HD-PVR - Really LOUD!

[wayner]

I bought an HD-PVR through Dell for $199 a few weeks ago but I just got around to connecting it to Sage last night. My first comment seems to be that it is really loud as soon as it is in use - much louder then my entire PC and likely too loud to be in a HTPC environoment, not unlike an Xbox360. Do I have a bad box or is this device just loud, perhaps do to a fan really kicking in to try to solve the overheating problem, and are there mods available to fix this loudness problem?

[jerryt]

The fan is a small 5 volt one which makes little to no noise. But any fan can make alot of noise is something touches the fan while spinning. Either open the unit and inspect the fan or RMA the unit.

[Brent]

I have one of the first ones made - before they added the fans for cooling so I can't really compare. Mine is silent though. I wonder if anyone else with the newer versions could comment on the noise level from the HD-PVR.

One thing I will say is my server is not near a TV - in an office (soon to be relocated in the basement) so noise wouldn't be much of a problem for me, but I can imagine the problem if it were in the living room...

[wayner]

So you guys don't notice an audible difference when you start recording? I can clearly tell when Sage is starting a recording with the HD-PVR as the sound becomes very noticable.

I don't mind opening the unit, but will that void my warranty?

I am kind of finicky when it comes to noise on my PCs as I frequent SilentPC Review and buy components that are all low noise, including video cards with heat sinks rather than fans, aftermarket CPU coolers, etc. But this noise goes well beyond what I would expect for such a device and I don't mind replacing the fan if that is the problem.

[Brent]

I would put in a support call with Hauppauge before I voided any warranty. It could just be a bad unit.

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by wayner

I don't mind opening the unit, but will that void my warranty?

There aren't any warranty stickers to break, but you may need some thin doublesided sticky tape to return it to the original untouch condition. To open the unit you need to pry off the four rubber feet in the center of the chrome feet on the bottom. Under these rubber feet are the four screws which hold the top on. The doublesided tape is for reinstalling the feet in case of warranty return.

The small 5 volt fan only comes on during recording, dumb design if you ask me. I am running mine with a 120mm fan running continueously, the only time I had a lock up of the HD PVR was when the 120MM fan was switched off by accident.

Still fighting the audio sync issue.... where are the Beta drivers...

[wayner]

Thanks for the feedback - just to verify that I am not overreacting. No one else can audibly hear when the HD-PVR starts recording from 10 feet away? The noise I am getting is similar to what a rather noisy PC would make, well beyond the noise that the average PC makes. So others do not experience this?

[HelenWeathers]

I have two of the the C2 units and when they start recording I can feel the fan running if I put my hand on the unit. I don't hear the fan though. You should put in a call to Hauppauge.

[johnyc]

I definitely hear noise when the unit is recording. Yeah it's too loud for me 2. I'm trying to come up with a solution for modding it. Yeah is no one else hearing this noise but us??
Definitely not suitable for a quiet environment.
Mine is a C2 made in indonesia that I bought in canada.

[johnyc]

I'm thinking about cracking mine open and replacing the fan with a 120mm fan. Doing something similar to this http://blog.arogan.com/2008/06/haupp...odel-1212.html

Can someone please tell me what kind of fan connector this is: http://img295.imageshack.us/my.php?i...530copyte3.jpg

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by johnyc

I'm thinking about cracking mine open and replacing the fan with a 120mm fan. Doing something similar to this http://blog.arogan.com/2008/06/haupp...odel-1212.html

Can someone please tell me what kind of fan connector this is: http://img295.imageshack.us/my.php?i...530copyte3.jpg

Don't try to power another fan from the fan connector on the HD PVR ciruit board, use an external power supply instead.

[tedson]

I have two C2 units and they are both loud.

I took the tops off both and replaced them with mesh and it made them even louder (though they stay much cooler now and I haven't had any sudden shutdowns with either unit since making that change.)

For me it doesn't matter the units are stuffed in a media closet where no one can hear them scream. But I just thought I would confirm with you that when recording some of the C2 units are very loud.

BTW the little fans inside are just stuck down with double stick tape right next to the side of the case. In both mine the fans touch the case (not just the tape) and that is probably what is making them so loud. You could probably pull the existing fans out, pad them with thicker (spongier) double stick tape and put them back (making sure they don't touch the side walls) and that would make them quieter. End of warranty yatta, yatta, yatta...

[B-Figgy]

As a silent PC enthusiast who also sleeps close to his Sage server my first impression of my C2 revision when it came back from Hauppauge was "this fan has got to go." My solution was similar to ARogan's: I swapped the ridiculous 40mm fan with a 120mm 12V 1500RPM fan that I typically use for my silent PC builds. To get them truly silent I have to undervolt them to about 5V to get them to the speed I want and, fortunately for my lazy bum, that's about what you get out of the circuit that Hauppauge provided in the C2 revision. Plugging into that port directly is working great so far, however, you may want to heed jerryt's advice and play it safe with an external power supply.

[johnyc]

Originally Posted by jerryt

Don't try to power another fan from the fan connector on the HD PVR ciruit board, use an external power supply instead.

Why not power from the connector on the circuit board??
What sort of external powering could I use?? Looking for something non-battery powered, as that would be a pain having to replace the batter all the time..
Thanks,
Jon

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by johnyc

Why not power from the connector on the circuit board??
What sort of external powering could I use?? Looking for something non-battery powered, as that would be a pain having to replace the batter all the time..
Thanks,
Jon

A 120mm fan would draw a lot more current then what Hauppauge design the circuit for. Use a small 5 and 12 volt power supply, self contained, they are like 10.00 on ebay.

[johnyc]

Originally Posted by jerryt

A 120mm fan would draw a lot more current then what Hauppauge design the circuit for. Use a small 5 and 12 volt power suppy, self contained, they are like 10.00 on ebay.

hmmm I'm having trouble finding this device on ebay, would u plz post a link?
Tried searching for various terms.. I found something that converts usb input to fan connector, but but laptop would produce excess heat in that case..

[jerryt]

Originally Posted by johnyc

hmmm I'm having trouble finding this device on ebay, would u plz post a link?
Tried searching for various terms.. I found something that converts usb input to fan connector, but but laptop would produce excess heat in that case..

Ebay search phrase "hard drive power supply adapter" comes up with 5 "Buy it Now" all under $3 dollars.

[HelenWeathers]

Try this or look for one like it.
http://www.jab-tech.com/12v-DC-Power...r-pr-3776.html

[Tobias]

Hi and thanks for a great community!

Im having the same problem with the sound level of my new hdpvr unit.
Im gonna try to open the unit this weekend and replace the fan, thanks for the tip. Is the pre installed fan screwed, glued or bolted in place?

Cheers

[B-Figgy]

My C2s fan was attached to the bottom of the case with thick, squishy double-sided tape like substance. Easy as cake to remove.