A noisy computer can be distracting and even disruptive for the people around you. You miss important emails or text messages, are forced to whisper conversations in order not to be overheard, and don’t get invited to as many social events. The noise also makes it harder for you to concentrate and think clearly. It’s clear that a noisy computer is going to have a negative impact on your workday and personal life. So, why is my PC suddenly so loud all of a sudden? Here are some common causes of a noisy PC and solutions for getting it under control again.
Why Is My Pc Fan So Loud All Of A Sudden?
There are a few potential reasons your PC fan is suddenly so loud. One possibility is that your computer is overheating because of a clogged or dirty fan, in which case you’ll need to clean the fan to fix the problem. Another possibility is that there’s something blocking the airflow through your computer case, again requiring you to open the case and clear out any obstruction.
Causes Of A Loud Pc Fan
Overclocked Or Extremely High Cpu Usage
Overclocking, or increasing your CPU’s speed, was once reserved for high-end gaming PCs. However, many people do it for purely performance-related reasons. If you’re overclocking your CPU for improved performance, then you’re likely to run into the loud PC fan problem. Overclocking can cause a CPU fan to get very loud. If you’ve overclocked your CPU, then you’ve likely noticed that most fans are now louder than they used to be. That’s because the CPU heatsinks are now so hot that the fan has to work harder just to move the same amount of air. In some cases, the CPU fan becomes so hot that it actually glows red.
Dust On The Pc Fan And/Or Cpu Cooling Fan
If you’ve ever used a PC that’s been dust-caked, then you’ve probably also noticed that the PC fan becomes very loud when you’re using it. This is known as dust grain damage. Dust grain damage is something that can happen to any PC fan, but it is particularly likely to happen to a PC fan that’s been running for a long time without being cleaned. So if your PC fan has become dusty, then there’s a good chance that it has been damaged by dust. There are several things that you can do to help prevent dust grain damage on your PC fan and CPU cooling fan. Most importantly, make sure that you clean your PC fan and CPU cooling fan regularly. You can do this either by using a compressed air duster or by simply blowing out the dust with a rag.
Improperly Ventilated Case
In some cases, simply the volume of air pushed out of a PC case can be enough to cause a PC fan to become very loud. This is especially likely if you have a laptop with an all-metal case. If you have a poorly ventilated case, then you may find that your PC fan becomes very loud suddenly. If you have a poorly ventilated case, then you may be able to fix the problem simply by opening your case and allowing the air to flow through the PC more easily. You can do this by taking out the motherboard and allowing the case to be openable from the back. In this way, the motherboard and other components in the case will be exposed to more air. You can also try rearranging the case’s components so that there are better airflow paths through the case.
Incorrectly Installed Hardware
There are many example where a hardware mistake can cause a PC to become very loud. In some cases, a hardware mistake can cause a PC fan to become too noisy. This can happen simply by installing a hardware component in the wrong orientation. For example, imagine that you have a PC with a dual-core processor and an air cooler that includes a top fin. If this setup is installed on a flat surface, then the fan will be very quiet. However, if the PC is placed on a desk, then the fan will be very loud and be very disruptive. If you’ve installed the hardware components on your PC in the wrong orientation, then you may be able to fix the problem simply by uninstalling and re-installing the hardware in the correct orientation. However, if you’ve installed your hardware correctly, then you may have to take it apart and re-install it in the opposite way.
Sliding Chair Underneath Pc
Some PC fans can get too hot and become too loud when they are being boosted by a hot CPU and/or GPU. This can happen when a chair or other piece of furniture is placed underneath the PC and the fan is being blocked by the piece of furniture. If you have a piece of furniture placed underneath your PC and the PC fan is too loud, then you may be able to fix the problem simply by moving the piece of furniture. This may be awkward, but will result in a quieter PC fan. If you don’t want to do that, then you can try putting a laptop or cardboard box between the PC and the piece of furniture to let the fan through.
