Why Is My Laptop So Loud Lately?

by Ashley Poland

The loudest component in your laptop is the fan, which spins faster when the laptop has more heat to dissipate. While some laptops naturally run louder than others. If there's a sudden increase in noise from your computer, then the culprit is either due to something mucking up your hardware or changes in the software.

Dirty Fans and Blocked Vents

Computers overheat more as they get older, especially if you haven't been cleaning your laptop vents regularly. The fans may be spinning faster due to dust in the works, but it may also be how you're using the laptop. Using it on your lap or on a soft surface (like a comforter) can block the vents, reducing airflow and triggering the fans to spin faster.

Software and Strained Resources

If you've changed the operating system or installed any software that runs continuously in the background, you may be dealing with an increased system load. When you put a load on your resources, this causes them to heat up and switch on the fans. Look at what you're doing when the fans start to spin loudly; running games and editing, or watching video puts more stress on a computer than browsing the Internet.

Impending Hard Drive Failure

It's possible that the loud noise isn't the fans, but the hard drive. If you notice that the area near your hard drive makes a more pronouncing whirring, grinding or clicking sound, back up your data immediately. When the mechanical components inside an HDD begin to fail, the end result is a noisier hard drive. The only solution after backing up your data is to replace the hard drive with a new model.

Quieting Down Your Laptop

If you're certain that the sound you're hearing isn't the hard drive giving you a warning, then the problem only requires a few repairs -- some more simple than others. Use a can of compressed air to dust out the laptop vents; when you're using the laptop, make sure that it has plenty of space to vent air. Remove any programs you're not using and disable as many background processes as possible. If the fans continue to spin loudly even when you're not using resource-intensive software, consider opening up the laptop and using compressed air to clean dust out the inside. Only do this if your laptop isn't under warranty, as opening the laptop will void it. Replacing the old thermal paste on the heat sink can also reduce heat (and thus fan noise), but only do so if you're comfortable with laptop disassembly and repair.

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