Why Is My CPU Cooler So Loud? Fixing Guide 2024

I can sense the unpleasant feeling that comes with a CPU fan that sounds like it’s about to take off. Yes, CPU fans may make some degree of noise, but at times, the whirring and buzzing get unbearable.

From my words, you can tell that I’ve been through the same situation myself. After the noise became unbearable, I started trying everything in my power to get it fixed. After trying out a few things, I finally solved the problem. The solution is quite simple, and I promise you’ll master it in no time.

Several factors might cause your CPU cooler to become noisy. The cooler’s fan may have accumulated a little bit too much dust and dirt, which is the most common explanation. A cooler will occasionally become noisy when it is working twice as hard, but that is normal.

In this article, I will walk you through all the procedures you can perform to make your CPU cooler and function quieter again. So, stick with me till the end, and you will resolve your loud CPU cooler problem in no time.

Contents

Why Is My CPU Fan So Loud?

It’s normal for computer fans to be loud at times. A whirling fan encourages stagnant hot air to flow around since CPUs and GPUs become heated from prolonged operation. Your fan will work harder when you are using many programs at once or performing demanding tasks like multimedia editing. To monitor the degree of activity on your computer, check the RAM.

Due to high internal temperatures brought on by 100% disc utilization, excessive RAM consumption, debris in the vents, or a lack of ventilation, your computer fan becomes noisy. Your fan can get noisy at times, which is normal, but if it rattles loudly for a while, you should look into it.

However, a persistently noisy or buzzing fan may indicate more serious performance concerns, component faults, or even a malware attack. Some viruses can substantially raise the temperature of your PC or overheat your Mac, permanently damaging important components.

Over time, all computers deteriorate, displaying jerky video frames, doing jobs less efficiently, and experiencing more crashes. However, if your computer fan suddenly becomes so loud that it rattles instead of just buzzing, you should take immediate action to identify the cause before the issue worsens.

Understanding the cause of your computer’s noisy fan will help you increase performance immediately and prolong the life of your machine. Bloatware and other PUPs (potentially unwanted applications) should be eliminated before running hard disk tests to identify issues.

How to Make the CPU Cooler Function Quieter?

In situations where nothing seems to be occurring, you can also notice your fan running faster. This is typical since Windows and many background processes maintain other operating systems. You’ll hear the rattling sound as soon as your fan starts to run too hard.

Regardless of the state of your fan, using the standard instructions will prolong the life of your computer. Even if you don’t need to make your fan quieter, using fan repair techniques should enhance performance and result in a speedier computer.

The following are some procedures you can try to fix a loud CPU fan:

Ensure Proper Airflow to Your Computer.

In the event that your fans are unable to effectively direct hot air outside your computer’s internals, they may begin to run more quickly. Make sure your computer—laptop or desktop—is set up on a smooth, level surface, such as a desk or even a tiled floor. You shouldn’t, however, place it on a carpeted area, in a drawer or cupboard.

Ensure that the area around your PC has sufficient ventilation and open airflow. Additionally, avoid closing your laptop’s casing while it is awake. Your computer’s hardware will remain cool, and your laptop fan will operate quietly if the air is allowed to circulate around it. Ensure that the tower of your desktop computer is always ventilated.

The idea is to ensure that the hot air within your computer has somewhere to go while your fan is simultaneously attempting to remove it. In addition, I understand that many laptop users prefer to use their laptops on their laps, and doing so is entirely OK as long as you periodically take a break.

Clean The CPU Cooler

I’ve stated it before, but everyone, including myself, has a tendency to forget to clean the dust off the CPU fan every few weeks or so. It is essential to set aside time in your schedule to dust and maintain your CPU cooler because it is only normal for the dust to accumulate due to airflow.

The performance of the entire computer can be negatively impacted by this dirt, which can also make the fan noisier and slower.

So, is it as easy as just picking up a brush and wiping things clean as you would with anything else? Unfortunately, that’s not how you clean a computer. Instead, if you can get your hands on a can of compressed air, that would be ideal.

Next, all you have to do is blast dust off internal components, especially from fans and heatsinks, using a few quick bursts of compressed air spaced out at regular intervals.

You may even take apart the body of your computer and clean the insides, but unless you’re an expert, we don’t advise this.

When using compressed air, use extreme caution since improper handling can result in frostbite and aerosols exploding. Not everything can be fixed with a can of compressed air; you must clean carefully to avoid harming yourself or your computer.

End All Background Processes

Your CPU cooler is likely becoming louder, mostly because it is exerting twice as much effort to cool the processor. The noise is coming from your fans since they are spinning more quickly than before.

This typically occurs when you have several background processes and programs running, whether you need them or not.

Follow the steps below to terminate all background processes:

Find your way to the Windows Search Menu.
Inside the search, type in Task Manager and click on the result that appears.
The task manager will display a list of all the applications that are running in the background.
You can select the unnecessary applications from the list and have them ended by clicking End Process and the lower right bottom of the screen.

