My opinion about the EPAC-Case solution

Chrisznix · Post by **Chrisznix** » Sun Jun 09, 2002 5:35 am

Hi!

Probably you´ve heard something about the EPAC-Computercase. It´s a case mainly made out of styrofoam or something like that, and it´s designed to be as silent as possible.
I´ve bought one of these and wanted to try it out.

It´s no Problem to place all the components in this relatively big miditower, there are two HD slots, two FDD slots and three CDROM slots available. The really cool thing of this design is that the HDs are separated from the metal frame of the case, so that most of the vibrations and noises coming from highspeed HDs (7.200 & 10.000 rpm) can´t get to your ears! Additionally, they´ve created "tunnels" for the circulating air, so that every component is in the path of the airflow. I suggest to run two good fans (one in the Powersupply and the other one in the case itself) at 3/4 speed - very silent and sufficient in most cases.

My opinion: Nice design, the HDs are really much more silent. But: Don´t try to save money by getting a cheap Powersupply (like me). Go for one of the best here, there is an audible difference. Same thing for the CPU fan - i´ve got a "copper titan", a good one... but still a bit too loud.
So - my PC isn´t absolutely silent now, but with minor changes it could probably be. I cannot copare them to really good cases like the ones from infinite vortex (which i would have bought if i could get them here in europe without paying at least 80 Euros shipping), but it is okay. But next time i´ll try the ones from Blacknoise!

Sunshine · Post by **Sunshine** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 12:00 pm

Don´t try to save money by getting a cheap Powersupply (like me). Go for one of the best here, there is an audible difference. Same thing for the CPU fan - i´ve got a "copper titan", a good one... but still a bit too loud.

Hello, what do you mean by "audible difference" ?? Does the sound of the soundcard change in any way or is it just the powersupply´s fan noise?

Regards,
Sunshine

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Jun 10, 2002 3:44 pm

hi Chris,

you can improve that MegaFan by polishing the face of the cooler which is placed on the dye to squeeze the last bit of thermo transfer out of it. A really painful one.
But it works: my CPU fan runs (walks)

at 5V just keeping air a bit in motion.
The cooler itself is only one third of the 'Intel approved' (boxed with the CPU) and the whole thing is > 15 deg Celsius below the suggested construction.

cheers, Tom

Neutron · Post by **Neutron** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 6:11 am

You can also improve it by using proper thermal compound instead of the stick on patch type of thing between the heatsink and the cpu.

sometimes it is enough difference that you can use a slower fan and get the same temperature.

Chrisznix · Post by **Chrisznix** » Sun Jun 16, 2002 7:16 am

Hit There!
Sorry for the late Reply.

To Sunshine: *g* I mean the Fan- , HD-Access- and so on noise. The quality of sound coming out of your monitors surely won´t change!

To Astroman: Cool one! 5V? Crazy guy!

Will try this out, too....

To Neutron: Yes, thanks to you too, i´ve got this silver compound (at around 5 Dollar/5 gr), that´s really better than those stickers.

Thanks to you all!

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Tue Jun 18, 2002 1:50 pm

hi Chris,

carefully watch the temperature meters.
I started the work on the cooler because the supplied thing overheated though properly mounted. The guy in the shop said: no prob, the meters sometimes run wild, don't care about, it's Intel, they can stand this

The problem is that the surface has to be completely plane. Completely.
It's difficult to find a really plane 'master-tool'. I used a prism from an antic binocular

for that task.

good luck and don't fry them