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#1
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
Can anyone recommend a source that compares vendor's PC's including
ISO 9296 ratings at the operator position? I've found that Dell has those ratings available, but buries them in its website machine by machine. http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/corpor...ts_environ.htm I'd hope that someone has gathered the data not only from Dell, but other manufacturers (or measured it themselves I suppose) so that those of us not wishing to assemble a machine from scratch could include sound level as part of the purchase criteria. Related Question: Does anyone have a list of vendors who will assemble a quiet PC for the US Market. I've identified only the following so far. Their websites don't give any actual numbers on what they mean by "quiet" ARM Systems - http://www.armsystems.com/html/steal...silent_pc.html Directron - http://www.directron.com/silence.html Jim Mitchell - Philadelphia, PA USA |
#2
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
"Jim Mitchell" wrote in message
om... Central Computers http://www.centralcomputers.com which is near me also assembles "qiuet" DAWs for a pretty decent price, you could content them to see what they mean by quiet, Good luck! ~j |
#4
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
Josh Snider wrote in message ...
Can anyone recommend a source that compares vendor's PC's including ISO 9296 ratings at the operator position? I've found that Dell has those ratings available, but buries them in its website machine by machine. http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/corpor...ts_environ.htm I'd hope that someone has gathered the data not only from Dell, but other manufacturers (or measured it themselves I suppose) so that those of us not wishing to assemble a machine from scratch could include sound level as part of the purchase criteria. IMO, why would you worry about the spec on the PC for noise as a selling point? I buy the computer I want, based on the speed/features that I need, then spend an extra $250 and build myself an Iso box to put it in. hi Jim, i've thought about this problem a lot. i've come to the same conclusion, that it makes more sense to not worry about a "quiet" PC, rather worry about a powerful PC and then build an isolation box later. it seems that decrease in SPL that a quiet PC can give you, is much less impresssive than what a tightly built isolation box can give you. one additional advantage that i'd like that add, is that if you build a separate isolation box, when you upgrade to a faster machine, which will inevitably happen, you can put it in the old isolation box (of course, removing the old computer) |
#5
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
Lots of people here can't solder much less make a square box, and they
want plans for everything. Why don't you write an article for one of the trade magazines on how to build a silencer box? It would be welcome. I'm just a lowly working-class engineer. Which mag would want to hear from me? What I might do however is post the plans and method here. But Like I said imagination is the only limit, it could be built so many ways for so many needs... Perhaps I'll post it here and see how it's received. Maybe I could sell the article for a few bucks... *g* J |
#6
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
http://www.studiocat.com/daw.htm
http://www.liquiddaw.com Jim Roseberry is at Studiocat and Scott Reams is at LiquidDaw. They both make turnkey DAWs that are quiet and fast. Scott also has a consultation service if you want to go it alone. "Jim Mitchell" wrote in message om... | Can anyone recommend a source that compares vendor's PC's including | ISO 9296 ratings at the operator position? I've found that Dell has | those ratings available, but buries them in its website machine by | machine. | http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/corpor...ts_environ.htm | | I'd hope that someone has gathered the data not only from Dell, but | other manufacturers (or measured it themselves I suppose) so that | those of us not wishing to assemble a machine from scratch could | include sound level as part of the purchase criteria. | | | Related Question: | Does anyone have a list of vendors who will assemble a quiet PC for | the US Market. I've identified only the following so far. Their | websites don't give any actual numbers on what they mean by "quiet" | | ARM Systems - http://www.armsystems.com/html/steal...silent_pc.html | Directron - http://www.directron.com/silence.html | | | Jim Mitchell - Philadelphia, PA USA |
#7
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
I am curious about the box you have made. How big is it and how do
you possition your racks within? What materials do you use? IS there a website with a DIY model? Please fill us in. Thanks. ken |
#8
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
Josh Snider wrote in message ...
