In an increasingly digital era, technology makes continuous progress, but if we talk about PCs, especially desktop PCs, one aspect that still has ample room for improvement is that of reducing the noise they generate. The noise that a computer makes can be very annoying, especially in summer, when it's hot, which seems to work inside an airplane.
Fortunately, there are effective ways to make any PC, both new and old, as quiet as possible, and reduce the noise it makes all the time, starting from the moment it is turned on.
Like most electronic devices, a computer heats up when in use. Components like the processor, graphics card, motherboard and power supply get hotter as they work. Without a cooling system, these hardware components would quickly overheat and burn on their own. Unless particular and advanced configurations, the cooling system of a compute r is always represented by one or more fans and metal heat sinks that allow the heat to be removed from those components and to blow the hot air out of the computer. The problem is that these fans can be noisy and generate movement and air sounds that can bounce.
We talked a lot about this aspect in the guide on how to manage the PC fans for better cooling and air flow .
The fans of a desktop PC are usually three: that of the processor, that of the power supply and that which blows air outside the case. These three fans can make noise because they are old, because they do not vary their speed based on the temperature detected inside the computer and because they are all full of dust and are more difficult to move.
Dust builds up and clogs the vents, limiting the efficiency of the fans. This makes them spin faster, making more noise and sucking in more dust. In another article we saw the guide to clean the fans and inside dust from the computer .
By opening the computer case you can use a simple compressed air can to remove dust from the fixed fans. While the large case fan can be easily disassembled by unscrewing the screws and being careful not to tear the wire that connects it to the motherboard, it is more difficult to remove the CPU heatsink and you are required to take a look at the manual to see how it works the interlocking. The CPU heatsink may be really full of accumulated dust and it can be enough to clean it to make the PC go silent.
Regarding the power supply, however, it is not possible to disassemble the fan but it is possible to clean it with compressed air. In case, however, the noise came from the PC power supply, it would certainly be advisable to replace it.
Regarding the cooling system, we have also seen a guide to reduce the speed of the fans if the PC makes too much noise, without therefore replacing or cleaning them, using programs such as Speedfan.
As an indication of purchase, you can look at the coolers of brands like be quiet! and Noctua. The important thing is to buy PWM fans, which change the rotation speed according to the detected temperature, accelerating or decreasing depending on whether the inside of the PC is hot or cold. In addition, the new fans have a sound rating expressed in dBA, so the lower the dBA value, the quieter they are. A value below 20 dBA is ideal for keeping the PC silent.
Furthermore, keep in mind that adding more fans inside the PC will not increase the noise, on the contrary, it will have the opposite effect. With more fans, in fact, the cooling system will be more efficient and each of them will turn more slowly. Additional fans produce minimal audible noise at low speeds.
If PWM fans are already installed, the fan control software can be used to set a more conservative fan curve. The fan curve controls the fan rotation speed based on the temperature of a given sensor. Slowing down the fans will overheat the components, but it won't be a problem up to a certain level of heat.
READ ALSO: How to change the fan speed in Windows 10
In most cases, air enters from the front of the PC and is pushed out of the back. Depending on the case configuration, there may be an impediment to the air flow and in front of the vents and openings, which creates noise. It would be better, therefore, to remove any obstacle of cables or elements that make the internal air passage more noisy.
Power supply : the power supply also has a cooling fan which can be cleaned but, in most cases, cannot be dismantled. If this makes noise, it is better to change the PC power supply by buying a new one.
In rare cases, low cost power supplies can also emit an electric hum, so better not to save too much on this part which has an average price of 50 Euros.
To make the PC silent, the best result can be obtained with variable speed heatsinks and fans, cleaned of dust, with the air flow not obstructed by cables or other components and with a fairly low dBA index.
Fortunately, there are effective ways to make any PC, both new and old, as quiet as possible, and reduce the noise it makes all the time, starting from the moment it is turned on.
Like most electronic devices, a computer heats up when in use. Components like the processor, graphics card, motherboard and power supply get hotter as they work. Without a cooling system, these hardware components would quickly overheat and burn on their own. Unless particular and advanced configurations, the cooling system of a compute r is always represented by one or more fans and metal heat sinks that allow the heat to be removed from those components and to blow the hot air out of the computer. The problem is that these fans can be noisy and generate movement and air sounds that can bounce.
