case. Here is where you can see those bulges I told you about earlier, that are used to lock the standard bracket in place. Also the standard bracket has offset latches to one side. So one side of your fan will line up with the holes for the bracket. While on the other side custom holes are necessary.

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/1492/000_0159.jpg
And here it is, the basic completed mod!!! Only thing left to do is put the bolts in tighten 'er up.

Even if you dont have a case that uses these standard fan mounting brackets this is still a great mod to do, to quiet down those pesky fan vibrations.

Its a great free mod that can be done in about 20 minutes, to keep your fans quiet... and you happy.

Thanks for reading! Happy modding.

:sn:

[FyreDaug]

Are fan vibrations really an issue? The most audible noise I hear is just the fan moving air. Very creative though I'll give you that. Its just 2am and I dont feel totally awake so I might be missing something.

[neonblingbling]

Nice, now to make a 'Hard Drive Silencer Mod' thread :p

[magick_man]

now you just need to whip out the dremel and carve the back up
(remove the stock grid things)
and sand it all nice and smooth.
maybe put some wire grills on there or nothing at all

just my .02 cents

~Magick_Man~

[k3nshin]

why put the fans out side of the case?

[dj_2004]

did this actually help? if so then good idea :P

[Tovas]

now you just need to whip out the dremel and carve the back up
(remove the stock grid things)
and sand it all nice and smooth.
maybe put some wire grills on there or nothing at all

just my .02 cents

~Magick_Man~

Ta-da!!!

hows this look guys GIMME FEED BACK!!!

http://img28.exs.cx/img28/8099/000_163.jpg

http://img28.exs.cx/img28/4368/000_0164.jpg

I ran some juice up to these guys and there so damn quiet!!!

:sn:

[Tovas]

why put the fans out side of the case?

I just wanted a cleaner look inside the case something off the beaten path.

:sn:

[Moos3d]

You also have some geeky AMD coasters wth the leftover mousepad circles. :clap:

[9mmCensor]

I DIY http://www.bigfootcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=4902&Category_Code=335

nice

[koss20100]

very nice and simple its really the simple mods tht make the BIG diff ...

anywayz do u notice alot of noice reduction as compared to the fans running without the mouse pad thinge

[cetoole]

Where did you get the AMD mousepad? If I had some extras, I would like to try this, and some other mods.

[Tovas]

Where did you get the AMD mousepad? If I had some extras, I would like to try this, and some other mods.

Not sure exactly where I got it, I have alot of friends in computer retail, I prolly got it from one of them.

[Tovas]

very nice and simple its really the simple mods tht make the BIG diff ...

anywayz do u notice alot of noice reduction as compared to the fans running without the mouse pad thinge

Its not like your going to see a gigantic difference. Like youll never hear another sound from a fan, but you can tell a difference. Unfortunately like most others here I have no way to measure sound.

Only thing I can really suggest is to give it a shot. Your ears will know a difference. Worse case senario your out a worn out mouse pad and 10 to 15 minutes of your day.

:sn:

[Misellus]

If you don't have an old mousepad, you could try craft foam. Craft stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, JoAnns, even Walmart) have a dozen or so colors available so you can match the existing color scheme. It comes in 1/8" and 1/4" thicknesses.

Misellus

[VWrpm]

Great idea Tovas. I've always used topper tape. It's the seal that goes between a truck bed and its top. I always keep a roll of this stuff around.

[xanderjobizzle]

Would washers mabey help with dampning the noise too?

-Xander

[legendosiris]

i wonder the same about washers. perhaps a couple rubber washers would accomplish the same thing?

[dj_2004]

yes

[VWrpm]

Washers would provide dampening but would not seal the fan. There would be gaps between the washers. I don't know if this would affect anything...just my 2 cents.

[austinbmxnig]

i would think that a little gap might even reduce noise even more because there wouldn't be any pressure in the case so to speak

wouldn't mounting the fans outside contribute to noise just a little bit? i know my case is quieter with the side door on then off noticibly

[Tovas]

The small washers im using, you can see them in the picture taken from inside the case. Are called sealing washers. basically there a small steel washer with a rubber gasket/gromit built right on the back... they work real nice.

:sn:

[wfarid]

hmm what about using temperpedic foam (that nasa stuff)... I'm sure that would work wonders... hey my roomy has a one of those pillows, time to whip out the dremel... brb

[MattCoz]

This looks so easy even I could do it! :p

[RIPSTER]

how did u get the wires to go inside case to connect to molex

[cetoole]

Its funny you mention the temperpedic foam, for some strange reason, they just sent me a free sample of it ;) You can request a free sample on their site, it is about 3"x2"x1" and arrives very quickly. I will save it to use for my pump, but it would be good for fan isolation.

[MadSkillzMan]

Nice, now to make a 'Hard Drive Silencer Mod' thread

uhh suspend with ZIP ties. Makes them COMPLETELY SILENT

Would suspending fans by zip ties do anything? ALso if u make it air tight, wont u get a better push of air?

