Quiet Desktops

Lee Kanne · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 129

I'm having a hard time finding a good, quiet desktop computer combo. Mac or PC..

Since I added an Apple Display to my G4 PowerMac, it's been horrendous with the noise....someone told me it could be because
you are using an ADC connection, which forces you to use the power supply in the tower to power both the monitor and computer, thus, louder...

I'm open to any suggestions, PC or Mac, on quiet desktop VO setups

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Lee -

www.silentpcreview.com

I installed a Zalman CPU fan with copper fins and turned the speed all the way down. It works great and is nice and quiet, but you have to vacuum the dust out of the fins every so often. I also ran a temperature monitor supplied by my motherboard manufacturer (MSI) and discovered that I could unplug the very noisy Northbridge fan altogether without an appreciable increase in temperature. I've had good luck with Seagate drives -- they are pretty quiet. I also run my desktop PC with the case open so there is no shortage of ventilation. If I needed it to be any quieter, and it's pretty quiet now, I could build a four-sided enclosure lined with sound-absorbent material. It would be open on the bottom and on the side facing away from the room (my PC sits on the floor near a wall).

Lee Kanne · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 129

great idea...I'll keep that in mind....

I heard on another forum that the Mac mini's are very quiet...

Haneen Arafat · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 122

Lee,

I use an iMac G5 and LaCie external drive. My booth is separated from them, but neither have fans, so they're essentially silent.

Lee Kanne · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 129

I have heard also good things about the iMacs as far as the noise factor being low...I would expect the external drive makes a difference, correct?

Haneen Arafat · **Voice Talent** Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 122

It's my first external drive, so I don't know how loud others are, but I bought this one because of the reviews on it's low sound. Regarding the iMac, if you have an apple store around you, maybe you can go and just try to listen to one there.

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

If you go with a Mac, be sure to avoid the dreaded Agere firewire chip. Do a Google search on "mac agere firewire" for more.

Erik Sheppard · **Voice Talent** Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1317

Bettye Z. mentioned elsewhere that there are computers offered at Sweetwater. I wish she hadn't because now I want one. They are a tad pricey but real nice and I bet they are super quiet. This seems like a nice way to go for the PC folks.

http://www.sweetwater.com/c859--PC_Desktops

Lee Kanne · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 129

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

Don't get a PC from Sweetwater. I'm happy with my other equipment from there... but not the PC.

They advertise "whisper quiet" and that it's "soundproofed with Auralex."

Not at all true.

The minute I hooked it up, the fan was loud. I called and complained, they said that's the way it is. I worked for a few months, and had a number of complaints from clients, so I called them and insisted they replace the fan. Again, had to complain, talk to a couple of customer service folks (one guy there is the absolute bomb... I can't recall his name. There's another guy there that if I get him on the phone again, I'm just gonna hang up and call back -- he's useless.) Long story short... they sent me a Zalman fan, and I paid to have it replaced. The speed is adjustable, etc. Much better.

I've had other issues with the PC. I had to add RAM to it, although I've not added anything to the computer. And, a few months ago, the monitor I bought with the PC died. They sent me a new one, but again, not before I complained quite a bit.

I'm still having an issue with the graphics drivers from time to time.

I'm hoping I can unload this "PC" ("Piece of Crap") soon. I've done some research and have talked to many Mac owners, and I think I'm going to get the iMac... the one with the most RAM, etc. It's like $1800 with the monitor. I paid $1300+ for my PC and monitor. A complete rip, IMO.