Help me shut up my loud a** computer

[nickcangie]

My computer is really loud and I'm doing apartment-based recordings, so the noise of the comp bleeds into the mics I use. What is the biggest source of noise in a computer? Should I replace the fan? Are there isolation boxes that would silence this thing and still let air inside? I don't have a closet to put it in (as people have suggested doing in the past) so that's not an option. What's the best way to keep this quiet?

[Justin]

What kind of computer?
Did you have it custom built? Do you have a brand/model?

[JrummerJ]

From what I've read, power supplies and fans are the main noise makers in a PC. You can also get some dynamat and line the inside of the case to reduce case vibrations, just don't cover any vents!

J

[nickcangie]

It was custom built by a company in Bellevue, WA called Hardrives Northwest. I guess I'll have to take it in to see what's making all the noise...

[Justin]

You can try to open the case up and listen to the various components yourself.

Normally it'll be a combination of case fans, the CPU fan, and the power supply. It's not too hard to change some of these out yourself, if you're comfortable working on your PC.

Some cheap cases are noisy because they're made of lightweight plastic or metal and they vibrate or resonate the fan noise or hard drive vibrations.

[TimOBrien]

Cheapest, easiest solution:

Long cables. Put the CPU box in the next room or out in the hallway.

If you weren't in an apartment, I'd tell you to put a hole through the wall to put the cables through (like I did, but I own my own home.) See if the cables can go under the door while you record in the closed room.

Putting the CPU on a rolling cart helps (you can roll it temporarily out into the hall or next room and put it back when you're done recording.)