Why is My Computer So Loud? A Guide to Computer Noises
Summary: Abnormal sounds coming from computers can have simple causes or signal a significant breakdown is about to happen. Use this guide to analyze the source of the sounds and some fixes to try. A computer checkup may be necessary.
Computer Making Noise? What Type?
As we barrel through our workdays, we rarely think much about our computers if they are fully functional. IT maintenance may not on our radar until something breaks down. Powered-up computers are rarely completely silent. But when your computer is making noises that continue and gradually become louder, it could be a sign of something more severe and debilitating happening to your machine. Most often, unwanted sounds from PCs are related to the hard drive or the cooling fan. Here are some loud computer sounds to listen for:
- Loud Whirring Noise – A whirring sound is usually from an over-working fan. A fan’s size determines the high or low pitch and grating noise. Try taking a break and close some open programs running in the background to give your computer a little time to rest and cool off.
- Check to see if the fan needs cleaning or replacing. For example, a grimy fan clogged with dust can start to malfunction and overheat. On the other hand, if your PC is on but idle and the fan’s still making strange sounds, it could be overheating. Blowing out the fan with compressed air, wiping it clean and lubricating it can sometimes be a quick fix.
- Clicking Sound From Computer – A “dying” hard drive sometimes makes a constant clicking, low-pitched grinding or thumping noise. If you hear these sounds, you should stop working, back up all your data and consult a computer repair professional as soon as possible. If you are lucky, the clicking sound from your computer might be from a loose component or malfunctioning fan rather than a hard drive. But it is unwise to wait until your hard drive fails to get an analysis from IT experts. Data may not be recoverable from a failed hard drive.
- Phantom Speaker Noise – It is not normal for speakers to make noise when no audio is playing. The most common cause is a loose audio cable or feedback from internal components. Also, electromagnetic fields can sound like interference on speakers. The good news is that phantom speaker sounds are unlikely to be a sign of more significant problems.
- Screeching and Buzzing aka “Coil Whine” – Sometimes, when the internal components of a PC are working hard, they start to vibrate. At specific frequencies, the coil whine will become audible and sound like a high-pitched screech or loud buzzing noise.
- DVD Drive Noise – When a disk drive is accessed, it is normal for it to make a light whirring sound. However, if you are not using the drive, it is worth checking to ensure there is no disk in the drive that you have forgotten.
- Noisy Power Supply – Power supplies provide power, but they also have a fan to cool the computer. Therefore, a bad power supply or a dirty fan can contribute to significant overheating. If cleaning the fan does not alleviate the issue, it is likely that you will have to replace the power supply.
- Monitor Popping or Clicking – When you are using your computer under normal conditions, if the monitor pops, flashes or there is a clicking sound from your computer, the monitor might be on its way out. If an IT expert examines your monitor and cannot fix it, you should replace the monitor before it fails or worse, becomes a fire hazard. Consider adding a second or third monitor for enhanced productivity.
- Laptop Grinding Noise – For laptops, a grinding noise can be very serious. It could be a sign that your laptop’s hard drive read-write head is touching the disc platter. This contact can cause permanent damage to the drive. Often “clicking” starts before “grinding,” so if your laptop starts to click, it is time to back up your data and seek professional computer repair from an IT expert.
- Chiming Sounds – With everyday use, a computer makes a “chime” sound when any peripheral device is connected or disconnected. Also, malfunctioning and incompatible peripherals might cause your PC to chime repeatedly. Disconnect all your peripheral devices and reconnect them one by one to determine which is malfunctioning.
If your computer is suddenly making new noises or loud noises, it is time to act. Many users listen to strange sounds coming out of their machines and ignore them until they cannot bear the distraction or their computer malfunctions and they cannot work. Understanding the various sounds a computer can make is essential, especially when they are signs of computer failure.
You need not be a techy to realize the significance of each noise and know when it is time to seek help. By ensuring that you have a basic understanding of what different sounds mean, you may be able to correct an impending computer issue before your system fails. Early detection could help you avoid paying for data recovery, or being without a computer at a crucial time. Contact your IT professional to help you diagnose computer issues, perform regular maintenance and computer checkups on computers or provide small and midsized business IT solutions.