Been thinking about those fans…
yes, I have a machine room, but I want to try and reduce the noise and at the same time improve the cooling.
This array of 6 fans - in the top of the computer rack - is consuming insane 120W - just the fans!
These definitely have to go.
The Fan that SSL us using... Papst 4600 N, is available online, here for 26,50 €:
http://www.reichelt.de/?ARTICLE=111016&PROVID=2257&wt_mc=amc136152448016369&ref=adwords_pla&&gclid=COWq_Ye5qbwCFTMPtAod4x0ApgIt moves 180 m
3/h which is quite a lot, but there are current offerings that can move more. The level of noise is 50 dB for one of these. 18Watts. And there is 6 of them!
Anyway, thanks to PC gaming good fans don't cost much these days, are very quiet and consume a lot less power than the original ones.
In addition to using modern high-tech fans, I might control them by a fan controller that measures the temperature inside the rack. I think, operating each of the different fans at a different frequency could also make a difference to the perceived sound of the fans.
Fan Controller Aerocool Touch 2100Unboxing:
http://youtu.be/ou9adwmL25AReview (in German):
http://youtu.be/sPIm7OeFxkohttp://www.aerocool.us/peripheral/touch2100.htmFan (5x) - Coolermaster 200mm MegaflowEDIT: These move 186 m
3/h at 19 dB and 3,36Watts. If that works, definitely a huge improvement. We'll see, I might need to build a costume-made top plate to use these. They are bigger.
Video Review:
http://youtu.be/E5qv9RwgaBAI am also looking into insulating the rack with some acoustic dampening material. There are plenty of sets out there, again, designed for the Game PC Market.