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Zalman TNN-500A Totally No Noise Case

Introduction to the Zalman TNN 500A
Existing noise control solutions and their limitations
Case description and technical specs
What we like about the case
What we don't like about the case
Top of our wish list
Conclusion + other reviews
Full image gallery of the TNN 500A

What and why?

 



The Zalman TNN (Totally No Noise) 500A case is a revolutionary product in many ways. It's the first case on the market that does away with fans altogether. It uses a clever design, an anodised aluminum body that acts like a huge heat-sink, hollow copper pipes that transfer heat from the CPU and graphics card to the case body, and various other techniques to eliminate the use of fans in the case altogether. Be warned: It will dent your wallet. Estimated retail price in the UK is approx £800. That price does include an innovative fanless power supply though :-)

So if you are looking for a cheap solution this isn't it (cheaper alternatives) but if you're looking for the quietest PC you can get - your search has ended. How unbiased is this review considering we use this case ourselves? We've no idea. We've posted what we believe is a warts and all review. We'll let you decide. 

First, why quiet? What's the big deal about having a silent PC? According to Tomas Risberg's silent.se site PC noise makes it difficult to concentrate, impairs productivity, impairs creativity, and competes for attention. Ambient noise is uncomfortable and bothersome. Acoustic comfort has long been a goal of PC manufacturers who monitor customer feedback. That seems to be high on customers' wish lists.

Which components generate the most noise?

The Power Supply Unit (PSU), noisy hard disks, and optical drives contribute to noise. But by far the loudest parts are the numerous fans inside the average PC. A typical machine will have fans on the graphics card, processor, chassis intake and chassis exhaust. You may have fans on the motherboard northbridge chipset, PCI cards, and even hard disk enclosures. And all of these are in addition to the fan in the PSU. Some fans are nosier than others but - design of blades aside - what determines how much of noise a fan makes is the size of the fan, the speed it spins at (rpm), and whether it is a sleeve/ball-bearing design. But that's not where the fan noise ends. Most fans become noisier over time as they accumulate dust in the moving parts.

next: existing noise control solutions >>

 

 

 

 

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Last updated: Jan, 2007