Bolt 3 Noise levels?

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.

Nice, Alex.  A guide to follow.  


Edited by bprat22 - 25 Feb 2016 at 8:55am

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.

I highly recommend all BOLT 3 customers purchase our control board and software.

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.

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. 

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.