Even if some computer noise is normal when it’s processing anything, you should close certain programs if the CPU fan is excessively loud and your Task Manager shows a lot of activity.

Some individuals overclock their CPUs and GPUs to boost performance and get beyond the processing power restrictions imposed by manufacturers. These people include gamers, bitcoin miners, and other users. Although those restrictions may seem burdensome, they actually promote smoother and longer computer use.

Close all open tabs in your browser.

Web browsers like Chrome and Safari will use more resources with the greater number of tabs you have open. Your computer will heat up if you have too many open tabs on your browser.

When you right-click on the grey area to the right of your open tabs, you may bookmark each tab by choosing Bookmark All Tabs from the context menu. If you close your browser, the fan sounds ought to stop. Additionally, all of your former tabs will be bookmarked so you can quickly access them again when you restart your browser.

Your browser will provide additional menu options when you click on a specific tab, such as Close tabs to the right. It’s practical to close certain tabs while keeping others open in that manner.

Perform A Malware Scan

Malware may cause your computer’s fans to begin to whir and tremble. Use a virus removal program to get rid of the infection if you suspect that the loud computer fan noise is caused by malware.

Crypto mining software has been known to be disseminated by hackers in order to mine Bitcoin. Additionally, some malware can conceal itself by suspending its operations as soon as Task Manager is launched. By preventing malware, virus removal software will ensure that you don’t experience a loud fan.

Reboot Your Computer

As soon as your computer is shut off, all currently active processes will stop. If no apps or programs are running, airflow problems will disappear, your computer’s fans will shut down, and your system will return to being silent.

Restart your computer with a fresh slate and see if the problem has been resolved or not.

Replace Your Fan

There are instances when a fan will become loud owing to faulty bearings, especially if it is a cheap model. Usually, when this occurs, your fan will start to emit an odd buzzing or rattling noise that you can only describe as buzzing.

After attempting everything listed above, if your computer is still incredibly noisy or is producing odd rattling or grinding noises, you can consider changing your fan.

You may replace the old fan with a new one if you have knowledge of computer construction. Ensure that the fan is the appropriate size. If not, measure the screw holes in the fan mount or check the manufacturer’s website for compatibility specifications.

Use rubber insulators (rather than metal screws) to prevent vibrations from transferring to the casing and causing computer fan rattling. Pay attention to the arrows on the fan to determine the airflow direction. Your computer will operate more quietly than before, and its airways won’t get as clogged with dust thanks to cautious installation.

Why Does My Laptop Fan Run So Loud When It Isn’t Hot?

If your laptop fan is excessively noisy but it’s not overheating, it’s likely that the fan is worn out. If it’s only been a few days since your purchase, you must contact the sellers right away.

Additionally, some of the less expensive fans tend to have these poor fan bearings or tolerance, so if you want to obtain the most value for your money, stay away from such.

You must entirely replace the fan in order to permanently solve this issue. Remember that this does not prevent you from continuing to use your present fan. You may continue to use this fan for the coming years, but you will need to get accustomed to the noise as it won’t go away.

Another reason your fan may be noisy but not overheating is if the heatsink is filling up with dust and fluff.

How to Maintain Normal Fan Operation?

Regular maintenance is the secret to lowering fan noise. Remove unnecessary software to keep the file systems and software clean, and ensure the ports and vents are dust-free.

Use specialized cleansing software and make sure your computer has adequate airflow around the casing to keep it running smoothly and quietly.

FAQs

Are CPU coolers loud?

The answer to this can be either Yes, it is typical for a CPU cooler to become noisy while the CPU is constantly operating, and no, CPU coolers are not loud at all when the CPU is not under any load.

Is it normal to hear your laptop fan?

Hearing the sound of your laptop fan is fine, although it shouldn’t be louder than 20 dB. When they’re operating, laptop fans normally provide a quiet to moderate sound.

Why is my new CPU cooler loud?

Less expensive or faulty fans with damaged bearings could give rise to noise issues.

Why is my cooling fan so loud?

When a computer generates a lot of heat, the fans start to run louder as they attempt to push the hot air out of the computer so that cooler air may circulate within. Your PC’s performance may be significantly impacted by dust accumulation, which can also result in loud computer fans. Common reasons include:

Dirty Fans
Inadequate ventilation
Malfunctioning fans
High CPU workload

Wrapping It Up

A rattling, loud CPU fan could be a nightmare to deal with when you plan on using your computer for a long time. To fix the problem, it is important to first figure out the cause. That way, you can directly apply the solution that concerns it.

Hopefully, after following through with this guide, you will have gotten rid of the noise your CPU cooler was generating. If none of the fixes work for you, it may indicate there’s something wrong with your fan. In such a case, you will ultimately have to replace it with a new one.