Bolt 3 Noise levels?Post Date: 2015-11-25 |
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bagelbagel
Newbie Joined: 25 Nov 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 34 |
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Topic: Bolt 3 Noise levels? Posted: 25 Nov 2015 at 6:11pm |
I just received my Bolt 3 desktop and I'm really enjoying it so far.
My only question is in regards to the volume level of the desktop itself. When I first powered it on it was very loud, but that's because the fans were automatically set to "extreme mode". I changed that and the system got a lot quieter. That being said, I spent a lot of money on this computer and I wanted to make sure that nothing is wrong with it. Even on "quiet mode", the PC is still sort of noisy. The best way I can describe the sound is that it is a very low pitched humming/buzzing. It doesn't sound like anything is clanking around in there, but it does sound a bit like buzzing, so I'm just nervous that something is wrong internally. Honestly, I assume it's fine- but I worry about things and I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong. Does anyone with a Bolt 3 know what I'm talking about? Is this a normal sound? |
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MikeMulligan
Newbie Joined: 24 Feb 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Quote Reply Posted: 24 Feb 2016 at 7:41pm |
I'm having the same experience with my Bolt 3. Some of the noise comes from the fans (especially on extreme mode) and some comes from the pumping mechanism. Oddly enough I've found that setting the case lighting to Thermal Mode made the pumping noise quieter. Couldn't tell you why.
I talked to a tech with Digital Storm and he said that he normally plays with it set to extreme mode. I can't imagine using it that way since the fan noise is ridiculously loud. Using it on auto mode is good for the first 30 minutes, but the cooling system ramps up after that and the fan noise gets a bit louder, but not nearly as loud as extreme mode. The auto mode seems to target 65 degrees and I'd like to be able to adjust that a bit more too, but the software doesn't have that feature. Like you, I'm happy with the performance of the system, but my last computer was whisper quiet compared to this one. I'm considering looking for quieter fans to replace the ones that came with it and also putting the computer in a more open area. Let me know if you find any kind of solution to making the system quieter. |
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Alex
Admin Group Digital Storm Supervisor Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16312 |
Quote Reply Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 5:29am |
If you have our control board and software package, you should be able to make the unit very quiet. All you need to do is calibrate it. Please refer to this guide:
http://www.digitalstorm.com/forums/control-software-how-to-calibrate-fans-tidf27629-pidf292371/ If you do not have the control board and software package, you should be able to slow the fans down via the BIOS. Our team can assist, it's basically adjusting chassis fan options to QUIET. |
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bprat22
DS ELITE DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!) Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20391 |
Quote Reply Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 7:57am |
Nice, Alex. A guide to follow.
Edited by bprat22 - 25 Feb 2016 at 8:55am |
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Alex
Admin Group Digital Storm Supervisor Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16312 |
Quote Reply Posted: 25 Feb 2016 at 8:17am |
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MikeMulligan
Newbie Joined: 24 Feb 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 1:10pm |
Thanks Alex. I'll read through that.
It turns out that other PC builders are getting a lot of noise from the Corsair H100i cooling unit. This is the unit that is at the top of the Bolt 3. The problem is the two fans mounted underneath. There's a video of a guy replacing these fans with quieter ones. Search YouTube for "Corsair H100i loud fan noise sound and fix". (We can't post links in this forum) I've purchased two of the fans and will try replacing them next week. I'll let you know how it goes. |
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DS Veteran Joined: 28 Oct 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1674 |
Quote Reply Posted: 26 Feb 2016 at 4:56pm |
For the H100i, make sure the fans are not connected through the pump unit on top of the CPU. You will have to interact with the fan controls through the Corsair Link software, which isn't that great, and the range of operation is limited. You want the fans to be connected to the motherboard with the fan controls in the BIOS or with a program that came with the motherboard to access them on your desktop.
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Alex
Admin Group Digital Storm Supervisor Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16312 |
Quote Reply Posted: 27 Feb 2016 at 1:51am |
I highly recommend all BOLT 3 customers purchase our control board and software.
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MikeMulligan
Newbie Joined: 24 Feb 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Quote Reply Posted: 29 Feb 2016 at 7:39am |
I've been using the HydroLux software and it's worked fine for the basics. The feature I'm lacking is a way to configure the target temperature for auto mode. The fans ramp up correctly, but I'd prefer they ramp up more aggressively/sooner.
The closest I can get is setting Quiet mode, then manually adjusting the fan controls in HydroLux. It doesn't scale with the heat, but you can find a better noise/heat balance. |
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MikeMulligan
Newbie Joined: 24 Feb 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Quote Reply Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 6:37pm |
Put in the new fans and it's a vast improvement. However, the system will never be as quiet as my old computer. The only moving parts in the old one were the CPU fan and an 80mm fan in the back. Virtually silent.
The other issue I'll probably never be able to resolve is the case rattle. As it heats up, the metal case expands makes a vibrating sound against the acrylic. This requires that I loosen the knobs on that side until it readjusts and tighten them back up. Maybe rubber washers would help. |
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Tidgxor
DS ELITE The Kokopelli kid Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13000 |
Quote Reply Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 7:07am |
MikeMulligan,
I'd give the rubber washers a shot, I've had good luck with that issue on some people's desktops in the past (for reference not the Bolt 3 or a DS rig, but the concept is the same). |
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My Two Digital Storm Rigs: Mr. Bojangles (HAF-X, 2010) & Mrs. Bojingles (Bolt I, 2013).
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bprat22
DS ELITE DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!) Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20391 |
Quote Reply Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 7:58am |
My ODE, Corsair 600T, for the first few months would make what sounded like a static or electrical noise when it started to heat up. I looked around the insides and didn't smell anything, so looked elsewhere. Turned out to be the top cover fan grate was the culprit, and pushing on it with my finger made is all better. The noise eventually just went away for good.
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Atlas
Newbie Joined: 29 Sep 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 68 |
Quote Reply Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 10:17am |
My Bolt 3 has the Scythe Shuriken fan and it stays pretty quiet. I do not get any case noise so far.
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Bolt III
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IvarForkBeard
Newbie Joined: 02 May 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Quote Reply Posted: 14 May 2016 at 9:15am |
I noticed this too and part of the issue I think is resonance between the case and the little metal stand. I eliminated metal to metal/metal to glass contact in the front of the case alone and it helped.
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