New life to my 4550

I've started working from home, as of 1/1 and my Dimension 4550 is my
workhorse. The problem was it has gotten LOUD over the years.

Now, for me, it seemed like an 8400 was the solution.

My wife didn't quite agree.

Bit the bullet, paid Dell $20 for a new CPU fan and shroud.

It's like a new machine. Can't even hear it!

Tom

"Tom Scales" work:
> I've started working from home, as of 1/1 and my
> Dimension 4550 is my workhorse. The problem
> was it has gotten LOUD over the years.
>
> Now, for me, it seemed like an 8400 was the solution.
>
> My wife didn't quite agree.
>
> Bit the bullet, paid Dell $20 for a new CPU fan and
> shroud.
>
> It's like a new machine. Can't even hear it!


Try putting in an ATA/133 controller on a PCI card
and start using the newer higher speed/capacity HDs
with the fluid bearings. Then you'll *really* like the machine.

*TimDaniels*

"Timothy Daniels" <> wrote in message
news:StOdnW_l-r5_kLPfRVn-...
> "Tom Scales" work:
>> I've started working from home, as of 1/1 and my
>> Dimension 4550 is my workhorse. The problem
>> was it has gotten LOUD over the years.
>>
>> Now, for me, it seemed like an 8400 was the solution.
>>
>> My wife didn't quite agree.
>>
>> Bit the bullet, paid Dell $20 for a new CPU fan and
>> shroud.
>>
>> It's like a new machine. Can't even hear it!
>
>
> Try putting in an ATA/133 controller on a PCI card
> and start using the newer higher speed/capacity HDs
> with the fluid bearings. Then you'll *really* like the machine.
>
> *TimDaniels*


Why would I need a new controller? The 4550 has integrated ATA/133? I
already use a pair of nice Fluid Bearing 250GB drives.

Tom

That's good to know since I have a couple of 4550's. Not loud yet though.
Pat

"Tom Scales" <> wrote in message
news:jloXd.162486$ om...
>
> "Timothy Daniels" <> wrote in message
> news:StOdnW_l-r5_kLPfRVn-...
>> "Tom Scales" work:
>>> I've started working from home, as of 1/1 and my
>>> Dimension 4550 is my workhorse. The problem
>>> was it has gotten LOUD over the years.
>>>
>>> Now, for me, it seemed like an 8400 was the solution.
>>>
>>> My wife didn't quite agree.
>>>
>>> Bit the bullet, paid Dell $20 for a new CPU fan and
>>> shroud.
>>>
>>> It's like a new machine. Can't even hear it!
>>
>>
>> Try putting in an ATA/133 controller on a PCI card
>> and start using the newer higher speed/capacity HDs
>> with the fluid bearings. Then you'll *really* like the machine.
>>
>> *TimDaniels*
>
>
> Why would I need a new controller? The 4550 has integrated ATA/133? I
> already use a pair of nice Fluid Bearing 250GB drives.
>
> Tom
>

We've got a 4500 here right now, and I just passed through with a 4550 last
week. Both were remarkably quiet when compared to either our XPS Br and
4100 desktops.

I do understand, however, that the CPU fans can get pretty noisy when either
failing or if extremely dusty.

The XPS Br is the loudest of them all except my home-built.


Stew


"Pat Conover" <pat conover at comcast dot net> wrote in message
news:ftCdnbcmE9rdsLPfRVn-...
> That's good to know since I have a couple of 4550's. Not loud yet though.
> Pat
>
> "Tom Scales" <> wrote in message
> news:jloXd.162486$ om...
>>
>> "Timothy Daniels" <> wrote in message
>> news:StOdnW_l-r5_kLPfRVn-...
>>> "Tom Scales" work:
>>>> I've started working from home, as of 1/1 and my
>>>> Dimension 4550 is my workhorse. The problem
>>>> was it has gotten LOUD over the years.
>>>>
>>>> Now, for me, it seemed like an 8400 was the solution.
>>>>
>>>> My wife didn't quite agree.
>>>>
>>>> Bit the bullet, paid Dell $20 for a new CPU fan and
>>>> shroud.
>>>>
>>>> It's like a new machine. Can't even hear it!
>>>
>>>
>>> Try putting in an ATA/133 controller on a PCI card
>>> and start using the newer higher speed/capacity HDs
>>> with the fluid bearings. Then you'll *really* like the machine.
>>>
>>> *TimDaniels*
>>
>>
>> Why would I need a new controller? The 4550 has integrated ATA/133? I
>> already use a pair of nice Fluid Bearing 250GB drives.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>
>

Tom Scales wrote:
> I've started working from home, as of 1/1 and my Dimension 4550 is my
> workhorse. The problem was it has gotten LOUD over the years.
>
> Now, for me, it seemed like an 8400 was the solution.
>
> My wife didn't quite agree.
>
> Bit the bullet, paid Dell $20 for a new CPU fan and shroud.
>
> It's like a new machine. Can't even hear it!

What?

<sorry, couldn't resist it>

"Tom Scales" wrote:
> "Timothy Daniels" wrote:
>> Try putting in an ATA/133 controller on a PCI card
>> and start using the newer higher speed/capacity HDs
>> with the fluid bearings. Then you'll *really* like the machine.
>>
>> *TimDaniels*
>
>
> Why would I need a new controller? The 4550 has integrated ATA/133? I
> already use a pair of nice Fluid Bearing 250GB drives.
>
> Tom


I got the model nos. mixed up. Sorry. I was thinking of a model
with the old ATA/66 controller and hard drive.

*TimDaniels*

S.Lewis schrieb:
> I do understand, however, that the CPU fans can get pretty noisy when either
> failing or if extremely dusty.

Replacing the CPU fan is not too difficult. I just replaced mine with a
case cooling fan from Arctic Cooler (about 7$ at Ebay, shipping
included) because the old one made rather silent, but nevertheless
noticeable rattling sounds. I had to replace the fan plug with the Dell
version which meant I had to remove it from the old fan and to reuse it.

Obviously I could also have used my soldering iron to install a standard
fan plug onto the motherboard, but I did not want to take the risk.

Anyway, from today on I have the quietest PC ever at home. :-)

Olaf
(very happy with his "Ebay 4400")