Noisy Fans
Posted by: Seanf on 20 September 2006
My PC is, and always has been, pretty loud. It's obviously a cooling fan doing it's stuff but which is it most likely to be? There are only 2: on the CPU and the power supply. I suspect its the power supply but hard to tell for sure as they are both close to each other and obviously I can't just turn one off to check. The processor is a P4 3gig with what looks like a fairly standard intel fan and the power supply is presumably also standard issue.
The noise is really getting on my nerves so one of them has to be replaced, which one?
Sean
The noise is really getting on my nerves so one of them has to be replaced, which one?
Sean
Posted on: 20 September 2006 by Paul Hutchings
IME, with the CPU fan just sticking your finger or something on it to stop it for a few seconds maximum to establish which is making the noise shoudn't do any damage/harm - obviously don't be doing anything CPU intensive when you do this.
Posted on: 20 September 2006 by SteveGa
quote:Originally posted by Paul Hutchings:
IME, with the CPU fan just sticking your finger or something on it to stop it for a few seconds maximum to establish which is making the noise shoudn't do any damage/harm - obviously don't be doing anything CPU intensive when you do this.
and make sure you are statically discharged before you do it. Sticking your fingers into a running PC can be a recipe for disaster so be careful. The noisy fans on PC's at work are almost always power supply ones with bearings that are going. You could give it a tap on top of the case, this might stop the fan being noisy as well. Only a gentle one though - no point knocking everything else about at the same time. Don't know if those comments will help or not!
Other question is how warm is it in Berlin? It was bl**dy cold when I was there last, but a warm room requires more PC cooling so more fans etc etc In the UK my fan was on almost all the while during the Summer we had. Running teh PC with the cover off helps. Still no excuse for a noisy fan though.
One final off the wall comment. Are you sure it is a fan? Hard drives can be pretty noisy as well. If this is the case back-up quickly and then investigate.
Steve
Posted on: 20 September 2006 by Seanf
It's definitely a fan. The hard drives are far enough away to tell. I'm now thinking it is the CPU: the noise gets louder and more high-pitched the longer and more intensely I use the puter. Or does the power supply fan crank it up as more juice is needed? It's all pretty quiet at the mo as I've just switched on, but if I touch the CPU fan, the sound lowers; I don't dare to bring it to a stop.
It's still pretty warm in Berlin and even warmer in this room (it catches the sun all afternoon) but this happens in the Winter too.
Cheers
Sean
It's still pretty warm in Berlin and even warmer in this room (it catches the sun all afternoon) but this happens in the Winter too.
Cheers
Sean
Posted on: 20 September 2006 by SteveGa
One thing to check first is if the heat sink is tight onto the CPU - if not it will cause the fan to wobble - this is possible becuase you have had the noise from the start.
Steve
Steve
Posted on: 06 October 2006 by Chumpy
I have about 4 PCs in use and older technology ones are noisy/worn/failing) PSUs and processor fans - my usual (this) one (3 years old no probs. whatever Vaio is quiet.
There are lots of guaranteed quiet bits/PCs on market.
There are lots of guaranteed quiet bits/PCs on market.
Posted on: 06 October 2006 by Stuart M
The standard fans and power supplies with most PC's are noisy. By changing the fans and/or powersupply you can make a big difference.
Have a look here http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/home
Have a look here http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/home
Posted on: 09 October 2006 by Lightkeeper
Sean,
turn off your PC.
Unplug all cables and open it.
You have at least two fans, one is in the power supply box and another above processor.
Third can be on your graphic card chip, but you need to check if you have it, but also there is possibilit for forth, this one is for the chipset.
Buy a little bottle of silicone oil, or you can even use some other oil. Unscrew every fan and on the one the middle of one side of every fan you will see a little sticker, now take it of very gently for about 3/4. You will see that under the sticker is a little piece of rubber which cover the bearings. Now when you see the bearings, just take one little drop of oil, no more and take back everything on it's place.
Turn on the PC and you will definitely hear what you wouldn't like from your Naim system, a silence.
Oz
turn off your PC.
Unplug all cables and open it.
You have at least two fans, one is in the power supply box and another above processor.
Third can be on your graphic card chip, but you need to check if you have it, but also there is possibilit for forth, this one is for the chipset.
Buy a little bottle of silicone oil, or you can even use some other oil. Unscrew every fan and on the one the middle of one side of every fan you will see a little sticker, now take it of very gently for about 3/4. You will see that under the sticker is a little piece of rubber which cover the bearings. Now when you see the bearings, just take one little drop of oil, no more and take back everything on it's place.
Turn on the PC and you will definitely hear what you wouldn't like from your Naim system, a silence.
Oz
Posted on: 10 October 2006 by Jagdeep
If it is due to the chip overheating, add a bigger fan. The small fan just can cool the CPU down fast enough so it speeds up to stupid levels.
An alternative is to use liquid cooling which is silent or the heat pipe system
Cheers
Jag
An alternative is to use liquid cooling which is silent or the heat pipe system
Cheers
Jag