DIY isobox for computer....
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- audio school graduate
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2003 10:48 am
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
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DIY isobox for computer....
Hello All,
Anyone have any designs for a DIY isobox? I have a Apple PowerPC G4 and it is noisy.....and annoying. I want something to make it quiet and also keep the air flowing...i.e. keep it cool.
Thanks!
Anyone have any designs for a DIY isobox? I have a Apple PowerPC G4 and it is noisy.....and annoying. I want something to make it quiet and also keep the air flowing...i.e. keep it cool.
Thanks!
- Velcrocore
- ass engineer
- Posts: 45
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- Location: Portland, OR
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Get a rack mount case and a rack mount shelf (maybe even a slide out tray?) You'll have to come up with some insulation / foam to dampen sound, and a way to keep it ventilated.
This is pretty sweet: http://www.custom-consoles.com/isobox-studio.php
Remember in the Eighties, when every one had their home stereos in those cabinets with glass front doors? I bet you could find one of those at Goodwill. I think that's what I'm going to do!
Here's something else that looks cool: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/sys/346198389.html
This is pretty sweet: http://www.custom-consoles.com/isobox-studio.php
Remember in the Eighties, when every one had their home stereos in those cabinets with glass front doors? I bet you could find one of those at Goodwill. I think that's what I'm going to do!
Here's something else that looks cool: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/sys/346198389.html
- radical recording
- alignin' 24-trk
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- Joined: Sat May 12, 2007 3:02 pm
- Location: North Florida
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You can build your own out of plywood rather easily.
The size depends on your computer and what else you'r going to need to put inside. Build it big enough to house your tower with enough room around it for airflow. I even pulled the side off my computer to get more air inside. Put removable doors on the front and back (velcro works good) with holes for the air to flow, put fans on the inside to move that air (don't run them off your computers power supply, hook 'em up to a wall wart with the right voltage,) run your cabling out the back, put insulation on the inside like they use for houses (not the pink cotton candy stuff, the stuff that comes in sheets about an inch-and-a-half thick) and you're good to go. I did this for mine and had over a 20db drop in volume even with the extra fans.
If it runs for too long I'll open the front door to cool it off faster and close it back off when recording. You can add wheels if you need to, but it wasn't necessary for me.
I think the total cost of mine was about $60.00 plus the fans, which I already had. Putting it together was easy for me as I used to build racks and speakers for touring systems and installations. Get someone who has a table saw and a nail gun to help you if you don't know how to do these things.
The size depends on your computer and what else you'r going to need to put inside. Build it big enough to house your tower with enough room around it for airflow. I even pulled the side off my computer to get more air inside. Put removable doors on the front and back (velcro works good) with holes for the air to flow, put fans on the inside to move that air (don't run them off your computers power supply, hook 'em up to a wall wart with the right voltage,) run your cabling out the back, put insulation on the inside like they use for houses (not the pink cotton candy stuff, the stuff that comes in sheets about an inch-and-a-half thick) and you're good to go. I did this for mine and had over a 20db drop in volume even with the extra fans.
If it runs for too long I'll open the front door to cool it off faster and close it back off when recording. You can add wheels if you need to, but it wasn't necessary for me.
I think the total cost of mine was about $60.00 plus the fans, which I already had. Putting it together was easy for me as I used to build racks and speakers for touring systems and installations. Get someone who has a table saw and a nail gun to help you if you don't know how to do these things.
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- audio school graduate
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2003 10:48 am
- Location: Charlottesville, VA
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more info
Thanks all!
Eskimo, I am going to take what you did and try to use it as an example. Question, how do you determine the air flow? I see you built a spot for two fans and then also another hole on the bottom...assuming that is a hole straight into the box.
Anything else I should know?
Eskimo, I am going to take what you did and try to use it as an example. Question, how do you determine the air flow? I see you built a spot for two fans and then also another hole on the bottom...assuming that is a hole straight into the box.
Anything else I should know?
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- audio school graduate
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:33 am
On a different-but-related note, my Mac G5 was making much louder noise than I had recalled...and it seemed like it was getting increasingly louder...couldn't figure out why...tried external fans, repairing permissions, etc....anyway, I was adding some additional RAM and when I slid the fan component out, I saw that the heat sink was coated with what looked like a blanket of lint from a dryer lint-trap! It was a full 5" x 5" and about 1/4" thick! I removed it and vacuumed the entire inside and now my machine is virtually silent. It's been a dramatic improvement!!
Nope, sorry, should've mentioned that. Not my build nor my design.
It's originally from a swedish music mag where they made one for in fact a G4.
From his description the air intake is the slot at the bottom on the back and the air then then travels through the bottom space to a front chassis intake fan.
The PSU-fan and the chassis outake fan of course line up at the big holes in the back.
This should give an effective circulation of air.
I'd suggest in addition you install digital thermometers to monitor the temperature.
It's originally from a swedish music mag where they made one for in fact a G4.
From his description the air intake is the slot at the bottom on the back and the air then then travels through the bottom space to a front chassis intake fan.
The PSU-fan and the chassis outake fan of course line up at the big holes in the back.
This should give an effective circulation of air.
I'd suggest in addition you install digital thermometers to monitor the temperature.
I actually translated the important stuff from that magazine three years ago:
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... &&start=30
They've removed the original page since though..
I'll check tomorrow if I still have the paper mag left and I could scan it for you.
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... &&start=30
They've removed the original page since though..
I'll check tomorrow if I still have the paper mag left and I could scan it for you.
I have wanted to do this for a long time but my 3.2 Ghz P4 gets really hot even with 3 internal fans. I have thought about buying extra long VGA and PS2 cables and shoving the fucker in the closet but the multi-pins to my delta 1010's are only 8' or so. does anyone know if making these longer will impede performance?
BTW: I would rather keep the Delta boxes racked with my Pres than build another rack in the closet with the CPU.
BTW: I would rather keep the Delta boxes racked with my Pres than build another rack in the closet with the CPU.
My girl friend had an I Mac that looked like a '50's lamp and it was loud as hell. It went: "Swiiiiissssh........ rrr...rrr.rrrr.......swiiiiiisssssh...rrrrrrrrrrr"eskimo wrote: Using an iMac today appreciating not having to bother with any of it.
all the time. The G5 we replaced it with is sexy but just as loud.
I had a 1010 too back then, used a 5m (16 foot) cable and didn't experience any problems what so ever.japmn wrote:I have wanted to do this for a long time but my 3.2 Ghz P4 gets really hot even with 3 internal fans. I have thought about buying extra long VGA and PS2 cables and shoving the fucker in the closet but the multi-pins to my delta 1010's are only 8' or so. does anyone know if making these longer will impede performance?
BTW: I would rather keep the Delta boxes racked with my Pres than build another rack in the closet with the CPU.
- stevedood
- takin' a dinner break
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I had Silence Cases build a turnkey isobox for my studio's PC and it has been working perfectly for over 2 years with the cooling fans on all the time (and barely audible). You can also choose the wood grain to match your decor which is cool. Check 'em out.
http://www.silencecases.com
http://www.silencecases.com
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