Noisy computers

Factual Questions
1

Why are some computers today so noisy? I am thinking in particular of hard drives manufactured by the Dell corporation. I have had three roommates in a row who have had one of these that they’d use while I was trying to study, and that they’d leave running all night when I was trying to sleep. I also have to use one at work, and it is very distracting. Their fans are really loud, and when you’re using them, they make these rather alarming rattles and clunks. What causes this? Is there a little hamster in a wheel that makes them go? What?

An infinite number of rednecks in an infinite number of pickup trucks shooting an infinite number of shotguns at an infinite number of road signs will eventually produce all the world’s great works of literature in Braille.

2

First of all Dell does not manufacture their own Hard Drives. Like many computer companies, they purchase them and assemble the computer.
Secondly, the newer HDD’s spin faster 7200+RPMs, much faster than olderones. Also there are often more heads moving further inside to cover the larger storage space.

Heaven…One to beam up!

3

Sorta related, I guess. http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mnoise.html

I used to rock and roll all night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I’m lucky if I can find a half an hour a week in which to get funky.

4

Right on your majesty! YOu are so right! Also, don’t forget that some processor fans are just plain louder than a Limp Bizkit concert. I have heard my friends CPU fan on his PIII over the phone, for cryin’ out loud.
THis is cuz these new-fangled CPUs run so fast that they get hot! So they have this big ass heat-sink with a fan the size of Taiwan to keep 'em cool.
Noonch.

“And on the eighth day, God Created beer
to prevent the Irish from taking over
the Earth.”
~SNOOGANS~

5

Specifically, the new Pentium IIIs need more cooling power over previous machines. The fans you hear are for the processor not the hard drive. Most hard drives are pretty quiet. Although I haven’t personally heard the new Ultra ATA 7200 RM hard drives, I will in a couple of months though.

I don’t know if they have come out with it yet, but Intel was to have come out with a redesigned processor that doesn’t run as hot as it’s predessors (sp).

6

And that’s why I don’t buy desktops anymore unless I need it for a specific application, such as server, or specialized video boards, etc. Most laptops have fans (if they have one) that are connected to the thermostat inside so that they will only turn on when needed. Both desktops and laptops nowadays can be set to power down the hard disk automatically after some time until it is needed again. The processors on a well designed machine can also be set to go into a standby mode (low speed > low power > low heat > no need for fan). You can also set the machine to automatically hibernate and practically shut down after a period of inactivity. As an aside, laptops essentially come with a UPS since it has a battery connected, great for those sudden power outages. All this Energy Star compliance also saves wear and tear on the machine.

7

That’s right Center. ATX case computers can have fans, which speeds are controlled by the computer itself when it detects how hot everything is.

But then why not just put the computer in standby at night? Should be pretty quiet.

I wonder if having those little rubber shoes on the bottom of the computer case makes it quieter?

8

Dell computers are often really loud because the harddisk is positioned flat against the front of the case just inside the air vent. If you move it the disk access will be much quieter.

9

Royalbill was correct on all points. Dell “manufactures” nothing, except in the sense that it assembles components made by others into complete computer systems. Most of the other “big name” computer companies are the same – Compaq, Gateway, etc. Even Big Blue has gotten away from making its own stuff. It should be noted, however, that the really big names have always tended to have components made to their own designs, especially when it comes to “compact” cases.

Having been in the custom-computer-building business for some years, however, I’ll state that some hard drives are just plain noisier than others. I’ve used 'em all, IBM, WD, Conner, Maxtor, Samsung, Quantum, etc., and I’ve used 3600-, 5400-, and 7200-rpm drives. In my experience, Maxtor drives seem to be noisier than others; they work quite well, but just seem to make more racket. A Samsung drive I used in my own PC for nearly two years was literally whisper-quiet.

Cooling-fan noise is more likely what n-t grrl is talking about. Just about any PC contains at least one fan, to cool the transformers in the power supply; most newer PC’s also contain a fan/heat sink assembly to cool the CPU, and many contain one or more auxiliary fans to promote airflow through the case. Excessive heat destroys microelectronic components; fans are a necessary evil.

Yet another source of (intermittent) noise is the CD drive. High-speed CD drives are wonderful things, but the technology of manufacturing CD’s takes the disc’s balance into little account. As a point of reference, consider that the “X” rating of today’s CD drives refers to the spin speed of a standard music CD. That is, “X” = the speed at which a music CD spins, about 100 rpm, IIRC. Your fancy new 50-X CD drive is thus capable of cranking that little plastic disk at 5000+ rpm. I once had a PC in for repair that had a 36X CD-ROM drive that would literally walk the case across my bench; the vibration and noise were amazing!

HeadlessCow was correct too in pointing out that component positioning and mounting can make a difference. I have seen ads for hard-drive “isolation” kits that feature rubberized mountings, but the aim of these kits seems to be more toward protecting the drive than eliminating noise or vibration. I’m sure they would work both ways.

My advice: take the PC to a pro and ask him/her to go through it with an eye toward eliminating the racket. Isolation-mounting of the HDD is one option. Testing and possibly replacing the CD drive is another. But if I had to put down money, I’d bet on the fans. Many manufacturers rely on “sleeve-bearing” fans, which don’t have bearings at all, but rather bushings. Replacing these fans with good-quality ball-bearing fans is relatively simple and inexpensive.

I don’t know why fortune smiles on some and lets the rest go free…

T