Faulty Cpu Fan Or Heatsink
Some CPU fans can become damaged simply by being put under too much pressure from a faulty CPU heatsink or fan. In some cases, a faulty CPU heatsink or fan can actually cause a CPU fan to become too loud. This can happen if the heatsink or fan is not designed to handle the extra pressure. For example, imagine that you have a PC with a CPU that has not been properly cooled. If the CPU is not properly cooled, then there will be hot spots that can cause the CPU fan to become too loud. The best way to solve this problem is by replacing the faulty CPU fan with a quieter one.
Faulty Case Fans Or Keyboard/Mouse Fans
In some cases, a faulty fan can be caused simply by a faulty case fan. This can be the case with many PC cases. They often have a huge variety of case fans and if one of them is faulty, then the PC fan will become too loud. If the case fans are faulty, then you will likely need to take the case off the PC in order to access the fans. Once the case is taken off the PC, you will be able to access the fans and replace the faulty one.
Defective Motherboard Or Drivers
Sometimes, a hardware problem can cause a PC fan to become very loud. This is a common problem with graphics cards, but it can also happen with motherboards. If you’ve recently installed a new motherboard or driver, then the fan may have become noisy as soon as the new hardware was installed. If you’ve recently installed updated hardware on your PC, then the fan may have become noisy because of the new heat generated by the new hardware. This is especially likely to happen with new graphics cards.
5 Ways You Can Reduce Noise In A Laptop Or Desktop Pc
1. Install Quieter Fans
The first step in reducing noise in a laptop or desktop PC is to install quieter fans. There are many aftermarket fans available that can reduce the noise levels of your PC significantly. You can also look for fanless components such as power supplies, CPU coolers, and graphics cards.
2. Add Soundproofing
Adding soundproofing materials such as foam or fabric to the inside of your PC case can help to reduce the amount of noise that escapes from your PC. Make sure that you avoid any materials that could be flammable when it comes to soundproofing your PC.
3. Utilize Fan Speed Controllers
Fan speed controllers allow you to adjust the speed of your fans in order to reduce the overall noise levels of your system. This is especially useful if you have multiple fans in your system and want to keep them all running at a consistent speed without having them all running at full blast all the time.
4. Utilize Quieter Components
If you’re looking to build a new system, then you should try to look for components that are specifically designed with noise reduction in mind. For example, many power supplies and CPU coolers come with special features that can help to reduce the overall noise levels of your system.
5. Utilize Software Solutions
There are many software solutions out there that can help you to reduce the noise levels of your PC. These solutions range from fan speed controllers to advanced software that can allow you to adjust the speed of individual fans within your PC.
6 Tips For Getting A Noisy Pc Under Control
1. Check The Fans
The first step to getting a noisy PC under control is to check all of the fans in your system. Make sure that none of them are blocked or damaged, and replace any that are beyond repair.
2. Clean Your Pc
Regularly cleaning your PC can help to reduce the amount of dust and debris that can accumulate and cause noise. Make sure you use an anti-static brush or cloth to avoid damaging any sensitive components.
3. Use Quieter Components
Look for components that have been designed with noise reduction in mind such as quieter power supplies or CPU coolers, as these can help reduce noise levels significantly.
4. Install Quieter Fans
If the stock fans in your system aren’t quiet enough, then you can always look into aftermarket fans that will be quieter than the stock fans. You should also consider fanless components such as power supplies, CPU coolers, and graphics cards if possible.
5. Use Fan Speed Controllers
Using fan speed controllers can help to reduce noise levels by allowing you to adjust the speed of your fans. This is especially useful if you have multiple fans in your system, as it allows you to keep all of them running at a consistent speed without having them all running at full blast all the time.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why a PC fan might become very loud. In some cases, it will be just a matter of cleaning your PC and changing the orientation of a hardware component so that it gets better airflow. In other cases, however, your PC will have a fault that needs to be fixed. If you’ve gotten yourself into one of these situations, then the best way to fix it is to take the PC apart and check for any faults with the hardware. Once you’ve identified the problem, you can fix it.
