Is the fan on your computer making a lot of noise? Let's resolve the issue. Why does my laptop make a lot of noise?

Has your computer become significantly louder than usual? Does it buzz or hum loudly, especially when turned on?

In 99% of cases, one or more cooling fans fail, and if you do not solve this problem, then you will face not only a migraine from constant noise, but also the very likely death of your computer from overheating.

REMEMBER!

Any actions inside a computer system unit or its parts can be carried out ONLY with experience working with electrical appliances and electronics, clearly understanding the mechanism of operation of the device and the essence of the operations performed. All actions inside any devices and mechanisms are carried out EXCLUSIVELY when the power is turned off. Including - the cord must be pulled out of the outlet and the body must be grounded.

In general, don't be idiots - follow the electrical safety rules and be reasonable. I warned you.

So, the first thing you should do is find out which cooler (fan) started acting up. To do this, remove the side cover, simply turn on the computer and listen - you can localize the source of the noise with sufficient accuracy.

There aren't that many of them.

Case fan

Most often, case coolers located on the rear end or side covers of the system unit fail. Replacing them is not difficult.

Firstly After turning off the computer, carefully unplug the power cable. It can either connect to the power supply using a standard molex connector, or to the motherboard using a small 3 or 4 pin connector. If you have little knowledge of computers, remember where the fan was connected. After this, use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the four screws that secure the cooler to the case. Take it out (cooler).

Secondly, needs replacement. This kind of fans can almost always be purchased at any company/store that deals with computers. They usually cost no more than a couple of dollars. To avoid mistakes, just show the old fan to the seller and ask for the same one. :) This is the most reliable way.

Installing a new cooler, I think, will not be a problem - just repeat the first step in reverse order. The only subtlety is that the fan should be positioned with the base (on which the turntable itself is attached) facing outwards (in the figure the base is on top), since it is in this direction that the air flow will flow, i.e. - for blowing out of the body.

Power supply fan

The next most common failure is the fan inside the power supply. This is especially true for economy and middle class power supply models, which have a fan with a diameter of 80mm. Finding a power supply is not difficult - it is a large metal box inside the computer. housing, screwed end to back wall. (a dozen or two wires come out of it - you won’t miss it!)

I would not recommend replacing this unit without special knowledge (or at least without knowing how to use a soldering iron).

But you can read about lubrication of the power supply cooler here:

Although if you really need to replace it, but don’t have the money to buy a new power supply or call a technician, you can try. I will tell you about the method of replacing the cooler on the power supply a little later, in a separate note.

CPU fan

With rare exceptions, processor fans are only sold complete with a radiator that is mounted on the processor. So, to successfully replace this device, you will need not only three drops of ingenuity to remove the old radiator, but also special tools such as cotton swabs, isopropyl alcohol (or, in extreme cases, regular alcohol) and, of course, thermal paste.

A little later I will describe in detail the procedures for replacing modern coolers and processors. Now I will limit myself to only a general description of the procedure. So:

1. Make sure you have thermal paste ( Any will do for a home/office computer. Well at least the same KPT-8. Both inexpensive and quite effective), new cooler ( If you don’t know which one you need, it’s no big deal, just take it off and go buy it with a sample in your hands), cotton swabs or facial swabs, alcohol (isopropyl or regular)
2. If all of the above is present, remove the side cover of the case and take a closer look at the radiator. It can be attached using one of the following methods:
3. A) It can be pressed crosswise with a bracket, and have a plastic lever on the side (pull it up - the bracket should loosen and begin to dangle. Then remove it from the protrusions on the frame screwed to the motherboard)
4. B) Almost the same as A), but without a latch - you need to carefully remove the bracket from the protrusions on the frame with some strong tool like a narrow screwdriver ( be careful — a tool that comes off can irreparably damage the motherboard)
5. IN) It can be attached with some kind of four large plastic bolts; turn them all the way in the direction of the arrow (without fanaticism or extra effort!) and pull each of them towards you - they should come out about 3-4 millimeters.
6. After removing the cooler mounts, carefully, without excessive force, make a “twisting” movement of 5-7 degrees parallel to the plane of the motherboard, because The thermal paste that was used to coat the gap between the processor and the heatsink could have dried out over time and temperature. After this, remove the radiator. Remember the connector where the fan was connected.
7. Wipe off the layer of old thermal paste from the processor with a cotton swab slightly moistened with alcohol.
8. Apply a thin, even layer of thermal paste to a dry, grease-free surface (too much paste can even be harmful), firmly “seat” the new radiator (the contact surface must also be clean and grease-free) and snap the fasteners into place.
9. Don't forget to connect the fan to the power supply - it will be a shame if the processor burns out after half an hour of operation!

