Power is arguably the least exciting part of a personal computer. Unsurprisingly, it tends to get overlooked and often has the least allocated budget in most PC builds. This is also why the power supply unit (PSU) is the culprit of most noisy computers. Here we look at the different ways your power supply can cause racket and how to reduce power supply noise on your PC.
If the noise emanating from your computer is loud and harsh, your first course of action should be to open the case and check the PSU fan blades for any obstructions. It is not uncommon for stray cables to enter the fan blades despite the protective grille. This is easily remedied by simply fixing the object pushing into the PSU fan.
It might seem like a no-brainer, but it's not uncommon for PC builders to skimp on PSU screws or forget to tighten them. If your PSU isn't attached to the case, the rotating mass of the built-in fan can cause vibrations loud enough to be heard. To solve this problem, simply add missing screws and / or tighten the loose ones.
A PC component that sucks air is usually equipped with mesh filters for dust control. These filtered outlets tend to accumulate dust and become clogged over time. The PSU fan is no exception. In fact, it is quite prone to clogging as it usually draws air from the bottom of the case. Being placed on the floor also doesn't help matters.
A blocked PSU air intake can cause the fan to run faster and noisier. Regularly clean the PSU fan filter/intake to avoid this problem. Avoid placing the back of the case too close to a wall or obstructing the PSU exhaust grille in any way. Failure to do so will contribute to heat buildup and therefore increased fan noise.
This advice is not limited to laptops, as it applies to desktop computers as well. If you're rocking thick carpets, you either have to place the PC case on the desk or use a dolly to lift it off the floor. Thick carpets can block the PSU fan inlet at the bottom and make it noisier.
This is a fairly common mistake made by novice PC builders and big tech media houses. All desktop PC cases are designed to mount the PSUs in a specific orientation for optimal cooling by ensuring air is drawn in and exhausted in the correct direction. Mount the PSU the wrong way round and you risk blocking critical cooling airflow. This installation error manifests as excessive fan noise. It is also a potential fire hazard.
With all the standard remedies out of the way, here's something from left field. Coil whine can be as loud as a misbehaving fan and much harder to diagnose. It manifests as a harsh buzzing noise that tends to increase and decrease with different levels of PC activity. The coil whine emanates from the inductors or power coils found on the PSU circuit board. This is easily located once you place your ear towards the GPU, motherboard, and PSU to isolate the culprit.
These power conditioning components tend to vibrate in tandem with high frequency currents flowing through them, producing a hum when the frequency of vibration matches the natural resonant frequency of the inductors. Most well-designed PSUs prevent this annoying phenomenon through better design and having these components covered with vibration/sound absorbing materials. Reputable PSU manufacturers offer replacements for high end/high performance units with excessive coil whine.
A computer power supply must convert AC power from a wall outlet to the DC power required by PC components. This AC-DC conversion is fraught with inefficiency which is converted into heat. Computer power supplies are most efficient when asked to provide between 40 and 60 percent of their total rated power.
The PSU tends to become inefficient when forced to supply power outside of this sweet spot. In other words, a PSU rated at 1000 watts is not efficient enough while delivering 950 watts of power. This inefficiency manifests itself in heat dissipation through the power supply components. This in turn forces the cooling fan to work hard, which consequently contributes to overall noise.
One way is to calculate how much power your PC draws and then get an oversized power supply. It is not uncommon for PC builders to choose extremely powerful power supplies. Most PSUs only activate the fans when the system load reaches 30% of their rated capacity. The solution may not be efficient, but it is certainly silent.
Undervoltage is the exact opposite of overclocking. Simply put, it's all about reducing the maximum voltage supplied to critical processing hardware, such as the CPU and GPU. Refer to our excellent guide to under-tensioning to learn more about the process.
Reducing the voltage of these components reduces the total power consumption and therefore the total heat dissipated by the PSU. It also makes your computer and power supply much cooler and quieter. This process can be involved, but it's a powerful option if all the previous options fail to keep your PSU running silently.
While all of these remedies will solve your problem to some degree, there's not much you can do if you're using a really cheap power supply. This is a bad idea because poor quality power supplies are responsible for most system stability issues and critical component failures. It's a good idea to be able to identify a dying power supply. And be sure to check out our guide to choosing the right power supply for your PC.
Contents1. Is the PSU fan clear?2. Is the power supply fan worn?3. Check case mounting screws 4. Check that the air intake / exhaust is not obstructed5. Keep it off the mat6. Make sure the power supply is correctly oriented7. Don't rule out the reel groan8. Running your power supply in the right place9. Undervolting to keep things quiet Conclusion:it makes more sense to invest in a good power supply
