Quiet External Enclosure for DVD?

[mydeadpresidents]

Looking for a USB 2 rated External Enclosure (EE) with power supply
included. (Firewire not necessary). I plan to use it for a DVD
player, but I'd like to leave open the option for a hard drive in the
future. However, if I do use it for hard drive it would be only on a
temporary basis such as transfering huge amounts of data from one pc to
another. The DVD is by far the main priority.

I plan to mount the EE in an area where it will only have ventilation
from below and from the rear. The DVD won't get a lot of constant
use. Mostly it will be for installing software and backing up the PC.
I don't listen to music on it or run applications from it or anything
like that.

Of course I don't want it to overheat, but my big concern is noise. I
have read some good reviews on NewEgg, but even when the specs say
"ultra-silent fan" (AMS Venus) the reviews say it's noisey. I thought
about buying a truly silent 40mm fan and replacing the one that comes
with the external enclosure, but the stand-alone 40mms I've seen aren't
all that quiet (20 dBA and over).

Can anyone recommend a good external enclosure with a very quiet fan
or, better yet, a unit without a fan but engineered for cool operation?
Anyone know of a good very quiet 40mm fan? Considering my intentions
for the EE, would it really matter if I took the fan out? Maybe an EE
with a fan that regulates its RPM according to temp?

All things even, for noise is Aluminum considered better than plastic
or other metals or is this a non-issue?

Any products or links to reviews or any suggestions along that line
would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Mike T.]

Looking for a USB 2 rated External Enclosure (EE) with power supply
included. (Firewire not necessary). I plan to use it for a DVD
player, but I'd like to leave open the option for a hard drive in the
future. However, if I do use it for hard drive it would be only on a
temporary basis such as transfering huge amounts of data from one pc to
another. The DVD is by far the main priority.

I plan to mount the EE in an area where it will only have ventilation
from below and from the rear. The DVD won't get a lot of constant
use. Mostly it will be for installing software and backing up the PC.
I don't listen to music on it or run applications from it or anything
like that.

Of course I don't want it to overheat, but my big concern is noise. I
have read some good reviews on NewEgg, but even when the specs say
"ultra-silent fan" (AMS Venus) the reviews say it's noisey. I thought
about buying a truly silent 40mm fan and replacing the one that comes
with the external enclosure, but the stand-alone 40mms I've seen aren't
all that quiet (20 dBA and over).

Can anyone recommend a good external enclosure with a very quiet fan
or, better yet, a unit without a fan but engineered for cool operation?
Anyone know of a good very quiet 40mm fan? Considering my intentions
for the EE, would it really matter if I took the fan out? Maybe an EE
with a fan that regulates its RPM according to temp?

All things even, for noise is Aluminum considered better than plastic
or other metals or is this a non-issue?

Any products or links to reviews or any suggestions along that line
would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Why do you need an enclosure? If you are worried about heat and noise, just
get a powered adapter. Passive cooling should work great, if there is
nothing "enclosing" the drives. -Dave

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812156101

 

[Clint]

My Lite-on DVD burner (411SX) doesn't have a fan. Perhaps check out some of
the other "bigger" names like HP, Plextor, etc as well, see if they have
anything like it still. Of course, with these units, you can't necessarily
mount a HD in them.

Clint

 

[mydeadpresidents]

Thanks Dave, but I need the enclosure because my intention is to have
the case out of reach of the desk. I've tried to spare you the
non-relevant details. That said, I'm not entirely sure what you mean
by powered adapter...

 

[mydeadpresidents]

My DVD player doesn't have a fan either. I'm actually referring to the
fan that comes with the external enclosure.

 

[SteveH]

Thanks Dave, but I need the enclosure because my intention is to have
the case out of reach of the desk. I've tried to spare you the
non-relevant details. That said, I'm not entirely sure what you mean
by powered adapter...

There was a picture of it in the posters lnk.
A powered adaptor plugs into the back of your IDE device (CD/DVD/HDD etc)
and connects it to your PC via USB. What you don't get is an external case.
They usually come with their own power supply. I've got one called 'Easy
IDE' and I must admit, I wouldn't be without it.

SteveH

 

[Clint]

That's what I'm talking about. There's no fan in the external enclosure.
The DVD drive itself is a stock Lite-on 411 burner that they stuck in an
external case.

Clint

 

[mydeadpresidents]

Oh, sorry I somehow missed the link. Yes, I did originally take a look
at that product. However, when I read the reviews they were mixed.
Seems it just didn't work for a lot of people. Beyond that, one posted
said it would not work with NTFS. For about 10-15 USD more I could buy
an actual case which I figured would add more protection and some guard
from static damage. It was a good idea though. If something like
that can run find without a fan, then what's the big deal if you go
fanless with an EE?

Good food for thought.

 

[mydeadpresidents]

I see Clint. So if it the DVD your talking about comes without a fan
from the factory then it's implied that it didn't need one. I've heard
of people using DVDs in EE or as true External DVD Players without need
of a fan or other cases where the EE fan was simply disabled.