To be continued….

Noise or hum from a computer is something that annoys all users. But some computers make so much noise that they sound more like a transformer booth. If this is your case, then this article should help you. Here you will find out why your computer is humming or making noise and what to do to reduce this noise.

Typically, there are only two sources of noise in a computer: noise from fans (coolers) and noise from hard drives. The noise from hard drives is so insignificant that it can only be noticed if the fans are running very quietly or not at all. Therefore, you can ignore hard drives altogether and focus on reducing fan noise.

Computer coolers only cool three components, these are:

• Power unit.

Plus, usually a computer case has at least one so-called case cooler. The task of case coolers is to remove heated air from the computer case, as well as to force fresh and cooler air inside.

As for the noise level that each fan produces, it depends on the following parameters:

• Fan speed. The faster the fan rotates, the more noise it makes.
• Fan size. The smaller the fan, the more noise it makes and the less useful it is.
• Fan quality. Fans vary greatly in price and, as a result, in quality. Cheap fans are usually made using cheap bearings and low quality plastic. Therefore, cheap fans are much louder.

Also, the noise level heard when using a computer is influenced by the case itself. Cheap cases are made from thin metal, which rattles and thereby increases the noise from the fans. In addition, cheap cases do not have a layer of soundproofing material.

What to do if your computer is buzzing or making a lot of noise?

So, we have figured out the causes of noise and hum from the computer. Now we can look at the main ways to reduce noise.

Method No. 1. Reducing fan speed.

The easiest and most effective way to reduce computer noise is to lower the fan speed. The speed of fans that are connected via a 4-pin connector can be adjusted through the BIOS or through special software, for example, the SpeedFan program is often used for this.

SpeedFan program

If the cooler is connected via a 3-pin connector, then its rotation speed can be reduced using special adapters that reduce the voltage to the fan and thereby reduce its speed. There are also so-called reobass or cooler controllers, through which you can regulate the rotation speed of any coolers.

Reobas for coolers

When reducing fan speeds, it is important to monitor temperatures. Because there is a possibility of overheating. It may be needed on the processor and video card in order to maintain normal temperatures with reduced airflow.

Method No. 2. Replacing coolers with quieter ones.

A more complex option for reducing the noise level from a computer is to replace existing coolers with better ones and, as a result, quieter ones.

New cooler

Replacing coolers on the computer case and on the processor is the easiest option. To do this, you need to measure the size of the installation space and buy a new cooler of the appropriate diameter. When choosing a new cooler, it is best to choose the largest fan possible.

In the case of a video card and power supply, the process of replacing the fan is a little more complicated, since in this case the fan is more difficult to reach. However, the process of replacing the cooler itself is no different. We determine the size of the fan, buy a new one and install it in place of the old one.

If you combine the replacement of fans with a decrease in their speed, you can achieve a significant reduction in the noise level from the computer.

Method No. 3. Disabling case fans.

If the computer is used only as an office machine, then you can completely abandon the case fans. Disable them and monitor the temperature of the computer components. Most likely, the temperature will rise by about 8-15 degrees, but will remain within tolerable limits.

Case cooler

It should be noted that disabling case fans is only suitable for computers used in office mode. If you work with heavy programs or play computer games, then you cannot turn off the case fans.

You should also not turn off the fans on the processor, video card, or power supply. Because this will cause these components to overheat.

Method number 4. Replacing the computer case.

Replacing the case is also a good option. If you purchase a high-quality one with a layer of sound-absorbing material, you can significantly reduce the noise level from the computer.

Sound-absorbing material on the cover of a computer case

Typically, such cases are equipped with high-quality coolers out of the box, so you don’t have to look for suitable ones, buy them separately and install them yourself.

