Mat-with-one-t Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 Be gentle. I am aware that fans in computers can be heard from a distance, particularly when the processor is working hard. It thus makes sense that one would prefer a fanless case/cooling system in a proper "audiophile" room. Having said that, I am in the position of placing a computer distant to my audio gear - in a ventilated cupboard in the laundry with Ethernet terminations for the house, for example. So.... Is there also issues with "electrical" noise from running fans? I ask this as I have a NUC7i7BNH that I might use as a Roon machine, and maybe a remote computer (virtual machine). I have Googled about, and there a few options for shmick looking fanless cases with nice cooling designs, but suddenly we're into big bucks. Thus, if placed in a remote location, does a fan actually matter? Cheers! Mat
Zaphod Beeblebrox Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 25 minutes ago, Mat-with-one-t said: Be gentle. I am aware that fans in computers can be heard from a distance, particularly when the processor is working hard. It thus makes sense that one would prefer a fanless case/cooling system in a proper "audiophile" room. Having said that, I am in the position of placing a computer distant to my audio gear - in a ventilated cupboard in the laundry with Ethernet terminations for the house, for example. So.... Is there also issues with "electrical" noise from running fans? Not with any quality fan. All fans (new and old) are synchronous motor (brushless) types. No electrical noise is produced. As for fan noise, the keys are: * Choose a low noise fan. * Choose a large fan (large fans can run slower to move the same amount of air as a small fan), because low velocity air has less turbulence and less noise). * Run the fan at a slow speed (easier with old style, AC fans, rather than with more modern, DC fans). I ran some figures on the fan in the amplifier I use (120mm, AC fan, operating at around 10% of maximum RPM) at 2:00AM one day (so ambient noise was low). The noise from the potted, toroidal power transformer was louder than the fan. And trust me: The transformer was very quiet. 1
Batty Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 I have a 120mm thermaltake fan on my CPU, it runs at 750 rpm, I can't hear it a 1metre, modern fans are very quiet. CPU is running at 32C with windows running and 43C with 3 accounts on EVE-Online at max graphics, fan still doesn't go over 750rpm.
Mat-with-one-t Posted January 25, 2019 Author Posted January 25, 2019 Thanks guys. Given all that, why the niche market in fancy fanless cases? Seems like a huge outlay for very little gain?
frednork Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 15 minutes ago, Mat-with-one-t said: Thanks guys. Given all that, why the niche market in fancy fanless cases? Seems like a huge outlay for very little gain? If you want it in the same room then you might prefer fanless, there may be some benefits to a direct connection to your roon endpoint. If you are doing upsampling you will probably hear the fan on your nuc if it was in the same room. If its in a cupboard probably not worth worrying about. fanless cooling requires larger heatsinks, specialized cases etc so more exe. As always, diminishing returns..
Zaphod Beeblebrox Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 1 hour ago, Mat-with-one-t said: Thanks guys. Given all that, why the niche market in fancy fanless cases? Seems like a huge outlay for very little gain? For a couple of reasons: * The PERCEPTION that fans must always be noisy is all-pervasive and consumers think that a fan must always be noisy. Largely because manufacturers have been too lazy or cheap to install decent fans/control systems. * The false assumption that fans are unreliable.
Addicted to music Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 2 hours ago, Zaphod Beeblebrox said: * The PERCEPTION that fans must always be noisy is all-pervasive and consumers think that a fan must always be noisy And yet even the most sofisticated microprocessor control, high quality brushless fan with the lowest DB rating, you will find someone one regardless whether they are an audiophile or not will have a melt down and a massive whinge becuase “ I can hear that fan going “ and it’s physiologically effecting there performance in a work environment!!! Yet alone it upsets them and effects their concentration on the phone! Sound familiar? Even worst and you get more complaints from one particular gender!
Guest rmpfyf Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 5 hours ago, Mat-with-one-t said: Thanks guys. Given all that, why the niche market in fancy fanless cases? Seems like a huge outlay for very little gain? You've a point, though some CPU classes are so low power that fans really aren't necessary.
Mat-with-one-t Posted January 25, 2019 Author Posted January 25, 2019 (edited) So it seems there’re plenty of fan fans here..... It’s quite interesting. Any properly made and thought out fanless setup is looking at $2000ish once you do the sums. Thatsalottamoula. Edited January 25, 2019 by Mat-with-one-t
Guest rmpfyf Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 3 minutes ago, Mat-with-one-t said: So it seems there’re plenty of fan fans here..... It’s quite interesting. Any properly made and thought out fanless setup is looking at $2000ish once you do the sums. Thatsalottamoula. What? No, that's way high. Go nuts on anything it's going to cost a lot.
frednork Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 As an example. from whirlpool, a fanless htpc suggestion Zero (0) Decibel Fanless Front End HTPC Playing Media from Networked Sources Case: Streacom FC8 EVO HTPC Case – $180.00 240 x 100 x 250mm (W,H,D) The FC8 EVO is the next iteration of the acclaimed FC8 fanless chassis and with it comes a host of improvements and refinements that keeps this chassis on the cutting edge of design and performance. A TDP of 95W is only recommended when the chassis is placed in a location with adequate air flow and moderate ambient room temperature CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 – $65.00 Haswell chips should offer very low idle/operating temps GPU: On-chip Intel HD Graphics Motherboard: Gigabyte H97N-WIFI Motherboard – $149.00 RAM: G.Skill Ares F3-1600C9D-8GAO 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 – $99.00 SSD: Samsung 840 EVO Series 120GB SSD – $99 PSU: Wesena 150W Pico PSU + 12.5A Power Adapter – $88.00 Total: $680 Upgrades or Add-ons for Watching/Recording Television or Disc Media Optical Drive: Slot Loading Blu Ray Drive – $120.00 TV Tuner: Hauppauge HVR-2210 Media Centre Kit – $165.00 HDD: Western Digital WD Green 2TB WD20EZRX – $99.00
Guest Muon N' Posted January 25, 2019 Posted January 25, 2019 Lots of low noise fans available, there is also water cooling using low noise pumps and very low speed fans (sealed water cooling kits are abundant), I have put together water cooled systems and if not for the lights and a screen image you wouldn't know the PC was even on.
djmt Posted January 26, 2019 Posted January 26, 2019 I have a sff hp in a cabinet, behind closed doors about 4 m from where I listen. Sessions usually last 4-6 hours and the fan usually runs noticably once a session. 60 seconds with the doors opened shuts the fan off. That's running roon/fidelizer and playing around on the net. I had the same concern as you and at least in my case it ended up being a non issue.
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