Computer enclosures.

[wallace]

Does anybody have any kind of recommendation for housing unit to put my comptuer in so as to eliminate fan noise? I do a lot of recording by my myself, so I'm working the computer and performing at the same time (and have to be next to the computer). I've got a few different ways to deal with the noise now, but it would be nice if someone knew of a better way, specifically any kinds of soundproof boxes.

Thanks for sharing ideas!

[hociman]

A company called Noren makes what they call the gCab - an iso cabinet for a G5 (or any other tower for that matter).

[mchello]

I have a Noren Acoustilock x-cab -- it's a rack enclosure that holds 6U, 37" deep internal. It weighs 206 lb, cost about $2k.

http://www.norenproducts.com/Acoustilock/xCAB.html

I haven't used it yet -- I did try putting a blasting boombox in there and it made a pretty big difference - that's one of the stunts they do at trade shows I was told.

For context, here's what I'm using for the AC power to the room:

http://exactpower.com/ep15a.html

The room has its own 80 amp subpanel, technical grounding, IGR receptacles, and $2k worth of outboard power conditioning to boot. I've tried to get things quiet electrically, and didn't want fan noise that I could avoid. Machine room was out. And I do acoustic music, so gain can be up there. I'll know in a few months if I've got a large paperweight or it actually was worth it.

cheers,
mark

[wallace]

Thanks guys. That helps. So most of those cases start at around 2k? Is there adequate ventilation in that case?

[mchello]

The unit is rated to exhaust up to 1300 watts of heat. It uses heat pipe technology, has a low-speed fan. It was the costliest of several I looked at, and the only one that used heat pipes. Noren formerly offered a model that used no fans at all -- it was the size of a refrigerator and rated at, I think, around 475 watts. I believe they've discontinued that model. The idea with this one is that the heat pipes are doing most of the work of heat-transfer -- so that the fan can spin slowly and still get the job done.

I have a bunch of DAW components that I haven't assembled yet, that I can only hope will work out. The Acoustilock box will hold 2 rack-mount computers -- 1 for the DAW and the other for everything else. One of them uses a 475 watt fanless PSU -- I'm hopeful that will do the job also! I'm using a quiet solution (Zalman) on the CPU also. Plus fanless GPU and chipset. The case fans will have a speed control, and with extensive temperature monitoring (at board level, case, box, and room), hopefully I'll know if I'm cooking it too much. The other rack chassis (non-DAW) will be powered off during tracking for maximum quietness. So we'll see.

Raxxess made something for around $700., and Middle Atlantic for maybe $1200. I think.

regards,
mark

[Jonathan Starr]

I have an Omnirax desk with a deep rack area on both sides under the shelf. I lined one of these areas with acoustic foam, top bottom and sides and moved the CPU back into the tunnel about 8 inches. This cut the fan noise at my listening position considerably (almost inaudable) and did not affect cooling since the front and back are still open and there is about 5" clear on each side between the computer and the foam.

The only issue is that the CPU would theoretically be somewhat unstable sitting on the foam; however the top of the CPU touches the foam at the top and that keeps it stable.

[dsteve]

I've got a Silence Cases Iso box on ebay - about a day left. It might be what you're looking for
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MESE%3AIT&rd=1

thanks

[Bob Ross]

I did some research on these iso boxes a year or so ago and was amazed at how many different vendors offer a sound-isolating, ventilated computer enclosure:

Noren AcoustiLock
(http://www.norenproducts.com/acousti...iLockpage.html)

Sound Construction & Supply IsoMac
(http://www.custom-consoles.com/isomac.html)

Raxxess IsoRaxx
(http://www.raxxess.com/product.asp?ID=508)

Omnirax HushBox
(http://www.omnirax.com)

Pin2 HushBox
(http://www.pin2.com/hushbox.htm)

Rob Lonsdale Double Box
(http://www.geocities.com/rwlonsdale/doublebox.html)

Middle Atlantic S12SDG
(http://www.middleatlantic.com/studio...sbr.htm#s12sdg)

Silence Cases SC-1
(http://www.silencecases.com)


I can't swear all those links still work, it was a while ago that I compiled that list.

I wound up choosing the Silence Cases SC-1 because the dimensions worked best with my existing control room. Plus it was the least expensive! Still waiting for the SC-1 to arrive (hello Elias?), but the scuttlebut is promising.

[Pearlslut]

So guys everyone was just getting started with several computer encosures
and the thread ended......I'm interested in how they worked out. How is the
Acoustilock working? How about the Silence case? Is anyone else using them
successfully/happily? I'm right on the edge of deciding which one to get.
Any comments would be very helpful! Thanks.

[tINY]

There is always the KVM route - put the computer in another room and run the remote to the work position.




-tINY

[True North]

Originally Posted by tINY

There is always the KVM route - put the computer in another room and run the remote to the work position.




-tINY

With my last computer build I spent a fortune on Quiet computer components, it was a pretty big premium ($600+ USD). I was pretty dissapointed with the net result and I would have been much better off putting this item in another room. That is the absolute best advice.

[Seti808]

Bump

so how did the Acoustilock work out?

[DeadPoet]

Whoa! $2k for an iso box ... I've built my own in the past for maybe €80 in materials and it was more than ok. Best performance for the money would be as tINY says: put it in another room.


Herwig

[mixerguy]

bump

anyone using the Noren?

what model?

with or without heatpipes?

[mchello]

Yes, I've been using it. It does a good job. Fan noise on the main DAW computer, a 4U box sprecially built for quietness, is utterly inaudible. And for the other rack-mounted computer, a 2U case with a kind of noisy set of fans, when the xCab doors are closed, the sound becomes negligible. I could track with it left running, even quit acoustic stuff with a room mic. But I don't, just to be a perfectionist I guess. But does the xCab perform as advertised? Yes, I think it does.

If you have access to a machine room, that might be a cheaper solution. The xCab is big, heavy, and expensive. But it DOES work.

If I tracked mostly rock, and mostly close-mic'd, and had a larger room (mine is about about 7 meters long by 4 meters wide), I might skip the expense and hassle of this unit. But in my particular circumstances, with a room mic sometimes only six feet away from the PC enclosure, I think that I am getting my money's worth. Your mileage may vary.

cheers,
mark

[stevetothink]

I had the same issue. Fan noise & parts buzzing in my Mac Pro drive me crazy.

I thought about buying a sound box. After seeing the insane prices, I thought about making one. At the end of the day, the easiest & cheapest solution for me was to just move the computer into another room.

It was a no brainer for me because I put the computer directly on the other side of the wall...didn't even have to extend the monitor cable.

I got a 7 port USB 2.0 hub for $20 & connected all my accessories. I daisy chain my firewire devices as needed.

Only 3 wires running through the wall. USB, Firewire & Monitor. Computer noise is no longer an issue.