Most often, a laptop fan makes a lot of noise and even crackles due to the accumulation of dust in the cooling system. Once every six months to a year, it is necessary to clean the device, otherwise the cooler, even at maximum rotation speed, will not be able to provide normal heat removal, which causes the device to heat up. Next, we will tell you in detail why this happens, how to properly disassemble a laptop and clean it of accumulated dust if it is very noisy.

Other reasons for a noisy laptop

Before you start disassembling the laptop, make sure that there are no other ways to reduce the fan noise:

1. When the user works with “heavy” applications, there is a high load on the processor and video card, as a result of which the chip gets very hot and needs effective cooling. Then it is quite normal that the cooler can make maximum speed, making quite a lot of noise.
2. When the device is very noisy, make sure that there is nothing obstructing the air exchange in the cooling system. There should be no foreign objects near the ventilation grilles, and the keyboard should not be covered. The laptop itself should only be placed on a hard, flat surface, since there are also holes on the bottom cover through which the cooler carries out air exchange.

If the load on the processor is small and nothing interferes with the flow of fresh air to the cooling radiator, then in order to reduce the fan noise, you will have to disassemble the laptop, clean the cooler and internal surfaces from dust accumulated during operation. Let us immediately warn you that if the device makes a lot of noise or buzzes and is still under warranty, then in order not to lose it, contact a service center for cleaning.

But if you want to do without additional expenses, then you can perform all the necessary procedures yourself. Next, we will describe a couple of dust removal methods. The first one is suitable for beginners whose laptop is noisy, the second one is for more experienced users.

Partial disassembly and cleaning of the laptop

The laptop must be completely turned off - you cannot disassemble it in hibernation or sleep mode. Further:

1. Remove the back cover of the laptop. Screws can be hidden under stickers and rubber inserts. If none of them were missed, the cover will easily come off.
2. Clean the heat dissipation system. It includes a cooler and copper pipes connecting the heatsink to the video card chip and processor. Lumps of dust are removed from the cooling surfaces and fan blades with cotton swabs; the remaining residue can be blown out using a can of compressed air.

During the cleaning process, be careful - do not press on the cooler, radiator grilles and tubes - the latter can be easily bent, which will negatively affect the efficiency of heat removal and the noise during operation of the device will not disappear.

Next, make sure that all cables and connections are in place and that you did not touch anything during the cleaning process. All that remains is to return the lid to its place and screw it on. If the screws were under the rubber feet of the device, be sure to glue them back on. If you don’t do this, you will notice that the laptop makes a lot of noise all the time - these elements create the gap between the back panel and the surface necessary for air exchange.

Complete dust removal

Let us tell you why the described method is not always able to lead to a positive result and eliminate excess fan noise. If the reason why the device is noisy lies in dried thermal paste, “hardened” thermal pads or dried grease on the axis of the fan blades (why it sometimes cracks or hums), then the laptop will have to be completely disassembled. For this:

After dismantling the cooling system, you need to clean the surface of the processor and radiator grille from old thermal paste - due to its drying, the device sometimes makes a lot of noise and gets hot. You cannot scrape it off with metal objects; for this it is better to use a simple plastic card.

Removing and applying new thermal paste

Remains of heat-conducting paste are removed with a soft cloth moistened with alcohol. A very safe way, although somewhat labor-intensive, is to use a regular eraser. With its help, the processor and radiator can be carefully rubbed to a shine without the risk of causing any damage to the device.

After cleaning the surfaces, a layer of new thermal paste is applied to the processor. Domestic products - KPT-8 or AlSil-3 - are quite suitable for this. Observe the following rules when working:

Next, all that remains is to screw the radiator tightly so that the contacting surfaces are in close contact. Reassembling the laptop after cleaning is done in the reverse order. This can significantly reduce fan noise, but if you do not want this problem to reoccur, clean it regularly.

You came home, turned on your computer as usual... and heard it start up. The cooler is noisy. Not a single part will just make noise - it means something has happened.

If the cooler is noisy, it is most likely either dusty or faulty(bearings have become loose, grease has dried out). The cooler on the processor, the cooler on the power supply, the cooler on the case, or the cooler on the video card can make noise.

