when should I worry about computer noise?

[emily]

I have a question:

when should I worry about computer noise?

sometimes, when I am online, or in my emails, I can hear noise coming from my computer (noise that isn't their when I'm not doing anything)

I googled this issue before, but their's a whole  lot of stuff about it could be this component, it could be that, what ever- and let me tell you: I am not technical (I was  kicked off a tech forum for saying that to access the internet I click on the icon!)

so w    hen should I worry about the noise my computer is making?

[banjo]

I'd worry only if and when it won't start!

Make a cup of tea or coffee. By the end you'll want a G'n'T!

Seriously, all PCs make a noise to a degree. The fixed disk makes a noise as the CPU is continuously accessing it. Some things are going on in the background that cause this too. When using the PC, some programs make saves on the fly to minimise the chance of lost data. MS Office does that with the appropriate setting enabled. That will make random noises as the read heads scoot over the fixed disk platters. Quite often you can hear noises as websites are writing cookies to your fixed disk. It's nothing to worry about. Noise could imply impending doom for the fixed disk. You'll get no such noise if you have an SSD (solid state drive) If you can hear screeching noises then yes- time to switch off without delay and investigate. That will almost certainly be a fan bearing somewhere that has gone west. I had one home built "desktop" that was really noisy due to all the fans needed to tame the overheating CPU. I cut a 5" diameter hole in the side panel directly over the CPU, lined the sharp edge with some "U" shaped rubber "liquorice" and mounted a low noise 5" fan on the inside with a fancy "radioactivity" warning symbol wire guard over the impeller blades on the outside. Job done! The physically larger slow running (=relatively reduced air velocity) really reduced the noise significantly. I could now hear the other noises that had previously been swamped by the CPU cooling fan, but they were insignificant by comparison so I ceased to "worry" about noise. After that "fix", the gently whirring fixed disk and optical drive access noises were barely audible. Back in the day we had to endure the start up tones of the modem but that was only transitory.

I have a PC a bit like a "Thin Client" but actually a standalone PC these days, and I can just about hear the CPU fan if I listen, but it doesn't bother me.

If you have a noisy laptop, do you sit with it on your lap? (not unreasonable!) If so you could be blocking the vents which reduce the cooling and so the fan goes doo-lally trying to keep the CPU temperature down (or graphics chip or even memory in some cases.) Solution, don't obstruct the grille vents. Should you "worry"? If you are blocking the outlets then yes but it costs nothing other than convenience to alter the way you use it.

Dust is an enemy of nearly everything and PCs are no exception. Dust will inevitably settle on the blades of the fan's impeller over time and cause unbalanced rotation which causes more noise too. This also accelerates wear on the fan bearings again adding to the noise, but taken in context the fan is still likely to outlive the "usefulness" of the PC. Fan noise (as in "movement of air" noise) is directly proportional to fan speed so anything that might result in extra work for the fan will probably manifest as increased noise. If you have a desktop PC, remove the side panel and try to remove any dust as best as you can from the fan blade(s). Avoid touching any "electronics". Even blowing compressed air over electronic components can generate static electricity which is verboten. Same goes for using a brush-stay away from electronic components. If the printed circuit board mounted electronic components are dusty, proceed with great caution. If it's a laptop, "going inside" is largely to be avoided. You *can* blow through the air intake on a laptop (not the outlet) but the same caveat applies regarding static build up from the jet of air, and it WILL blow directly over the CPU. I've done it. I know I shouldn't have done so. I don't advise it but occasionally "needs must".

If you were ejected from another forum for such faux-pas, then that place simply wasn't worth bothering with. As is often said- there are no stupid questions but plenty of stupid answers, especially on t'interweb. I managed an HND in Environmental Engineering (although I never really worked in that field). It follows that I do have a grasp of fans, but I'm like the majority of armchair chancers with PCs!

If I haven't answered your question it's because it's really a "how long is a piece of string" type of query. Without more information, I and no doubt others can only speculate. HTH Emily but I kind of doubt it ...

e&oe ...