 

[Mike T.]

though. If something like

that can run find without a fan, then what's the big deal if you go
fanless with an EE?

The enclosure holds heat in. Even WITH a fan in the external enclosure,
your drive will run much hotter than if it was mounted in a regular computer
case. But if you just set the DVD drive out in the open (no enclosure) it
should actually run cooler that way (as opposed to mounted in a PC case).

The problem with drive enclosures is that the drive gets hot as hell while
inside it, even if the drive enclosure is designed to keep it cool. This is
because of LACK of airspace around the drive. Active cooling (like fans in
an external enclosure) help a little bit. But running an external enclosure
without a cooling fan is a good way to kill a drive. -Dave

 

[Peter]

Looking for a USB 2 rated External Enclosure (EE) with power supply
included. (Firewire not necessary). I plan to use it for a DVD
player, but I'd like to leave open the option for a hard drive in the
future. However, if I do use it for hard drive it would be only on a
temporary basis such as transfering huge amounts of data from one pc to
another. The DVD is by far the main priority.

Don't think you're going to get an EE that supports both DVD size drives
AND 3.5 HDs, which means you're going to need 2 different ones unless
you go the Mike T route and get the USB to IDE power adapter. Just a
'Heads up!' on that.

 

[kony]

Looking for a USB 2 rated External Enclosure (EE) with power supply
included. (Firewire not necessary). I plan to use it for a DVD
player, but I'd like to leave open the option for a hard drive in the
future. However, if I do use it for hard drive it would be only on a
temporary basis such as transfering huge amounts of data from one pc to
another. The DVD is by far the main priority.

Is this is a PC the DVD player is connected to, consider
using networking to transfer the files instead of HDD.

I plan to mount the EE in an area where it will only have ventilation
from below and from the rear. The DVD won't get a lot of constant
use. Mostly it will be for installing software and backing up the PC.
I don't listen to music on it or run applications from it or anything
like that.

That doesn't necessarily matter, the heat is from being
powered, not spinning the disc. Chips on the bottom are
'sunk to the case and linear regulators within always
produce heat. So using it is not an issue but having the
ventilation on the bottom is fine, the most useful place.

Of course I don't want it to overheat, but my big concern is noise. I
have read some good reviews on NewEgg, but even when the specs say
"ultra-silent fan" (AMS Venus) the reviews say it's noisey. I thought
about buying a truly silent 40mm fan and replacing the one that comes
with the external enclosure, but the stand-alone 40mms I've seen aren't
all that quiet (20 dBA and over).

I don't know what the rest of your setup is like, but 20dBa
is not loud at all, IF that noise level could be maintained
and further buffered by an enclosure, many would not hear it
except in the quietest of environments. Unfortunately the
20dBA is almost certainly the free-air rating, further noise
comes from the actual implementation.

There are things that can be done, modifying the enclosure
to reduce airflow impedance, which reduces turbulent noise
and allows higher flow rate for any particular RPM. Choose
the thickest fan possible (while leaving at least 15mm or so
between the frame and the nearest planar surface such as the
drive casing), as it will allow further reducing of fan
speed.

We could assume the enclosure uses 12.0V but it is another
variable. Once this is determined, a method of fan speed
reduction can be employed. I'm partial to the series
resistor to accomplish this... starting with a lowest-speed
(rated) fan of roughly .08 to .12A current rating, a 100 Ohm
1W resistor will greatly reduce the RPM and noise level, but
it might be too much reduction in such a use, making the fan
far less effective but even so if the fan spins at all it
will be far better than no fan. You could try lower
resistance values as well like 68 Ohm. The higher the
initial (manufacturers') spec for the fan speed (current),
the lower the resistor ohm value you would need and the
harder it will be to achieve a good result. Other methods
of fan control often cause a pulsating sound from the fan
bearing when RPM is reduced to the lower range, but if you
only want a moderate RPM reduction then the other methods
may work almost as well.

Can anyone recommend a good external enclosure with a very quiet fan
or, better yet, a unit without a fan but engineered for cool operation?
Anyone know of a good very quiet 40mm fan? Considering my intentions
for the EE, would it really matter if I took the fan out? Maybe an EE
with a fan that regulates its RPM according to temp?

You are better off with a very low constant speed fan, the
DVD player (and the HDD for that matter so long as it's
spinning) will produce close enough to constant heat level,
and temp-adjusting fans always use a larger range of thermal
change to adjust... practically speaking they usually
require remotely mounting the thermal sensor right on a chip
or 'sink to be worth any bother at all and only then when
the particular part has a large temp change in use which the
drives don't. Ambient temp changes in places like
automobiles could be a greater reason for the fan control
but too little info was given about the need so I won't
drift down that tangent now.

All things even, for noise is Aluminum considered better than plastic
or other metals or is this a non-issue?

