[TriLUG] Slightly OT: Are there Really Quiet Computer Case Fans?

[Jim Ray]

Thanks :-)  It was fun and took less than $2,000 to develop.  It was scary
in one of the tests holding onto the thermal probe and running a
microprocessor with no fan on an open case just wondering if the thing was
gonna blow.

If anyone wants to find that company to license the technology and take a
20% cut, go for it.  I doubt Dell would answer the phone if I called :-)

/jim

PS The next revision that is not publicly posted is even better...

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Brown [mailto:gregbrown at mindspring.com] 
Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 7:57 PM
To: jim at neuse.net; Triangle Linux Users Group discussion list
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] Slightly OT: Are there Really Quiet Computer Case
Fans?


Even though you might be want to get into computer design I could 
really see some company wanting to license that idea from you to create 
a more quiet 1U server.  That's a really good idea.

Greg

On Sunday, Jan 18, 2004, at 05:45 US/Eastern, Jim Ray wrote:

> Yes, quite fans exist.  Watch the air flow rating (CFM, cubic feet per
> minute) and noise rating (dBA, decibels A weighted).  I had used Sunon
> for
> the manufacturer and specified model# KDE1204PKS3 for my 1U 19" rack 
> mount
> unit.  You might have to get specifications from the manufacturer and 
> parts
> from electronics distribution like Avent.  I got tired of listening to 
> that
> Compaq Proliant that sounded like a helicopter taking off.
>
> Now, other principals analogous to proper HVAC design come into play
> that
> will allow you to *remove* fans: laminar air flow and air flow control.
> Because most PC have more than one component with a fan, one must 
> consider
> all inlets and outlets.  By changing the direction of air flow on all
> components to maximize air flow over the microprocessor, one may take
> advantage of the other fans and completely remove the fan on the
> microprocessor.
>
> I bought a Fluke meter with a thermal probe to measure my results and
> have
> some pictures at the bottom of the document that show what I did with 
> my
> unit.  Pardon the formal nature of the text.  It had been written as a
> patent yet was never submitted.  I had rather spend $400 on a ski trip 
> and
> don't think I'll be going into PC design any time soon.  It was a lot 
> of
> fun, though.  Enjoy!
>
> http://www.neuse.net/thermochannel.htm
>
> BTW, polyethylene phthalate is simply a fancy name for a piece of 
> Mylar (DuPont Teijin Films).  The prototype is available for view if 
> anybody is interested.
>
> Hth,
>
> Jim
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: trilug-bounces at trilug.org [mailto:trilug-bounces at trilug.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Scott Chilcote
> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 9:48 PM
> To: trilug at trilug.org
> Subject: [TriLUG] Slightly OT: Are there Really Quiet Computer Case 
> Fans?
>
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> My job has me working within a six feet of a dual Xeon server.  It has 
> at least five noisy fans, and sounds like a vacuum cleaner.
>
> I'm considering a ways to quiet this box, and one of them is to buy
> some
>    fans that claim to be quiet to replace the current ones.  I have no
> idea how much this would help - for all I know, it has them already.
>
> Does anyone know whether truly quiet fans exist, or is this just an 
> advertising ploy?
>
> Another possibility is to buy some ethernet KVM tranceivers and move
> the
> machine elsewhere.  Besides the $$$ these cost, I'm short on 
> alternative
> space.
>
> If you've had a good experience with quieter fans, or have come up 
> with a better solution for this, please let me know.  Replacing the 
> system isn't an option, but I've thought about putting it in a quieter 
> box.
>
> I can't scrape up enough for one of these:
>
>     http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040115/index.html
>
> But it sure would be sweet!
>
> --
> Scott C.
>
>
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