Resonating Case Problem

BallisticPeanut · December 21, 2013

Recently I bought this case to fit my larger heat sink in:

http://www.amazon.com/Xion-Performance-Meshed-Tower-XON-560_BK/dp/B00B19L8LO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1387662971&sr=8-2&keywords=xion+mesh+case

I've mounted Antec Tricool fans on the case specifically a 120mm in the front, 120mm on top and a 92mm on the back.

When I first got the case I used earbuds and just played games so I never noticed any weird noise, but recently I have been using my computer without my earbuds for non gaming things and I noticed a pulsating humming noise. I tracked down the noise to both of my 120mm fans which I believe resonating with my case, strangely enough the 92mm did not resonate and was perfectly fine. I tried to compensate the noise by putting some rubber pads between the case and the front 120mm fan. The pads helped dampen the noise but the resonance was still present.

My question is whether I should try to continue to fix the problem with the case I already have? Or, should I just go ahead a buy a new case like the Fractal Define Mini and hope that it fixes my problem?

SpamBrie · December 21, 2013

Try taking the fans out of the case to see if it is actual fans making the noise or the vibrations from the case.

BallisticPeanut · December 22, 2013

Try taking the fans out of the case to see if it is actual fans making the noise or the vibrations from the case.

When the fans are running outside of the case they are silent with the exception of the moving air, but I think i found the reason for this pulsating hum.

From further experimentation I found that the center of the fans are coming in contact with the case.

I also found that the rear of the case has the grill bulge out to prevent the center of the fan from coming in contact with the case, which would explain why my 92mm rear fan is not contributing to the noise.

To compensate I have placed pieces of adhesive foam pads on two sides of the fan and only screwed in those two sides to prevent as much contact with the case, so far this has gotten rid of the pulsating hum from the front fan, but I have not tried this on the top fan yet.

I will test this out with the top fan and come back with the outcome.

BallisticPeanut · December 22, 2013

Alright, I test the top fan with the foam pads that I used on the front fan and It seemed to get rid the a large amount of the humming, but there was still a slight pulsation most likely because the top of the case is very thin. So for now I will probably just have a front and a rear 120mm fan.