"IF" you were using an entirely passive enclosure and it was
designed to precision tolerances, making good contact with
the side of a hard drive, then Aluminum would help. Problem
is, HDD frames aren't machined that well on their sides and
some even have raised areas where the screw mounts are, it
will not make good contact with the typical drive over an
area large enough to be any significant benefit.

Thick metal would be my preference, like something extruded
with channels running through it, but thin metal is prone to
be noisier. Plastic fitness can depend on how well it was
molded, even individual specimens of same case in addition
to the overall design. It's your call, either can work.

 

[mydeadpresidents]

Hi Kony,

Thanks for the long post and the detailed information. This whole
project started with me wanting to put the PC case in a closet about 16
feet away from my desk. It got to complicated due to the high cost of
cable and amplifiers for same so I decided to make an enclosure. I do
some mild overclocking so it runs a little warm but I also get tired of
the noise. I've recently settled for a makeshift enclosure invovling
carpet pading, some foam ducts, and 1/2" drywall. I think my wife is
ready to throw me out of the house. Anyway, I just want to have easy
access to the DVD player/burner and a usb port. The rest I really
don't need. I also plan to rewire the power button, reset button,
power light and access light. Basically, I'll be building my own
mini-case out of wood so the DVD player will be exposed in a sort of
cubby where I used to keep the PC case. I don't really need to move a
lot of data and it's nothing I do regularly, so it's all about the DVD
player.

As for fans, I'm still looking for a good quiet but effective 80mm case
fan. (I think it's between Vantec and Scythe. The ixtremas are just
too costly). However, when it comes to the EE, or lack there of, I
think the message I'm getting here is skip the fan and leave the DVD as
exposed as possible. Now I'm leaning back towards the enclosureless
USB to IDE adapter. Seeing how I'm creating my own box I can leave it
very open, even with some air space on top. If I can manage to skip
the fan then I'll go back and consider how much noise a DVD player
makes when there's no case shield the sound. I'll pull it out later
and see what it sounds like all on it's own. I don't think static
electricity damage is a big concern, but it's another thing I'll be
looking into if I leave the DVD Player exposed.

Even if I forgo the 40mm fan, your fan advice is helpful because I can
apply it to my primary case which I'm still experimenting with.

I've tried the variable speed fans and I haven't been too impressed.
At this point I just want good solid fans working steady. I'll pay a
little more for something quiet and then bulid what it takes for an
enclosure.

As for the aluminum case, it sounds like you're saying the best benefit
of metal would be as a kind of heat sink, but as you said that only
works if all the variables come together.

Thanks for the ideas and help.

 

[mydeadpresidents]

I guess I hadn't thought to much about the HDD. I assumed because my
DVD player and my HDD essential fit into a 5.25 bay that they'd use the
same EE. The HDD is just a secondary concern anyway. The more I think
about it I think I think you and Mike T are right. As of right now I'm
leaning back to the idea of an USB to IDE adapter.

I love usnet. I always get good advice, information and ideas here!

Thanks.

 

[kony]

Hi Kony,

Thanks for the long post and the detailed information. This whole
project started with me wanting to put the PC case in a closet about 16
feet away from my desk. It got to complicated due to the high cost of
cable and amplifiers for same so I decided to make an enclosure. I do
some mild overclocking so it runs a little warm but I also get tired of
the noise. I've recently settled for a makeshift enclosure invovling
carpet pading, some foam ducts, and 1/2" drywall. I think my wife is
ready to throw me out of the house. Anyway, I just want to have easy
access to the DVD player/burner and a usb port. The rest I really
don't need. I also plan to rewire the power button, reset button,
power light and access light. Basically, I'll be building my own
mini-case out of wood so the DVD player will be exposed in a sort of
cubby where I used to keep the PC case. I don't really need to move a
lot of data and it's nothing I do regularly, so it's all about the DVD
player.

As for fans, I'm still looking for a good quiet but effective 80mm case
fan. (I think it's between Vantec and Scythe. The ixtremas are just
too costly).

The best route is to choose a high quality fan in the lowest
speed the manufacturer offers. Choose a fan manufacturer's
product, like NMB, Nidec or Panaflo. The former dual ball
bearing fans are very good for high heat areas such as PSU
exhaust (the Nidec often won't go to as low an RPM though),
and the Panaflos with their HQ sleeve bearings are good for
any vertically oriented chassis fan.

So by buying the HQ fan, you get a great bearing and good
fan balance. By buying the lower speed range model, you get
more options on resistor values you can use to slow them
down even more. Put a 100 Ohm resistor on an NMB
3110KL-04W-B10 and it will run very quiet for a couple
decades or longer. They're not obscenely expensive either,
usually under $5 ea. # after the "B" above has to be low,
and current ratings of about 0.10-0.12A, not higher.

I could be wrong but I think the ixtremas are just relabeled
(and speed reduced a little) Yate Loons. Yate Loons are
problematic in my experience, their bearing tend to run dry
within a couple years though they can be relubed and last a
while.