# Laptop fan noise **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151 "2008-01-11T17:19:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/1 "2008-01-11T17:19:31Z")
I have a Dell Latitude D630 laptop, and this is a random question, but do other laptop users have a fan that can be plainly heard while the laptop is running? I don’t remember being able to hear mine, so I have the fan and motherboard replaced but it’s still there. Am I just paranoid? It’s not incredibly loud or anything. Sorry for the stupid question–just wondering if I should be worried or not as I am leaving for school soon. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/2 "2008-01-11T17:23:04Z")
In my experience, yes, you can usually hear the fan. Of course, in most cases it will kick in under load or if it’s not getting enough air. Just make sure it’s getting air and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/3 "2008-01-11T17:24:01Z")
Oh, yeah, the fan of this laptop I’m on right now kicks in all the time. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/4 "2008-01-11T17:47:44Z")
Can you feel airflow in or out of the vents? My laptops (one ThinkPad and one MacBook) are almost completely silent most of the time, but when needed, the fans in either can kick up a storm and make some distinct noise. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/5 "2008-01-11T18:03:53Z")
[QUOTE=unbrok3npp] … but do other laptop users have a fan that can be plainly heard while the laptop is running? [/QUOTE] That’s subjective. I think all modern laptops have fans. On the laptops I’ve owned recently (Dell and Lenovo), the fan is quite noticeable in a quiet room. But the A/C in my office is enough to down it out completely. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/6 "2008-01-11T18:07:18Z")
I have a Dell D630 (using it right now) and it’s totally quiet. ---
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/7 "2008-01-11T18:24:38Z")
[QUOTE=nivlac] I have a Dell D630 (using it right now) and it’s totally quiet. [/QUOTE] Uugh, so should I have it replaced again? This seems ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/8 "2008-01-11T18:35:08Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] Can you feel airflow in or out of the vents? My laptops (one ThinkPad and one MacBook) are almost completely silent most of the time, but when needed, the fans in either can kick up a storm and make some distinct noise. [/QUOTE] I can feel strong airflow out of the vents. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/9 "2008-01-11T18:37:07Z")
The more programs you install and have running in the background the more demand on your CPU and the more often your fan will run. A lot of laptop owners running Windows find that after a reinstall of the OS their laptop is suddenly quiet again. Also your bios may have some fan-control features but Dell market (or used to market) the 360 as being one of their most silent laptops. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/10 "2008-01-11T18:44:13Z")
[QUOTE=nivlac] I have a Dell D630 (using it right now) and it’s totally quiet. [/QUOTE] I have a Dell D630 and it’s ridiculously loud – when under load. However it does run very hot (~ 70C according to various software tools, but I don’t necessarily trust that). ---
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/11 "2008-01-11T19:06:21Z")
[QUOTE=Ponster] The more programs you install and have running in the background the more demand on your CPU and the more often your fan will run. A lot of laptop owners running Windows find that after a reinstall of the OS their laptop is suddenly quiet again. Also your bios may have some fan-control features but Dell market (or used to market) the 360 as being one of their most silent laptops. [/QUOTE] I actually just reinstalled my OS for other reasons, and upgraded my bios. Still the same problem. About 10 minutes ago it actually became quiet for the first time in about 2 weeks. It was weird. Blah. ---
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/12 "2008-01-11T20:25:19Z")
Dell told me to take out my harddrive and then turn it on to see if there was any noise (to see if it was the harddrive) There wasnt any noise at all, but do you think it is really the harddrive? I mean, how could there be ANY sound if there is nothing to run?? Thanks for all the help so far. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/13 "2008-01-11T21:25:07Z")
[QUOTE=unbrok3npp] Dell told me to take out my harddrive and then turn it on to see if there was any noise (to see if it was the harddrive) There wasnt any noise at all, but do you think it is really the harddrive? I mean, how could there be ANY sound if there is nothing to run?? Thanks for all the help so far. [/QUOTE] If the power is on, then the fan should be running. Hard drives can be very noisy, especially in that the noise is high-pitched. I think it is entirely plausible that the noise that’s bothering you is the hard drive. That said, some laptops do have very noisy fans. Mine is silent but my dad’s old Dell is awful. ---
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/14 "2008-01-11T21:33:44Z")
[QUOTE=awldune] If the power is on, then the fan should be running. Hard drives can be very noisy, especially in that the noise is high-pitched. I think it is entirely plausible that the noise that’s bothering you is the hard drive. That said, some laptops do have very noisy fans. Mine is silent but my dad’s old Dell is awful. [/QUOTE] But if that fan gets replaced it should be more quite right? ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/15 "2008-01-11T22:27:35Z")
[QUOTE=unbrok3npp] But if that fan gets replaced it should be more quite right? [/QUOTE] Not if it gets replaced with a fan of same loudness or louder. I don’t follow the logic. A lot of fans are loud within their technical specifications, not as a failure. ---
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/16 "2008-01-11T22:36:53Z")
[QUOTE=groman] Not if it gets replaced with a fan of same loudness or louder. I don’t follow the logic. A lot of fans are loud within their technical specifications, not as a failure. [/QUOTE] Wouldnt the same fan for the same laptop usually run the same way? That way the laptop can be classified as “running quietly” or not. I just don’t want something to be wrong…i paid quite a bit for this laptop and if it should be quiet, it should be quiet. But i guess if they just keep installing new fans and they all sound the same then there’s no point to keep trying. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/17 "2008-01-11T22:43:25Z")
Some fans are loud when functioning properly. This is especially the case for high-RPM, low-profile fans in some laptops. However, fans that are failing often get louder. All that aside though, doesn’t your recent test indicate the hard drive is the source of the noise? ---
**Author:** ![Themenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Themenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themenin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2008, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/18 "2008-01-12T10:21:35Z")
You probably thought of this already, but is it hot in the place where you’re using your laptop ? A few years back my laptop fan started going crazy on a regular basis - sounded like a plane taking off. Once in a while the whole thing would even just suddenly shut down. After a couple of weeks I realized that it was the 100 degree + weather that was causing the problem, and only used the laptop in cooler places. That computer’s 5 years old now, and still going strong with no maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![unbrok3npp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c68b51/32.png) [@unbrok3npp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unbrok3npp)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-fan-noise/433151/19 "2008-01-12T16:56:06Z")
[QUOTE=Themenin] You probably thought of this already, but is it hot in the place where you’re using your laptop ? A few years back my laptop fan started going crazy on a regular basis - sounded like a plane taking off. Once in a while the whole thing would even just suddenly shut down. After a couple of weeks I realized that it was the 100 degree + weather that was causing the problem, and only used the laptop in cooler places. That computer’s 5 years old now, and still going strong with no maintenance. [/QUOTE] Nah, the laptop is running in a very cool environment. Judging by the fact that I have spent hours and hours of my time that I don’t have since August when I bought this, and no many other Dell users in the same boat, I’m just gonna try to get this off my hands on ebay and invest in something else. Especially with this stupid fan 😉