What's the point of a super quiet PS?

[Doc]

Keeping various parts of the system cool is of primary importance, and a low
noise PS moves less air and by itself is inadequate as a sole means to cool
the system - this is the reason why front/rear case fans are there, yes?

But with at least 2 additional case fans, doesn't this negate having an
inaudible PSU?

What application would make having a whisper quiet computer neccessary to
begin with? Aren't all popular video games - which is a lot of the reason
that people get these fire-breathing systems to run in the first place,
quite noisy? With a 4 or 6 speaker surround system blaring away while you
rout the Germans, battle the evil Mutant Warlord's army, etc. etc. you're
not even going to notice even a relatively noisy PS are you?

 

[EDM]

Keeping various parts of the system cool is of primary importance, and a low
noise PS moves less air and by itself is inadequate as a sole means to cool
the system - this is the reason why front/rear case fans are there, yes?

But with at least 2 additional case fans, doesn't this negate having an
inaudible PSU?

The function of a PSU fan today is simply to cool the supply,
not the case. Better/more efficient supplies no longer require
a fan at all.

What application would make having a whisper quiet computer neccessary to
begin with?

Lots. HTPC's (home theatre PCs), computers used in a
wide range of commercial environments where noise is a
consideration (schoolrooms, libraries etc), and 1000's of
other applications.

Aren't all popular video games - which is a lot of the reason
that people get these fire-breathing systems to run in the first place,
quite noisy? With a 4 or 6 speaker surround system blaring away while you
rout the Germans, battle the evil Mutant Warlord's army, etc. etc. you're
not even going to notice even a relatively noisy PS are you?

Games have their quiet passages, at least most of them do.

You never realize how irritating a noisy PC is until you've
tried one that's quiet. If all you've ever used is a noisy PC
then it probably doesn't bother you at all.

 

[coolsti]

Keeping various parts of the system cool is of primary importance, and a low
noise PS moves less air and by itself is inadequate as a sole means to cool
the system - this is the reason why front/rear case fans are there, yes?

But with at least 2 additional case fans, doesn't this negate having an
inaudible PSU?

What application would make having a whisper quiet computer neccessary to
begin with? Aren't all popular video games - which is a lot of the reason
that people get these fire-breathing systems to run in the first place,
quite noisy? With a 4 or 6 speaker surround system blaring away while you
rout the Germans, battle the evil Mutant Warlord's army, etc. etc. you're
not even going to notice even a relatively noisy PS are you?

Everything adds up, and with a computer today, which may have a chipset
fan, and has a CPU fan, and a PSU fan, and maybe a video card fan, and
maybe one to four cabinet fans, things can get quite noisy. Add to that
the sounds of the hard disk, if you have one that is a bit noisy. It all
gets rather irritating when you are using the PC. Like having a vacuum
cleaner on next to you. So anything you can do today to reduce this noise
level is great! If you can get a PS that is more silent than another one,
then it is only a benefit.

Steve, Denmark

 

[hdrdtd]

It's all a matter of personal preference.

Some people's hearing is more sensitive than others.

Some people have thier systems sitting on the desk where it's close to their
ears, and some people have the system sitting under their desk, where some
of the sound gets absorbed.

Some of us are so used to the sound of 103 fans all rotating at the same
time, that if our system was silent, we'd be constantly looking at the front
panel to make sure it was still on.

 

[John Weiss]

What application would make having a whisper quiet computer neccessary to
begin with?

The best application is for a Media Center in the living room or bedroom.
There, the more inaudible, the better.

 

[jaster]

Keeping various parts of the system cool is of primary importance, and a
low noise PS moves less air and by itself is inadequate as a sole means
to cool the system - this is the reason why front/rear case fans are
there, yes?

But with at least 2 additional case fans, doesn't this negate having an
inaudible PSU?

What application would make having a whisper quiet computer neccessary
to begin with? Aren't all popular video games - which is a lot of the
reason that people get these fire-breathing systems to run in the first
place, quite noisy? With a 4 or 6 speaker surround system blaring away
while you rout the Germans, battle the evil Mutant Warlord's army, etc.
etc. you're not even going to notice even a relatively noisy PS are you?

It's like background static. Listening to your favorite Itune would be
ruined if you always hear a low hiss in the background. If you turn
off all other noises except for your PC you'll hear the noise output.

Pre-Pentium 4 class cpus were fairly quiet and cool. With the rush for
faster cpus the noise and heat increased, some cpus make good space
heaters in the fall/winter.

Fortunately consumers are demanding quieter, cooler and more efficient
cpus and systems. PCs should be seen and not heard.

 

[Rod Speed]

Keeping various parts of the system cool is of primary
importance, and a low noise PS moves less air and by
itself is inadequate as a sole means to cool the system
- this is the reason why front/rear case fans are there, yes?

But with at least 2 additional case fans,
doesn't this negate having an inaudible PSU?

Yep.

And in my case I deliberately choose a very quiet cpu fan and hard
drives too and dont bother with video cards with fans on them.

What application would make having a whisper
quiet computer neccessary to begin with?

I just prefer a silent system.

Aren't all popular video games - which is a lot of the reason that people
get these fire-breathing systems to run in the first place, quite noisy?

Sure, but not everyone plays noisy games.

Freecell hardly ever makes any noise.

With a 4 or 6 speaker surround system blaring away while you
rout the Germans, battle the evil Mutant Warlord's army, etc. etc.
you're not even going to notice even a relatively noisy PS are you?

Yeah, and when you have fried your ears, you wont be able to
hear the system even when you arent playing games either |-)

 

[GrispernMix]

What's the point of a super quiet PS?

If you have a computer in room where someone i sleeping a quiet
computer couldnt hurt

http://grispernmix.googlepages.com/home