Improve your PC's cooling system
So the first step to having a silent PC is to improve its cooling system . The more efficient your cooling system is, the less fans will be needed and the faster they will have to rotate and, consequently, move less air and make less noise.We talked a lot about this aspect in the guide on how to manage the PC fans for better cooling and air flow .
The fans of a desktop PC are usually three: that of the processor, that of the power supply and that which blows air outside the case. These three fans can make noise because they are old, because they do not vary their speed based on the temperature detected inside the computer and because they are all full of dust and are more difficult to move.
Dust builds up and clogs the vents, limiting the efficiency of the fans. This makes them spin faster, making more noise and sucking in more dust. In another article we saw the guide to clean the fans and inside dust from the computer .
By opening the computer case you can use a simple compressed air can to remove dust from the fixed fans. While the large case fan can be easily disassembled by unscrewing the screws and being careful not to tear the wire that connects it to the motherboard, it is more difficult to remove the CPU heatsink and you are required to take a look at the manual to see how it works the interlocking. The CPU heatsink may be really full of accumulated dust and it can be enough to clean it to make the PC go silent.
Regarding the power supply, however, it is not possible to disassemble the fan but it is possible to clean it with compressed air. In case, however, the noise came from the PC power supply, it would certainly be advisable to replace it.
Regarding the cooling system, we have also seen a guide to reduce the speed of the fans if the PC makes too much noise, without therefore replacing or cleaning them, using programs such as Speedfan.
Change or add fans
In case it has never been done before, on a PC of a few years, it is possible to change the fans of the computer in the way that we have explained in another guide.As an indication of purchase, you can look at the coolers of brands like be quiet! and Noctua. The important thing is to buy PWM fans, which change the rotation speed according to the detected temperature, accelerating or decreasing depending on whether the inside of the PC is hot or cold. In addition, the new fans have a sound rating expressed in dBA, so the lower the dBA value, the quieter they are. A value below 20 dBA is ideal for keeping the PC silent.
Furthermore, keep in mind that adding more fans inside the PC will not increase the noise, on the contrary, it will have the opposite effect. With more fans, in fact, the cooling system will be more efficient and each of them will turn more slowly. Additional fans produce minimal audible noise at low speeds.
If PWM fans are already installed, the fan control software can be used to set a more conservative fan curve. The fan curve controls the fan rotation speed based on the temperature of a given sensor. Slowing down the fans will overheat the components, but it won't be a problem up to a certain level of heat.
READ ALSO: How to change the fan speed in Windows 10
Beware of the cable clutter or other impediments
When air flows around an object, its flow becomes more turbulent and turbulent air makes more noise. To keep the PC silent, it is important to make sure that there is a free path that the air can follow to exit eternally (as can be seen in the figure above).In most cases, air enters from the front of the PC and is pushed out of the back. Depending on the case configuration, there may be an impediment to the air flow and in front of the vents and openings, which creates noise. It would be better, therefore, to remove any obstacle of cables or elements that make the internal air passage more noisy.
Other parts of the PC that make noise
Hard Disk : In addition to the fans, the noise that a computer makes may depend on the disk, if it is a traditional hard disk. Even the hard disk is a mechanical component with a part that rotates and a head that writes data on it, therefore, especially if old and almost full, it makes a certain noise that can be eliminated entirely by replacing the hard disk with a SSD drive. SSDs are fixed memory chips, so they don't make any noise during use.Power supply : the power supply also has a cooling fan which can be cleaned but, in most cases, cannot be dismantled. If this makes noise, it is better to change the PC power supply by buying a new one.
In rare cases, low cost power supplies can also emit an electric hum, so better not to save too much on this part which has an average price of 50 Euros.
Conclusion
If you want an absolutely silent machine, you will have to remove every single moving part, including the fans. A fanless PC is possible, but requires very low power components and passive cooling, i.e. without fans (but some study is required for this type of configuration). We talked about this in the buying guide for a new CPU cooler .To make the PC silent, the best result can be obtained with variable speed heatsinks and fans, cleaned of dust, with the air flow not obstructed by cables or other components and with a fairly low dBA index.
