# Can a person make loud electronic equiptment quieter

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-person-make-loud-electronic-equiptment-quieter/261198>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 24, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-person-make-loud-electronic-equiptment-quieter/261198 "2004-08-24T01:48:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-person-make-loud-electronic-equiptment-quieter/261198/1 "2004-08-24T01:48:10Z")

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My computer is pretty loud. I also recently bought a TiVo/DVD player that is known for being really loud. Is there anyway I can make these things more quiet?

I assume wrapping them in something like foam would be a bad idea as they might overheat. Is that a valid risk or not?

What about putting them in a case of sorts? Are cases made specifically to cut down on noise or would I just buy a normal case and hope for the best or maybe put some insulation in it? By case I don’t mean computer case I mean like a glass or wood case designed to cut down on noise.

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**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-person-make-loud-electronic-equiptment-quieter/261198/2 "2004-08-24T03:27:04Z")

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Something like [this,](http://www.raxxess.com/catalog.asp?CATID=256) perhaps?

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**Author:** ![citrus\_x\_paradisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@citrus\_x\_paradisi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/citrus_x_paradisi)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-person-make-loud-electronic-equiptment-quieter/261198/3 "2004-08-24T03:28:58Z")

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Foam would insulate the heat along with the sound, and while I don’t know how severely it would affect your computer’s performance, I’m sure it would.

What’s loud-- the functioning of your hard drive, or your computer’s fans? The former might suggest computer problems. The latter can be pretty easily solved, if you’re willing to replace them.

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-person-make-loud-electronic-equiptment-quieter/261198/4 "2004-08-24T05:42:00Z")

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For the past several weeks, there has been a continuing story in the Langa List PC newsletter about making your computer run quieter. See [Langa List](http://www.langa.com/), you can find most of the stories in the archives.

Most of the noise that bothers people in computers comes from the fans, either wind noise from too-small blades running too fast, or noise from cheap bearings. A better grade of fan will avoid both of these, for a quite reasonable price (like $15-$25).