Reducing
the Hurricane
The G4 MDD (first generation) was
a really noisy unit. Apple released a firmware update and later a
power supply/fan update kit, to address this. This kit was
marginally successful for me. An overall reduction of noise of
about 10db, BUT there are frequency spikes which are higher and more
annoying than the original by as much as 4 db. So... The padded
computer enclosure is for noise reduction.
The "padding" is an Auralex product, called "wedgies." What a
name huh? If you look at the back of the enclosure, you will see
a couple of small exhaust fans, which I wired in series to lower the
speed/noise of the fans. Those fans now make more noise than the
G4. There are about 40 3/4" holes in the base of the cabinet to
let air in. There are a pair of wedgie sheets (12" by 12") flat
side up on the bottom with a sheet of particle board on top. The
air comes in the bottom, through a baffle created by the auralex past
the computer and out the back.
If I were to do it again - or revise the current solution - I would use
a larger - slower - quieter exhaust solution. Mounting the fan(s)
in some sort of vibration isolating manner would probably help as well.
A more extreme and quieter version was made by another user:
http://www.otheroom.com/iso.htm
Barry (of the other room) dealt with the fans by putting them in
another room. That ought to do it!
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