I'm just a lowly working-class engineer. Which mag would want to hear from me? I'm sure that Recording (several of us rec.audio.pro regulars write for them) would be happy to publish it. But to be honest, I've suggested this a few times over the past couple of years to people who, like you, have said "it's easy" and nobody has come up with an article yet. To write an acceptable article, you need to do more than say "just build a box about this size out of whatever material you have." Decide on a good size and shape that will accoommodate a modern computer (Remember that a lot of people are using the server-sized cases which are a little too big to fit into the computer desks of 5 years ago - I know. I have one of each.) You need to come up with a plan for cutting up a 4x8 sheet of material and specify the material. You need to show how to make strong joints in the corners, how to vent it, and how to make a door (or what to buy) and how to seal it so that it's accessable. |
#9
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
Dudleys100 wrote:
I am curious about the box you have made. How big is it and how do you possition your racks within? What materials do you use? IS there a website with a DIY model? Please fill us in. Thanks. ken The Quiet PC people do a box for this purpose.... http://www.quietpc.com/uk/cabinets.php It ain't the cheapest thing on the market mind. |
#11
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
I'll try and write one this week and post it here for review and
suggestions. I'd be happy to have it published if people find it useful. Very good subject. I so far built a couple of open eguipment racks and now I am working on a work station desk. All is made from birch 3/4 inch ply, oak 3/4 inch ply, and all solid hardwood trimmed. It a little work planning, building and finishing but they came out beutiful. It look professional and custum. I highly recommend poeple do it not only to save a lot of money but for a great look. I love it. Do the article, it will be surely appreciated by many!!!! Including me. I'm headed out to the garage right now to continue working on that desk. Ron |
#12
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
I've been wrestling with this same topic for a long time too. I need
to get a seperate system to run GigaStudio. From all that I've read and experienced, it would seem that the noise issue isn't just a problem from an editing perspective. But the various fans and motors inside the case pollute the audio signal while recording (unless of course you are using an external audio interface.) By choosing a fanless mobo and video card and quiet hard drives the noise floor (without any audio signal) should be about 30dB quieter, if my math is right. - Dave K. IMO, why would you worry about the spec on the PC for noise as a selling point? I buy the computer I want, based on the speed/features that I need, then spend an extra $250 and build myself an Iso box to put it in. Size? Not an issue, I live in a very small room for my studio. I mean, very small. And my box is sufficient for a bunch of rack gear and external drives as well. Without taking up to much room. Cost? An extra couple hundred bucks for materials, and you get a custom built box that (quite frankly) is quieter then most commercial boxes I've seen. Skill? Its a box. A few hours of work with some basic woodworking skills and a trip to Home Despot and anyone can do it. Its even a simple job to set a piece of lexan in the door. Looks pretty too. The plus is you can design a cabinet however you want with shelves, rack spaces, castors, cable ports, power supply, lighting etc... And kill two birds with one stone. Get all of your gear (and whatever else you want to design into it) into a box, clean up your space, and have a pretty much completely silent system. The only limit on the design is, really, your imagination. Buy the system you want. Don1t limit yourself to a "quiet" pc. Then soundproof it. And you get a nice cabinet to put things in as well. But that1s just IMO J |
#13
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
"Martin" wrote in message .ca...
http://www.shortyshortfilms.com/photos/Tardis/ http://www.carsten-buschmann.de/indexe.htm Martin Hi all, another angle to all this is to use the remote desktop feature build into XP. One could use a cheap laptop (only renders remote screens) and a wireless conneciton to your battery of remote gigastations. Done. No noise. ellle |
#14
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
Mike Rivers ) wrote:
In article writes: another angle to all this is to use the remote desktop feature build into XP. One could use a cheap laptop (only renders remote screens) and a wireless conneciton to your battery of remote gigastations. Done. No noise. I don't understand what you're describing here, but it sounds interesting. I've never heard of the remote desktop feature. What does it do and how is it accessed? Are you familiar with PC Anywhere and the like? Remote Desktop is the same sort of remote-control kind of thing, built-in to XP. You'll find it at ProgramsAccessoriesCommRemote Desktop (aka. mstsc.exe, aka. Terminal Services Client), which is the client program run on the 'controlling' computer. You also need to permit Remote Desktop access to the to-be-controlled computer, under its System Properties' Remote tab. It can be pretty useful, but I've never used it for much DAW work. I just run KVM cable to the closet switch, which just plain works with no processing overhead for the boxes, and certainly cheaper than the cheapest laptop, and more reliable than the most expensive desktop. I've contrived DAW applications where I might use/try it (e.g. doing sessions 'downstairs'), but they just haven't actually come up yet. Ellle, have you used Remote Desktop for long DAW sessions, and if so, have you ever had any problems/glitches with it? - Brian |
#15
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
Brian Takei wrote in message l.net...
