Quiet Components

To build a quiet computer, you start with the most quiet components possible. For the Serenity, we start with a quiet chassis. The Fractal Design Define R5 is extremely quiet, and includes sound dampening material on the side panels. The Silverstone SG10 is small, allowing us to route airflow with minimal fan speed and pressure. We brought in the best CPU coolers and fans in the market, and ran them through our rigorous qualification testing. The winners that met our extreme criteria earned a space in the Puget Systems Serenity.

Picked by Ear

For Serenity, we take our quest for quiet to a whole new level and actually select components by ear. We've found that even across the same model, there can be a large variation in noise level. Hard drive spindle noise, power supply fan noise and even the sound of electrical noise from the motherboard voltage regulators are evaluated by our experienced technicians. Out of all the parts in our inventory, we reserve our most quiet components for the Serenity. Cherry picking parts off the shelf is a feature that is totally unique to the Serenity SCPR Edition and you can really hear the difference!

Thermal Imaging

As with every system that we build, thermal imaging is used in the build process of the Puget Serenity to maximize performance and reliability. Passive heatsinks, slow fans and extra insulation all make for a quieter computer, but they can also reduce the cooling capacity of the PC, and must be approached carefully. By using our thermal imaging technology, we are able to see what the computer's onboard temperature sensors can't tell us -- exactly where the hot points are and how we can address any problems before they start. Thermal imaging gives us the ability to sell incredibly quiet computers that are also proven stable and reliable.

Airflow Optimization

Taking the information gathered from our thermal imaging, we evaluate the airflow of each system and optimize the performance with fan placement and RPM control. Just adding more fans does not necessarily increase cooling or performance. Sometimes, covering a hole or changing direction of a fan is what is needed for best performance. Only with the tools and experience of our technicians can these decisions be made with the best possible results.

Fan Tuning

The motherboard contains a fan RPM profile that regulates the speed of the fans to the temperature sensors. While Asus QFAN technology helps quiet a system, it is inadequate when dealing with a PC as silent at the Serenity. We custom program the fan RPM response curve, making the fan RPM tightly tuned for the specific thermal properties of Serenity. We take extra care to prevent RPM cycling up and down, keeping the RPM (and sound) at a smooth, constant rate. Sometimes the annoyance qualities of sound are as important as volume!