Try it first vacuum cooler radiator to clean it from dust. If the cooler still makes noise after this, you need to lubricate it. The cooler is usually lubricated using machine oil, watch grease or sewing machine oil. Usually do not advise Use Vaseline and automobile motor oils to lubricate the cooler.

Exists two ways lubricate a noisy cooler: removing it and not removing it. If you don't want or are afraid to remove the cooler, take a syringe with a thin needle and fill it with machine oil (there should be a little oil). Use a needle to pierce the cooler sticker and the plastic plug that is located under it (you will have to apply force to do this). Guide the oil from the syringe under the plug and remove the syringe. All! It is recommended to drop a little synthetic glue onto the hole from the needle so that the oil does not leak out.

If you cannot lubricate the cooler this way, unscrew it and remove the sticker. Clean the cooler from dust (don't forget the space between the body and the propeller) and drop a few drops of machine oil into it. You can put the cooler back.

Be careful when working with the power supply cooler! The power supply elements are under high voltage, so before cleaning and lubricating the cooler, you need to disconnect the power cord from the power supply.

If the cooler on the processor is noisy, in addition to lubrication, it can help. The fact is that noise occurs if the cooler does not fit tightly to the processor. Replacing thermal paste will help close the gap between the cooler and the processor, and the noise should decrease.

If after this your cooler does not feel any better, the problem may be wear. Most often the cooler bearing fails. In this case, only an urgent replacement of the cooler will help - preferably with a more modern and silent one. The problem cannot be ignored. If the cooler fails, other components of the computer will begin to overheat, and then you may have to replace not the cooler, but the video card or motherboard.

Most modern coolers are software controlled. If any part of the computer gets hotter than usual, the cooler starts working at high speeds. When the cooler makes noise for this very reason (you know that it is working) - try to look for the problem in another part. It is not recommended to artificially lower the cooler speed, this may cause overheating.

If it makes noise notebook cooler, then most likely the reasons listed above are also to blame. So the “treatment” will be standard - lubricating, cleaning or replacing the cooler. The difference is that you shouldn't take your laptop apart unless you're confident you can put it back together. It is better to entrust the solution to problems with the cooler to a specialist.

Hello, dear readers of my blog! In this article, I will talk about the main reasons why the cooler in a laptop and personal computer can make a lot of noise, as well as ways to eliminate them.

Causes of cooler noise in laptops and computers

1. Modern computer games. If the cooler only makes noise when you play modern games, then this is quite normal. During simple operation, the cooler produces about one tenth of its power. But when you run a heavy modern toy that requires a lot of resources, your laptop or computer starts to heat up very much and the fan has to increase speed to cool the system and because of this the noise increases.
2. Software glitch. If the fan suddenly begins to make noise during operation that did not bother it before, then a software failure may have occurred. Just turn off your laptop or PC and boot it up in 15-20 minutes. If this was the problem, then the strong fan noise will disappear.
3. Large amount of dust. One of the most common reasons. It settles both on the fan blades and on the honeycomb of the radiator, which fits tightly to the cooler. And when the radiator honeycombs become clogged with dust, the air flow coming from the fan cannot fully pass through the radiator, and thus your fan has to produce more power in order to produce the amount of air needed for normal cooling of the processor and video card. In order to clean the radiator and fan blades from dust, you will have to disassemble the laptop. My advice to you is that it is better to entrust this work to professionals in special services. If you do everything yourself, then when you get to the cooler, carefully collect everything from the blades and honeycombs of the radiator with a cotton swab, and collect the remaining dust with a vacuum cleaner. It will also be useful if you lubricate the cooler. For lubrication, use silicone grease or household machine oil. With a personal computer, everything is much easier than with a laptop. Just open the side cover and the whole system is in front of you. A PC has several coolers that cool the power supply, processor and video card. The difficulty here is that it is difficult to determine what exactly the noise is making. You can simply, when the PC is running, use a cotton swab to stop each fan one by one until you find the one that makes a lot of noise. After that, clean it from dust and lubricate it.
4. Bearing wear. This reason is already a point of no return. If the bearing wears out, you will have to replace the fan; there are no other options.

Conclusion

Here are the main 4 reasons. But, as a rule, the most common reasons are a large amount of dust and bearing wear. The first two reasons are very rare, but everything happens sometimes too.