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PC Noise Reduction

A

-Asdfgh-

Apr 13, 2010
15,413
27,610
UK
#1
My current PC has a 2008-era processor and 4GB RAM in a large desktop case, with a passively cooled graphics card. It has the advantage that I can leave it plugged into Zoom R16, keyboard, monitor, etc. as I don't use it for anything else, but the noise is an issue for recording acoustic instruments. I've previously been down the path of trying to sound-proof it with quieter fans but with little real effect, although I could have another go. Has anyone else had any success?

There are various options, although using an older laptop is one (same processor power as the desktop, less impressive graphics card, but a lot quieter, obviously).
 
#2
Answering my own question... the case fan wasn't even attached (but I should reattach it). The culprit was the CPU fan which was set to 'auto' which seemed to mean 'almost maximum all the time' so I downloaded something to take down the speed. At 1500 to 2000 rpm it's fairly quiet and I've set it to do that under mild load. A recording of an acoustic guitar to a backing track on Reaper by pre-rendering any soft synths, etc to an audio track within Reaper should be low load so 1500 rpm and a quiet system for recording is achievable.

Total spend: 0 :)
 
#3
You could switch the case fan. They have panel controls that fit into drive slots on the front.
During recording you can switch it off.
After switch it on to blow the hot air out. I could see a midi signal to turn the fan off/on during takes.

Also, an option is to put the CPU in another room and run the cables through the wall. I can fully control the PC with 2X RDP (free version) remote desktop app from android or ipad.
 
#4
I don't think using another room is an option as the only room next door is the master bedroom! However putting it in a sealed box and venting it's hot air through an existing wall vent to the outside world. In that case I might as well just run the video cable to the monitor since it would require running USB cables to the Zoom anyway, although RDP or nomachine would be a viable option. Using a tablet as an additional control surface might be useful in any case.

But... I should be able to control the case fan in the same way as the CPU fan, which also allows me to set an emergency temperature. I am happy to abort a take to save the CPU. Putting it in an unsealed box may diffract some of the sound so that when facing a cardoid or hypercardoid away then an acoustic might sound fine. Although acoustic guitars can sound nice with omnis that's a fair bit of room acoustic which might not later sit well in the mix.
 
#6
It's pretty old. I checked and the processors were introduced in 2009, but that is still a while ago. It's powerful enough, but I can get more horsepower for the same watts.

Another option is one of the low power (watts) desktops that are essentially laptops without displays. No replaceable parts, of course. But then if I was going that route then a used laptop might make sense as it could also be used live as a backup for running lights and backing tracks, MIDI, etc...
 
#7
I wouldn't rush out to change a 5 year old PC. Yeah sure they add more cores now, but that doesn't mean it's going to do any better than say a lower number cores that actually have a higher clock rate.

DPC Latency checker is good to tune a PC for what you need now.
DPC Latency Checker

It can go on a thumb drive so you can test PC's in a store. A lot of specmanship going on but doesn't always equate to better DAW performance.

Same thing for interfaces, new specs on new interfaces may look more impressive, but 10 years ago was about the saturation point for AD/DA conversion in the human hearing ranges.
 
#8
I wouldn't rush out to change a 5 year old PC. Yeah sure they add more cores now, but that doesn't mean it's going to do any better than say a lower number cores that actually have a higher clock rate.
Click to expand...

I'm not rushing, as you can tell :) But the processor I have now runs at 2.3Ghz with a TDP of 45W. My laptop runs at 1.6Ghz with a more modern CPU with better performance and a TDP of 17W. So that would mean much less to cool. Or I could get something with the same clock speed and die size as the laptop with better performance still and underclock. But that requires a new motherboard, memory, so tweaking the fan is a good option in the meantime as for recording an acoustic I can render down soft-synth rich elements to a simple audio track and get the CPU and memory load down to a minimum. I just hadn't realised the automatic stepping down of the fan speed on the motherboard was being less than helpful. But I will try some more tweaks on that.
 
Last edited:
#11
Jim Nazium said:
You can replace the CPU cooler with something quieter if that's the culprit. Something like this:
Amazon.com: Zalman Computer Noise Prevention System with Silent Fan Pure Copper Heatsink CPU Cooler CNPS9500AT: Electronics
Click to expand...
that's what i have in my PC; it's so quiet i can't tell if it's on at all unless i look. the CPU also never gets anything close to warm. (i'm not running intensive stuff with it, just general computer use.)

the idea is to use a larger fan turning slower for less noise, and to use all copper for best heat transfer.
 
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