Features
Silence Your PC
If you're looking to buy a quieter graphics card, try HIS and Sapphire cards, as both sell ATI Radeons with Arctic Cooling units already fitted. Galaxy does the same for nVidia GeForce cards.
THE PROCESSOR
The processor heat sink often makes the most noise because the CPU generates the most heat. If the motherboard's fan controls can't reduce the noise, consider replacing the heat sink and fan. This isn't as hard as it sounds, but it's more time-consuming and technical than any of the other measures here.
Many modern CPU coolers use heat pipes to increase their efficiency. A heat pipe is a sealed tube containing a liquid. When heated, the liquid evaporates, taking the heat up the pipe to an area of the heat sink with lots of
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Some manufacturers are getting very serious about quiet CPU cooling. Whispertec sells several models that use 120mm fans, while ASUS's giant Star Ice cooler comes with a dial that lets you adjust the fan speed. Zalman's 'Flower' coolers are also quiet but, like the Star Ice, they must be screwed into both sides of the motherboard, which can be time consuming.
LOUD HARD DISKS
The best way to silence a noisy hard disk is to replace it with a quiet one, such as a Samsung SpinPoint. One option you may come across is a special enclosure that muffles hard disk noise. It's basically a foam-lined box that absorbs sound, but this can cause drives to overheat. Don't use one without a temperature sensor.
SOUND ABSORPTION
Another method of tackling noise inside a PC is to line the case with acoustic damping foam, which absorbs noise. Unfortunately, it can also make the PC much hotter as it blocks air intakes and exhausts and stops them expelling heat from the case. You may end up needing to fit higher-powered fans, so it can be a self-defeating option.
