Totally silent (fanless) PC?

[PopeKevinI]

I've run across several heat-pipe-cooled PSUs lately in surfing, and got to thinking: would it be possible to build a silent PC (except for HDDs) without killing performance? I'm not talking about a beast of a machine--maybe 2.8 Ghz.

I know there are passive cooling solutions for nearly everything (RAM, CPU, Vidcard, and PSU) but is it possible to keep the ambient temperature low enough for those solutions to radiate enough heat?

Or could I go totally watercooled and insulate the reservoir enough that the pump isn't heard?

Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[potroast]

actually, there are already solutions marketed for this. Zalman is the most notable:

http://www.zalmanusa.com/usa/product/view.asp?idx=64&code=020

 

[oogie]

I'Or could I go totally watercooled and insulate the reservoir enough that the pump isn't heard?

Anyone have any experience with this?

Well, it seems to be Eheim Hobby pumps are choice of most people, and it is VERY VERY quite. If there is any, I mean ANY! ambient noise in the room, pump will not be heard!

 

[PopeKevinI]

actually, there are already solutions marketed for this. Zalman is the most notable:

http://www.zalmanusa.com/usa/product/view.asp?idx=64&code=020

Great concept, interesting design, but ugly as sin imho.

Besides, where's the joy in buying a ready-made case?

I'm looking for ideas for an upcoming case mod. After the last two dismal failures and two unremarkable mods before that, I'm wanting to do something a little different. Part of it, I hope, will be a PC you don't even know is on unless the HDDs are chattering, and maybe not even then. No LEDs, no CCs, and no fan noise.

My plan is to spec out the system and then design the case around it. If I can find the hardware and have enough money, I might go with a SFF mobo just for something new (to me).

I'm guessing the really fun part will be keeping three or four HDDs cool.

 

[PopeKevinI]

Well, it seems to be Eheim Hobby pumps are choice of most people, and it is VERY VERY quite. If there is any, I mean ANY! ambient noise in the room, pump will not be heard!

I haven't done any watercooling since '99 (anyone remember watercooling in those days?) so I don't know the products.

Anyone know anything about Thermaltake's new heatpipe PSU? I've several friends who swear by their PSUs, and saw the other day they'd added a fanless unit.

I think I can insulate enough for sound that a quiet pump wouldn't be audible. So I guess that's my solution for chip cooling.

Any ideas for cooling HDDs? I'll probably have three small ones (~40 GB) in a stripe set. I hate waiting on a single drive

 

[gigglebyte]

something to think about is not necessairly a fanless system but a QUIET system...there is a lot you can do with large (120mm) fans running at a low RPM so they don't make much noise. In a lot of cases if there is any ambient noise you won't hear anything. The heatpipe concept is nice and does work BUT you do need a fan to remove the heat or it will loose it's efficency and you don't want that. Good airflow, good noise dampening, isolate ALL moving parts (HD, optical, Fans) so they don't come in direct contact with the case using gromets and such (or suspension for the HDs), slow but large fans and you will be on the way.

Even if you went with water cooling you would want a fan for the radiator unless you don't mind your resevoir being HUGE (and outside of your case) but that will kill portability. Since money is going to be an issue that is something else to consider as water cooling can be expensive for the blocks, pumps and associated equipment. If you did go water cooling I would isolate with some foam the pump so it doesn't have direct contact with the case and use the 120mm fans to exhaust the rad/case

 

[Scorpionjwp]

Antec have just came out with an fanless powersupply, here is a link to it:
Antec Phantom