Dell - Support

Warmer ambient temperatures in the system's operating environment will cause the system to heat up and reduce the cooling efficiency of the fans. This may make the fans speed up, increasing noise. Conversely, a cooler environment will reduce system temperature and increase cooling efficiency.

» Inadequate ventilation may cause the fans to speed up, generating more noise.

Dell™ OptiPlex™ and Dell™ Dimension™ desktops are designed to move air through the chassis for optimal cooling. In many systems, the air flow is front to back. On these systems, there are intake vents on the front (they may not be immediately evident) and exhaust vents on the back (normally where fans are located). Other systems may have intake and/or exhaust vents in other locations. All chassis venting areas should be unobstructed and have adequate space for air to circulate into and out of the system. Placing the system inside of a cabinet or drawer will cause the fans to spin excessively to compensate for the lack of air flow.

» Heavy processing loads will cause the fans to speed up.

Heavy processing tasks such as graphics manipulation, gaming or computation will increase the system's processor activity, generating heat. To control this heat, the fans may speed up to provide adequate cooling

» Update the System BIOS to the Latest Version to Address the Fan Noise Issue

In many systems, fan speeds are automatically controlled by the system BIOS via temperature sensors. In these systems, fans will automatically speed up and slow down to control the system's internal temperature. The faster the fans spin, the louder they are. Check to see if you have the latest system BIOS by using the download section of the Dell Support Site for your product model. Search for FlashBIOS Updates. Follow the installation instructions included in the download.

Note:

For more information on downloading a file, utility, or driver, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article: "Where Can I Find Downloadable Drivers, Files, and Utilities for My Dell™ Computer?" Article ID: 167409.

Note:

For more information about flashing the BIOS, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article: "How can I obtain the latest upgrade to my basic input/output system (BIOS) or system setup file?" Article ID: 134892.

» Clean the Intake/Exhaust Vents, Fan Impellers, and Heatsink Fins

Over time, dust may build up on the intake/exhaust vents, fan impellers, and heatsink fins. Dust or debris buildup on air intake vents may reduce airflow, which causes the fans to speed up to compensate. Dust on fan impellers and heatsink fins can reduce the efficiency of both, also causing the fans to speed up.

As a precaution, ensure that dust does not build up on air intake vents, fan impellers, and heatsinks.

Note:

If you see any dust or debris buildup, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article "How do I clean the exterior and interior of my computer?" Article ID: 146414 for instructions on how to clean vents, fans, and heatsinks.

» Use the System Noise Wizard (Decision Tree) to identify source of the noise.

If you are unable to identify the source of the noise, refer to the following wizard (decision tree) for step by step troubleshooting: System Noise [ All Dell™ Desktop Computers ]: Wizard ID 109253.

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