Why is my computer so loud?

Noise volume is such a subjective measurement. What sounds loud to one person might not seem so loud to another. Keep in mind that you will notice fan noise more if you are upgrading from a system that is 2-3 years old because modern components often require more powerful fans to cool the system so it can run properly. With these things in mind, there are a few things you can do to reduce decibel levels:

  • Wait for your system to fully boot up. Fans sometimes spin at higher RPMs when the system starts up; they will settle down to normal rotational speed within a minute or two.
  • Carefully open up your case and, using a can of compressed air, gently blow dust off any fans. Dust buildup creates turbulence which can increase fan noise and ultimately kill a fan, so perform this maintenance regularly.
  • Upgrade your CPU's heatsink/fan combination. The stock fans that come with the CPU are sufficient, but several companies make heatsink/fan combinations that lower noise as well as improve cooling. Some users opt to switch out system fans with low acoustical fan models like those manufactured by Noctua and others.
  • While not recommended in most situations, some users have used inline variable fan speed controllers to reduce the RPMs and quiet fans. This can be dangerous as parts can be damaged if the system does not receive proper cooling.
  • Most users use software fan speed controllers like Speedfan to monitor temperatures and control their fan speeds. SpeedFan