Computer noise

  • Thread starter Thread starter loran
  • Start date Start date
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loran

I computer have got a little louder. Could that be the fans or the hard
drive. My two fan are still spining. Im trying to find out why my computer
got louder.
 
Did you clean your ear cannels? Did you have a head cold?

Fans have bearings or bushings, they get dry and make noise
when they turn.



|I computer have got a little louder. Could that be the fans
or the hard
| drive. My two fan are still spining. Im trying to find out
why my computer
| got louder.
|
|
 
Check the case fans. Sometimes running the PC can cause vibrations that
move the power cables for the fans. Shifting them around can make it
quieter. That's usually where I have noise problems.
 
Rotating objects (i.e. fans) move in a very slight concentric centre. This
sets up a vibration when the object is at the outer and inner end of its
slightly out of circular travel. In a well engineered piece of kit all this
is reduced to a barely audible level. Dry bearings and the fan blades
hitting the air are other causes of noise. Such noises may be amplified by
sympathetic vibration.

So what moves in a computer? Power supply unit fan, hard disk drives, CPU
fan, case fans, CD drives, DVD drives and floppy disk drives. Some sound
cards (?and video cards) also have a fan.

The easiest thing to check first though is for sympathetic vibration. You
say that you are only now aware of the increase in volume. This could be
because you have moved your computer to another part of the desk or the
monitor is sitting on a different part of the computer case. Move it about
and see.

The CD and DVD drives will spin when the computer starts up so if the noise
stops when you see the Desk Top it isn't that.

The floppy disk drive only spins (unless it is connected incorrectly) when
there is a floppy disk in the drive so that probably eliminates that.

Now for the internal fans. The most likely is the CPU fan. To test this
very VERY carefully rest a finger on the blades. (It only hurts when you
get the direction of spin wrong). If the sound goes, you've found the
cause.

The power supply unit fan is a little trickier but the wooden spoon against
the ear may help to check this one out.

I've written this very quickly so apologise in advance if it isn't
comprehensive or 100% technically correct.

Hope this helps!!

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions
 
loran said:
I computer have got a little louder. Could that be the fans or the hard
drive. My two fan are still spining. Im trying to find out why my computer
got louder.
Click to expand...

If you want a silent PC, build one like I did. My PC is about 2 feet away
from me and I cannot hear any noise thanks to Zalman & SilenX.
 
loran said:
I computer have got a little louder. Could that be the fans or the hard
drive. My two fan are still spining. Im trying to find out why my computer
got louder.
Click to expand...

Take the cover off the machine so you can get at the fans while it is
running. Use a soft plastic strip of some kind (a coffee stirrer or
a cable strap works well) or fold a small piece of paper several
times.

Just barely touch the fan blades with this device so as to slow the
fan down a bit. Does the noise change? If so then you have found the
culprit. If not then try the next fan.

Warning: Do not stop the fans completely - that can possibly burn out
the motor. Just a light touch so as to slow the fan enough that the
sound it makes will change, if it is the noisy one.

If you have tried all of the fans without success then the source is
probably the hard drive. Shut down the computer. Unplug the power
cable to the hard drive and then turn on the computer? No noise? Then
it is the hard drive.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
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