Topic: My PC's Getting Loud...How can I quiet it down...?

[MysterD]

My PC itself is really sounding loud now -- with a loud humming sound and stuff, coming from the machine.

It's quite quiet, when I'm just doing...well, nothing. Like surfing the Net or doing nothing gaming orientated.

I noticed the humming a lil' bit on STALKER. But, yes -- I'm really, really noticing it majorly on Rainbow Six: Vegas. As in, I can hear it over my headphones!!! It's quite annoying.

So, how can I quiet the machine itself down??? Especially when playing PC games?? Especially playing system taxing ones like R6: Vegas???

Any suggestions???

[TheOtherBelmont]

Is it the fan?  Or is it the case itself?  Sometimes screws get loose on the case or in the case which will cause a slight hum.  If it's the fan, there may be something wrong with the fan itself.

EDIT:  There also might be the slight possibility that you have never ran your computer that hard before and its just acting normal.

[MysterD]

Is it the fan?  Or is it the case itself?  Sometimes screws get loose on the case or in the case which will cause a slight hum.  If it's the fan, there may be something wrong with the fan itself.   Does it just do it on R6: Vegas only?

Naw, not the case or the fan.

Dad opened the machine up and had part of the case off, while I was playing R6: Vegas, w/ a tube nearby (old trick) and listened to it at different areas of the PC to see what the hell was possibly making the loudest sound. Processor sounded loudest, of it all.

Fans were running, when I'm playing -- 3 fans going; processor, vid card, and power supply.

Nope; Does it on other games, as well -- it just is wicked loud on R6: Vegas.

Let me try some lower-end spec games, see if it's noisy...

[gpw11]

Do CPU fans usually amp up when the processor is running harder?  I was under the impression that the cpu fan always ran at a pretty constant feed (assuming it's stock and not something like a Volcano).  Other than that being the problem itself I'd imagine it could be that the bearings are just louder for whatever reason (I'd blame dust).  Blow that out with some compressed air.  You could always try to get another fan that doesn't make as much noise.

Or, if you're really hardcore you could pull off that oil cooling trick that's all the rage these days...or at least a year ago.

[Jedi]

Do CPU fans usually amp up when the processor is running harder?  I was under the impression that the cpu fan always ran at a pretty constant feed (assuming it's stock and not something like a Volcano).  Other than that being the problem itself I'd imagine it could be that the bearings are just louder for whatever reason (I'd blame dust).  Blow that out with some compressed air.  You could always try to get another fan that doesn't make as much noise.

Or, if you're really hardcore you could pull off that oil cooling trick that's all the rage these days...or at least a year ago.

Many fans do run faster when the CPU is under load (like playing games and such), just like GPU fans.
It has to be the fans, either making the noise or their producing enough vibration to make the case vibrate. There are really no other moving parts (besides the HDs) that could make such noise.
GPW could be right though maybe the CPU fan is on it's way out. When you took the case cover off was the sound still there when playing Vegas?

[MysterD]

When you took the case cover off was the sound still there when playing Vegas?

Yup.

[gpw11]

By the way, that tube trick is awesome.  I remember my mechanics teacher using it years ago, but I never really thought about it. Thanks for reminding me.

Anyways, as much as this is a stupid question;  what does it sound like?  You said a humming noise, but is it high or low pitched?

[Jedi]

Yup.

So umm... do you know what's causing the sound then, becuase by your post it sounds like the CPU is the trouble maker, I would also guess the GPU?

[MysterD]

By the way, that tube trick is awesome.  I remember my mechanics teacher using it years ago, but I never really thought about it. Thanks for reminding me.

No problem.

Anyways, as much as this is a stupid question;  what does it sound like?  You said a humming noise, but is it high or low pitched?

Naw, it's not a stupid question. It ain't high-pitched or anything -- thank God. It sounds like the normal humming when I first got the machine -- but, many, many, many, many, many times louder!!! You know, if my PC was making a high-pitched sound, that would REALLY be annoying, w/ it hitting more high notes than Mariah Carey and all! :oP

I was playing Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow yesterday -- and when playing that, it wasn't getting loud at all. It sounded like it does when my PC is just doing...well, nothing -- like surfing the Net. That sound is fine by me!!!

So, hmmmm....

So umm... do you know what's causing the sound then, becuase by your post it sounds like the CPU is the trouble maker, I would also guess the GPU?

Naw, when dad put the tube by the GPU, it was making a normal sound. Not loud at all or anything. Sounded quite normal.

The processor was the loudest piece, when putting the tube near it -- no contest at all.


I should note thios -- R6: Vegas PC does require a 128 MB GF 6600 GT as a bare minimum -- which is the card I have. I have a 3.2 Ghz Intel P4 HT processor, and it's worth noting that Vegas requires a 3.0 Ghz bare minimum, while it recommends a 3.5 Ghz processor.