How to make the Framework Desktop run even quieter

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Noctua fans, airflow, and noise

  • Several comments stress that noise isn’t just the fan: grill geometry and restrictions materially affect turbulence and sound.
  • Noctua is described as pushing more air and pressure for a given noise level, with a smoother sound profile, but at a higher price.
  • There’s debate whether “silent” fans necessarily mean less airflow: some say small Noctuas can be insufficient (e.g., 3D printer extruders), others note high‑RPM variants and that many “quiet builds” simply under-spec airflow on purpose.
  • Static pressure vs. CFM is raised as a key but often-misunderstood factor: low‑noise, low‑pressure fans may not deliver rated airflow through restrictive ducts or radiators.

Framework desktop grill, safety, and EMC

  • The new grill design is seen as an improvement that should benefit any 120mm fan; it’s not just “swap to Noctua.”
  • Some confusion about the 5mm vent opening safety standard: clarified as a physical safety rule (fingers vs fan), not about EMC.
  • Others worry EMC might be worse, though there’s pushback that Framework already sells bare boards and that shielding is mostly about interference and bit flips, not basic functionality.

Fanless and passive cooling experiments

  • A fully fanless Strix Halo build using heatpipes and a huge copper block draws admiration, but also concern over case temperatures around 70–76°C and touch safety.
  • Debate over whether completely passive systems are wise for longevity of non‑CPU components; some argue minimal airflow would still help a lot.

Upgradeability vs. soldered unified memory

  • A major thread questions why a company known for modularity chose soldered RAM.
  • Defenders argue Strix Halo’s 256-bit LPDDR5X design and signal integrity effectively require soldered memory for performance; LPCAMM2 is discussed as theoretically possible but not viable at full speed here.
  • Critics counter that this betrays the brand’s modular ethos and looks like chasing the “AI” trend; supporters say buyers can just max RAM upfront and still get repairability in other areas (board reuse, storage, PSU, case).

GPUs and AI workloads

  • Some ask about adding a 4070/5070; others reply that this defeats the point of a small APU-based system and the stock case can’t fit it.
  • A related APU+discrete GPU LLM setup is reported as underwhelming due to bandwidth limits between APU and GPU; effectively it behaves more like extra VRAM than a high-throughput accelerator.

Perception of Noctua and alternatives

  • Many express strong brand loyalty: quiet, reliable, long-lived, with excellent RMA and free mounting kits.
  • Others note that in raw performance-per-dollar, competing brands (e.g., Arctic, Thermalright, be quiet!) often win; Noctua is chosen for durability and engineering, not always for top benchmark numbers.
  • A few point out that industrial suppliers (Mouser/Newark) offer quiet, cheaper, non‑RGB fans if you’re willing to sift through specs.

Everyday noise and mitigation

  • The discussion broadens into how much ambient noise we tolerate: HVAC, appliances, transport, city soundscapes.
  • Some advocate for stricter noise regulation and design goals across products; others respond that in dense cities you must accept a majority-defined noise level or “move somewhere quiet.”
  • Practical tips include: decoupling HDD/NAS enclosures from shelves with foam or rubber, using earplugs/ANC headphones, wake-on-LAN plus auto-suspend for noisy servers, and choosing quiet PC cases and drive mounts.