While computer is operating the noise mainly comes from the coolers installed on the processor and on the graphics card. In this article, we’ll take a look at all possible ways to reduce the noise. The tips below are relevant for both laptops and desktops, adjusted for their technical specifications.
Please note: All tips in this article apply to CPU and GPU coolers. The cooler of the power supply is usually quieter and does not require additional manipulation to reduce the noise level coming from the PC.
Remove the dust
Most often, the increased noise from the cooler comes from the contamination of the device itself. During the operation of the computer, dust inevitably sticks to its parts, including the cooler.
Please note: To prevent this from happening, experts and technicians recommend cleaning your computer 3-4 times a year.
The cooler of the processor and the cooler of the graphics card may become very dirty, which will cause unpleasant noise during operation. It is also dangerous because the accumulated dust interferes with the normal air circulation, which may cause overheating.
You can clean the cooler from dust by yourself following these simple steps:
Shut down your computer completely. If it is a desktop, turn the button on the power supply to the OFF position. If it’s a laptop, then you need to remove the battery or completely disconnect the device from the power supply.
Next, remove the cover of your desktop or laptop.
Important note: If your device is under warranty, removing the cover from the device may cancel your warranty privileges.
According to the design of your device, remove the cooler from the graphics card and CPU.
Clean it up. Most of the dust can be removed with a regular brush. If the contamination is severe, it might be necessary to disassemble the cooler.
Please note: We do not recommend using any aggressive cleaning agents, water or alcohol based, to clean the cooler. This could damage the device.
Having completely cleaned the coolers, reassemble them and install them in the system unit or laptop case.
After that, you can check if the computer has started to run quieter. If not, skip to the next tips.
Lubricate the mechanism of the cooler
If the cooler has been in operation for several years, its mechanism may start to wear out. This will lead to an unpleasant noise. You can lubricate the rotating element of the device using various suitable means: special lubricants for technology devices on a silicone basis (you can buy one in any electronics store) or WD-40 automotive lubricant.
To lubricate the cooler, you need to remove it from the heatsink (do not forget to replace the thermal paste on the heatsink of the CPU or GPU after that), and then apply lubricant directly to the mechanism of the device. This process should be quite easy to execute.
Please note: Often you can approach the rotating parts of the cooler without completely disassembling it. To do this, it is enough to remove the sticker, under which the reverse part of the mechanism is located. Lubricant can be applied there.
Once the lubricant has been applied to the mechanism, we do not recommend assembling the device immediately. First, turn the cooler manually to distribute the oil at low speeds.
Reduce the rotation speed of the cooler
Important note: This recommendation should only be followed if the PC is not being used for productive applications and games. In such cases, you can try to set the automatic detection of the cooler rotation speed, if the maximum values are set.
You can adjust the cooler rotational speed using either the software built into the driver or a special one. The most famous program for this setting is SpeedFan.
These 3 methods should help reduce the noise that the cooler makes during operation. If they haven’t solved the problem, we recommend replacing the cooler. It is quite possible that the noise will be automatically reduced because of the newer cooler as the new models are a lot quieter.