I just bought a new HP z4 g4 workstation because I felt after 5 or 6 years with the z440 it was time for something new.  But the first thing I noticed when I powered it up was that the z4 is considerably noiser than my z440 which was virtually silent.  

Unfortunately, I can't move the z4 to another room - so: has anyone an idea how to reduce the noise level of a PC in the editing room?  I saw special sound proof boxes on the internet (https://www.soundconstructionsupply.com/isobox-studio/) but they seem really expensive.  Plus, I'm not sure if the built-in fans in those boxes may be just as loud as the fans in my z4.  

And is anyone else finding the z4 kind of noisy?  

Thanks!

Vincent

Vinne:

 

Unfortunately, I can't move the z4 to another room - so: has anyone an idea how to reduce the noise level of a PC in the editing room?

 

You can try to find settings in the BIOS/UEFI or Windows, but I doubt that you have the option to control the fans like with a custom mainboard.

Then you can try to quieten the tower. A (thin) blanket insulator should fit in the side panel. For a few bugs that should make it quieter.

If that does not make your expectations, you have to find the source of the noise. I assume it is a cooler running hight rpm's. There are multiple options to improve: unplug fan if temps will be fine, external fan control (like Noctua NA-FC1), replace fans with quieter ones, replace cooler with better/quieter one.

Those soundproof boxes are soundproof. Chances are the loudest fan you're hearing is the one on the graphics card.

Could this be a graphics driver issue? I've had it before where the fans were just spun up to max the whole time but changing the drivers fixed the issue and got them back to normal. Unless it's really under load it shouldn't be so loud. Does it start loud and then just stay loud? Normally the fans all spin up and then when the drivers kick in reign themselves in...

I've used the z8 workstations at various post houses and never found them to be overly noisy.

Andi

I think it's worth working out which fans are spinning (and at what speed) before you start spending money on any sort of sound isolation. As mentioned, it could be a faulty sensor or setting somewhere.

I suggest you use software to check the thermals on your CPU and GPU and get hold of FanControl at...

https://github.com/Rem0o/FanControl.Releases

This will allow you to view/control your fans and fine tune the fan control response with steps, activation %, response time and hysteresis

QuickSpec for HP Z440 - Declared Noise Emission:

Entry level machine - Idle:

Sound Power 3.2  LWAd, bels

Deskside Sound Pressure: 14 LpAm, decibels

QuickSpec for HP Z4 - Declared Noise Emission:

Entry level machine - Idle:

Sound Power 3.2  LWAd, bels

Deskside Sound Pressure: 13 LpAm, decibels

HighEnd 2 level machine - Idle:

Sound Power 3.5  LWAd, bels

Deskside Sound Pressure: 20 LpAm, decibels

QuickSpec Footnote for Z4: Higher noise levels may be experienced with non HP approved graphic card(s). Some consumer graphics cards have side blowing fans that may heat up thermal sensor(s) on the mother board causing fans to ramp

in Idle state: The entry level machine Z4 is a bit less noisy than the z440 entry level machine. Note the footnote for the z4. Do you have such a graphics card?