EDIT: The problem of noise with my case is my dual 60mm HSF's. Anyone try this on a HS?

[El-Scotto]

omg i dont own a mouse pad, change the title this isnt free!!!! :mad: :mad: :temper: :eek:

[sunrunner20]

1. Your in the minority on not haveing a mouse pad
2. temperpedic has a site? only one I found that could be it is http://www.memoryfoamfactory.com and they don't seem to have a sample link... Anyway im really bad at googleing :bang head

[MadSkillzMan]

lol hey i have 1 mousepad between 3 computers.....i only use the mousepad on my main rig for gamming and intense photoshop

[sunrunner20]

I don't have any! :santa: Ive got a trackball, but thats becuase my current mouse belongs to my laptop..... (stuck on my desktop becuase atleast my laptop still has a mouse....)

[sunrunner20]

Got 2 mouse pads from school today, not shure what Im going to do with them yet. Ill probally use them for anti-vibration in my WC mod.

[MadSkillzMan]

im heading out now to get fish for my mod ....the gf wantsa g2 pat catans so ill get some foam there

[sunrunner20]

What do you need FISH for?

[Tovas]

What do you need FISH for?

yeah please share! if you have a way to make the mod better im all for it!!!

:sn:

[`Infr@ReD~NT]

how dare you defile that AMD product. HEATHEN!!!!!

[Tovas]

how dare you defile that AMD product. HEATHEN!!!!!

6 days and someone finally said it :clap: I didnt think it would take that long

:sn:

[DayUSeX]

pfft /me takes his amd mousepad and throws it inot the inferno that is cuased by his dual xeons

nice mod though, im going to give it a try

[Chixofnix]

very nice... i was worried until you detailed what sort of washers you were using that you weren't really isolating the fans from the case - which is your goal.

a lot of people make the mistake of isolating a fan (or HDD) on one side, and then having a bolt directly contacting the case anyway and losing any isolation effects they'd otherwise get (as in if you were to not use some sort of washer/grommet combination on the inside, in your unique case)

just thought i'd underline that important point for fan isolation

good work i'd say... i'm tempted to mount my fans on the exterior now ^^

BTW i also want to know exactly how you dealt with the molexes, on the outside and all... ?

[speed bump]

Go to your Navy recruiter, last time I saw the guy I got 3 mousepads for free.

[Tovas]

I took a couple of quick pics of the washers so people could get a better idea of them. If you go to Home Depot they have them in the fastener isle in the drawer rack section you get a 4 pack for 30 cents these are number 10's.

http://img57.exs.cx/img57/3615/000_0166.jpg

http://img57.exs.cx/img57/5830/000_0168.jpg

The plan is to have all the wires inside the case sleeved in aluminum tubing, *I took my stainless back to much damn money* so none of the wires including these will be visible inside the case. What I plan to do is run the 2 sets of fan wires together to one set of wires and thread that through the tubing. Ill use my tube bender to run the line along the inside of the case making it look nice and clean with 90 degree angles, using P-clamps to mount the line to the case wall. Ill take the tubing from the inside of the case to the outside through the long slot made into the case. Again bending it up nice and tight and finally having the end of the tube coming to an end in the small area between the 2 case fans... should be tight.

http://img57.exs.cx/img57/781/000_173.jpg

Easier said than done.

:sn:

[MadSkillzMan]

What do you need FISH for?


what do i not need them for? lol just got a beta and a frog today. ill post pics tmr as i have to rearrange things on my desk....ugh its not gonna be pretty

i shall use this mod..i dont know (or think ) the fish is affected by noise, but if always hated how my comp sounds...

ANy luck on HSF's?

[dj_2004]

just did this today on my 120mm blowhole fan and it helped a lot! Thx Tovas

[Tovas]

just did this today on my 120mm blowhole fan and it helped a lot! Thx Tovas

Sweet! how bout throwing up a pic?

:sn:

[scrapper8o]

1. Your in the minority on not haveing a mouse pad
2. temperpedic has a site? only one I found that could be it is http://www.memoryfoamfactory.com and they don't seem to have a sample link... Anyway im really bad at googleing :bang head
http://www.tempurpedic.com/freeinfo/

[dj_2004]

Heres a pic, notice how the blowhole is rough. thats because my holesaw broke while i was cutting it but a fan grill should cover most of it up (i hope). http://james.elbbit.com/Fire/upload/userfiles/overclockers/Dj_2004/fan%20silencer.JPG

[MadSkillzMan]

about how much is the sound reduced?

We could masure the sound with a VU meter prog. Place a mic in one spot, with the volume at reasonable level, see how much it shows up. Add the mod, measure it again from the same exact position.

Ill see if i can do it on my mixer. It has the trail of LED's that go up the master channel. Ill see if it drops one or something then i do it.

[Tovas]

[QUOTE=dj_2004]Heres a pic, notice how the blowhole is rough. thats because my holesaw broke while i was cutting it but a fan grill should cover most of it up (i hope).QUOTE]

Ouch! damn that hurts looking at it. A good shroud should make that look just fine.

:sn: