Kathryns computer is an HP jobby with an AMD Athlon II x4  620 (Propus)

When it's on, about 90% of the time the CPU fan (I assume) is whirring away like a hair dryer.

I've yet to take the case off and have a look, but I'm guessing the best way to get this running quieter is to swap the HSF for something a little less obscene. Does anyone have any recommendations?

http://www.tekheads.co.uk/product/Arctic-Cooling-Freezer-7-Pro-PWM-Rev2-CPU-Cooler_20214.html

^ I got that on a c2d and it's plenty quiet enough.

Check your case airflow before considering upgrading the HSF. You might find its built up a ton of dust and there's no way the air can flow (or just has poor airflow anyway), so you're building up big heat pockets and consequently the fan is working overtime to keep things cool.

That's on the cards, but I suspect it might be something else given how the temperature isn't being reported as being overly hot inside by coretemp?

checked the fan speed settings in the bios ?

there's probably an options something like, quiet, medium, extreme....


make sure it's on quiet :-)

Sadly the bios is very limited in options, fan control not being one of the few things listed

Make sure you have identified the right fan making the noise. It might be the PSU one but it just could be another. In my old case there is a trio of 120mm fans, two are quite quiet while the third, a high power unit, sounds like a jet engine. Needless to say the third one has been unplugged from power for some time. Eventually I will replace it.

If you haven't done so already take the side off and switch on the PC then listen to each of the fans in turn. While you are at that check for dust build up and give the heatsink a good clean if it needs it.

AMD CPUs do tend to run a bit hotter than Intel, so don't compare between the two, it's also the probable reason there is minimal fan control.

If it is the CPU fan to blame then replacing the CPU cooler and fan is probably the best option.

Finally got round to looking at the case today. The side vents were completely clogged. Took the panel off, gave it a clean, then looked at the fans. They were all pretty clean, but the CPU heatsink was again clogged. Things seem to be running a lot quieter now I've given the comp a bit of a dusting!