Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: onepaced on March 16, 2007, 11:27:17 AM

Title: Very noisy computer
Post by: onepaced on March 16, 2007, 11:27:17 AM

When I leave my computer idling, it sounds as if it is about to take off. The fans (?) have to work so hard that the noise is deafening - any ideas what might be cuasing this and how I can stop it happening? It's an advent with Intel P4 550 3.4GHz

Thanks  

Title: Re: Very noisy computer
Post by: Calum on March 16, 2007, 11:28:56 AM

When did this start?
How old is the PC?
When was the last time you cleaned it out?

Title: Re: Very noisy computer
Post by: CBMatt on March 16, 2007, 11:49:09 AM

Two suggestions...

1.  Clean the dust out with a can of compressed air.  This might help with a lot of the noise.

2.  You say this happens when you leave your computer idling...it could be auto-defragging.  This happens sometimes when I let my computer idle and it can be quite noisy.  If you are using XP, then download TweakUI (http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/c/a/fca6767b-9ed9-45a6-b352-839afb2a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe).  Then click on General, scroll down and uncheck Optimize hard disk while idle, and click OK.

Leave your computer idle again and see if these suggestions work.

Title: Re: Very noisy computer
Post by: onepaced on March 16, 2007, 12:04:19 PM

Thanks both - this started about a month ago, my computer is a couple of years old and I've never cleaned it out :-[. Is there any special technique to doing this?

Cheers

Title: Re: Very noisy computer
Post by: Calum on March 16, 2007, 12:10:38 PM

You may find this article (http://www.computerhope.com/cleaning.htm) useful.
Just make sure you are careful inside the case and observe ESD precautions (http://www.computerhope.com/esd.htm) so you don't fry anything.

Title: Re: Very noisy computer
Post by: CBMatt on March 16, 2007, 12:24:10 PM

Quote

Thanks both - this started about a month ago, [highlight]my computer is a couple of years old and I've never cleaned it out[/highlight] :-[. Is there any special technique to doing this?

Cheers

Your computer is definitely in need of a spring cleaning.  Cleaning out should make it a bit quieter.  And considering how long you've had it without cleaning it, I suggest you to wear a face mask because you'll probably be dealing with a lot of dust.  I didn't wear one the first time I cleaned out a computer and all of the dust made me sick; I coughed up gunk for a week.

Title: Re: Very noisy computer
Post by: soybean on March 16, 2007, 01:42:24 PM

You might even take it outdoors to clean it if that's feasible.  Another technique I've used when blowing the dust out of a computer indoors is to have a vacuum sweeper running with hose attachment just to suck in some of the dust filled air generated by a blast of compressed air into the computer.  

Note that using a standard vacuum sweeper to get directly into the computer and do the actual cleaning is not recommended since it may generate some static electricity which could damage computer components.

Title: Re: Very noisy computer
Post by: Joe_Flanagan on March 16, 2007, 07:02:48 PM

Quote

When I leave my computer idling, it sounds as if it is about to take off. The fans (?) have to work so hard that the noise is deafening - any ideas what might be cuasing this and how I can stop it happening? It's an advent with Intel P4 550 3.4GHz

Thanks  

So this noise only happens when the computer is idling  or is it noisy under load, also ?

Cleaning as suggested is a good thing, but keep in mind that you may have a failing fan causing the noise that you hear.
Post back if the cleaning doesn't stop the noise and someone will help you isolate the noise.