Installing the Extra foam is only as difficult as your case is complicated. My Lian Li V-1000 case for example does not allow easy access to external drive bays, so inserting foam blocks through the inside is rather annoying with equipment installed.
Installing the Ultimate material is a bit more involved, because you have to cut it to shape. It is highly recommended that you remove all components and ensure your case is completely dust-free. Measure each side that needs material and then cut the sheets to size. For a professional look you really want straight cuts, so I would use a ruler and heavy-duty hobby knife rather than scissors. Since this stuff isn’t cheap then you need to treat it with respect and it will respect you back.
The paper backing comes right off to reveal the adhesive
You will probably run into areas that need special attention, like getting around drive cages, screws, or holes. If you cut a slit for bolts and screws then they will easily poke through. If you have a drive cage that runs the entire height of your case then you’ll have to make adjustments to fit around this.
Get a feel for the placement by starting in one corner and roll it out until you reach the other corner. Peel off the backing and place into position, and once you’ve done this you can poke any screws through the foam. The adhesive has a little give in case you get the placement wrong, but will lose its stickiness after a few times of doing this. I find that rolling the material (starting from one side) is better than just placing it down flat.
The material really catches the light!
You can also get rather creative with this foam. Instead of hideous wires snaking through your system, you can cut out a cavity and tuck them inside the foam blocks
Sure the stuff makes the inside of your case look like a luxury car, but you bought high-end acoustic material to reduct noise. Once everything is installed then you definately notice a difference. Using a sound pressure meter I found that the installation of acoustic material reduced noise from 57 dBA to about 45 dBA, and the sound of hard drives was virtually eliminated.
Calculations showing the affect on STL of multi-layer materials adhered to a steel panel. 12mm & 13mm materials adhered to a steel plate are shown to cause a significant increase in STL above 500Hz, and 6.9mm materials similarly above 1kHz.
One thing to consider is how dust will react with this pourous foamy material. Sure, it looks great now, but dust will certainly get into the little nooks and crannies, which may require a vacuum to clean out.
You may not have noticed how much a hollow PC case echoes, but the contrast of a properly-silenced case is obvious. It won’t make a noisy case absolutely silent, but does eliminate hard drive clicks and high-pitched whines. To truly silence your PC further, you need low-RPM fans and passive heatsinks wherever possible.
Measurements of acoustic absorption show an improved low-frequency performance (below 1kHz) in multi-layer materials. These observations may be the result of mass-spring resonance occurring in the decoupled barrier layer within the materials.
Not only does the AcoustiPack Ultimate material and Extra foam significantly reduce excess PC noise, but it makes it look much more attractive and professional. It’s that last bit of polish on a serious home theater or gaming rig.
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