Mike Rivers ) wrote: In article writes: another angle to all this is to use the remote desktop feature build into XP. One could use a cheap laptop (only renders remote screens) and a wireless conneciton to your battery of remote gigastations. Done. No noise. I don't understand what you're describing here, but it sounds interesting. I've never heard of the remote desktop feature. What does it do and how is it accessed? Are you familiar with PC Anywhere and the like? Remote Desktop is the same sort of remote-control kind of thing, built-in to XP. You'll find it at ProgramsAccessoriesCommRemote Desktop (aka. mstsc.exe, aka. Terminal Services Client), which is the client program run on the 'controlling' computer. You also need to permit Remote Desktop access to the to-be-controlled computer, under its System Properties' Remote tab. It can be pretty useful, but I've never used it for much DAW work. I just run KVM cable to the closet switch, which just plain works with no processing overhead for the boxes, and certainly cheaper than the cheapest laptop, and more reliable than the most expensive desktop. I've contrived DAW applications where I might use/try it (e.g. doing sessions 'downstairs'), but they just haven't actually come up yet. Ellle, have you used Remote Desktop for long DAW sessions, and if so, have you ever had any problems/glitches with it? - Brian Yeah I totally agree, I use a $159 KVM extender and it is extremely easy to setup and use. My unit has a range of up to 500 feet but I have the CPU about 30 feet away. I'm not totally sure about this but I believe your noise would fall off as the square of the distance away from the CPU so distance is your friend. A KVM extender is a lot easier and simpler than building a box....I hate woodworking. I've made a bunch of racks and speaker cabs over the years but by the time you add up your materials, multiple trips to the hardware store and your own labor it's really not very cost effective (well compared to spending $1200 on a stupid iso box it is). Most of my friends in building construction are missing parts of fingers from getting them stuck in saws and planers....did I say I hate building ****? Analogeezer |
#16
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
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#17
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
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#18
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
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#19
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
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#20
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
(Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1064404788k@trad...
In article writes: Yeah I totally agree, I use a $159 KVM extender and it is extremely easy to setup and use. My unit has a range of up to 500 feet but I have the CPU about 30 feet away. A KVM extender is a lot easier and simpler than building a box.... I agree, but the fallicy is that you HAVE to build a box or extend the cables (or live with the mechanical noise). One more thing on my list of "things they forgot" that we have to do ourselves. Another consideration when moving a computer out of earshot is with the audio connections. Running analog cables 50 feet or more is no problem, but you can't do that reliably with TOSLink optical cables, and 24 channels of AES/EBU I/O is often more expensive than what it is that you're connecting. I guess that the compromise that most people are accepting is to move the noisemaker within 10 meters of the interface and do the best you can, maybe gaining a couple more meters by putting the computer I/O box as far away as its cable will allow. But that makes for a pretty scattered "tape machine." Actually what I do is have the CPU in the corner, and then a long cable to the rack unit for the audio interface. That puts the rack and audio patching right in my patch bay. I figure getting a quiet computer (or making yours more quiet) and getting it 20 feet away gets rid of enough noise for more environments. I need a giant Iso box for my HVAC frankly g Analogeezer |
#21
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Comparison of Quiet PC's & US Vendors of Quiet PC's
"Analogeezer" wrote in message om... (Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1064404788k@trad... In article writes: Yeah I totally agree, I use a $159 KVM extender and it is extremely easy to setup and use. My unit has a range of up to 500 feet but I have the CPU about 30 feet away. A KVM extender is a lot easier and simpler than building a box.... I agree, but the fallicy is that you HAVE to build a box or extend the cables (or live with the mechanical noise). One more thing on my list of "things they forgot" that we have to do ourselves. I've fought the quiet PC battle lots, and find that KVM and other extension cables are the simplest, most effective, cost-effective way to go. Another consideration when moving a computer out of earshot is with the audio connections. Running analog cables 50 feet or more is no problem, but you can't do that reliably with TOSLink optical cables... Plan B: a pair of coax/toslink converters and coax to suit Plan C: a pair of coax/toslink converters as signal regenerators and more Toslink. |