[amiedellinger]

My computer has been acting this way for about a year. I know... I know... I should've sought help awhile ago... but unfortunately I am a procrastinator.

Anyhow, my computer will randomly start whirring so loud that I can't even hear the movie or music that I am playing! I have to blast my speakers because it will be quiet, and then it will WHIRRRRRRRR.... WHIRRRRRR.... (silence) WHIRRRRRRR (you get the picture.)

I had taken the side off of it, and cleaned out the dust that was inside... that may have helped for a little bit but I'm not sure. It's extremely annoying. Could it be a program issue? Or would it be a hardware issue???

I've also noticed that in task manager, system idle process is taking up about 97% of my CPU. Is this normal?

If anyone can offer up any advice, I would GREATLY appreciate it!

Thanks so much!

--Amie

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My computer has been acting this way for about a year. I know... I know... I should've sought help awhile ago... but unfortunately I am a procrastinator.

Anyhow, my computer will randomly start whirring so loud that I can't even hear the movie or music that I am playing! I have to blast my speakers because it will be quiet, and then it will WHIRRRRRRRR.... WHIRRRRRR.... (silence) WHIRRRRRRR (you get the picture.)

I had taken the side off of it, and cleaned out the dust that was inside... that may have helped for a little bit but I'm not sure. It's extremely annoying. Could it be a program issue? Or would it be a hardware issue???

I've also noticed that in task manager, system idle process is taking up about 97% of my CPU. Is this normal?

If anyone can offer up any advice, I would GREATLY appreciate it!

Thanks so much!

--Amie

I have had an emachine and an HP that did the same thing. THey BOTH would go from silent to full force and then back to silent. THere was never any in between. Unfortunately, the only fix I found was replacing the PSU with a quieter one.

System Idle process just tells you how much of the time your processor is running idle. This means your processor is only running at 3%. Yes that is normal

[PedroDaGR8]

My computer has been acting this way for about a year. I know... I know... I should've sought help awhile ago... but unfortunately I am a procrastinator.

Anyhow, my computer will randomly start whirring so loud that I can't even hear the movie or music that I am playing! I have to blast my speakers because it will be quiet, and then it will WHIRRRRRRRR.... WHIRRRRRR.... (silence) WHIRRRRRRR (you get the picture.)

I had taken the side off of it, and cleaned out the dust that was inside... that may have helped for a little bit but I'm not sure. It's extremely annoying. Could it be a program issue? Or would it be a hardware issue???

I've also noticed that in task manager, system idle process is taking up about 97% of my CPU. Is this normal?

If anyone can offer up any advice, I would GREATLY appreciate it!

Thanks so much!

--Amie

I have had an emachine and an HP that did the same thing. THey BOTH would go from silent to full force and then back to silent. THere was never any in between. Unfortunately, the only fix I found was replacing the PSU with a quieter one.

System Idle process just tells you how much of the time your processor is running idle. This means your processor is only running at 3%. Yes that is normal

[amiedellinger]

What is a PSU?

[PedroDaGR8]

What is a PSU?

Power Supply Unit (just called a power supply). It is the gray box with all the orange yellow white and black wires coming out of it, that also has the plug to your electrical outlet on the outside.

[amiedellinger]

Awesomeness - you rock - thanks man! I will most definitely check out prices for one of those thingies and buy one and try to switch it out.

Have a great day Pedro!

[123Runner]

Doesn't necessarily mean that its the power supply.
I would more think 1 of the fans is an issue. Yes there is a fan in the PSU, but you also have 1 on the CPU and probably some in the case.
Could be a bearing on 1 of them going/ gone.

You should do just a little more troubleshooting, esp looking at the fans.

[PedroDaGR8]

Doesn't necessarily mean that its the power supply.
I would more think 1 of the fans is an issue. Yes there is a fan in the PSU, but you also have 1 on the CPU and probably some in the case.
Could be a bearing on 1 of them going/ gone.

You should do just a little more troubleshooting, esp looking at the fans.

Good point. I thought I typed that in there but didn't. Check any and all fans to see where the sound is coming from.

[amiedellinger]

Well, I already cleaned out the inside of it... there was a bunch of dust around one of the inside fans. It was that fan that was making the loud whirring noises.

Do you think I should clean it out again, and perhaps make sure there is sufficient airflow around the computer? (Cause it is kinda sandwiched between the wall and the computer desk)

[PedroDaGR8]

Well, I already cleaned out the inside of it... there was a bunch of dust around one of the inside fans. It was that fan that was making the loud whirring noises.

Do you think I should clean it out again, and perhaps make sure there is sufficient airflow around the computer? (Cause it is kinda sandwiched between the wall and the computer desk)

Where was this fan located? If it wasn't in the PSU then the PSU IS NOT the problem. You can try blowing it out again, if that works again then you just need to keep it clean.

By the way does this computer sit on the floor? If so that is a COMMON source of dust, about 3-4x more dust on the floor than sitting on a table.

[amiedellinger]

The fan was on the side of the computer not near the back of it. And yes, it sits on the floor sandwiched between the wall and the desk so it doesn't get much air...

I will have to clean it out again, check the fan, and try to put it somewhere away from the floor with more air flow.

I am sure that would probably do it!

Thanks so much for all of your help - (I don't know anything about computers!!!)

[PedroDaGR8]

The fan was on the side of the computer not near the back of it. And yes, it sits on the floor sandwiched between the wall and the desk so it doesn't get much air...

I will have to clean it out again, check the fan, and try to put it somewhere away from the floor with more air flow.

I am sure that would probably do it!

Thanks so much for all of your help - (I don't know anything about computers!!!)

If it keeps making noise, you may just need to but a new fan. Which isn't too expensive for a high quality low noise fan (much cheaper than a PSU ). That being said, sorry again for not typing that it could have been other fans. I could have sworn I did, obviously I didn't though.

[Gnomad1600]

What brand of computer is this? What model?

[dsenette]

And yes, it sits on the floor sandwiched between the wall and the desk so it doesn't get much air...

if that fan is blocked then a new fan won't help you at all...you need to move the computer so that it can get proper airflow before you damage something more important than a fan

[PedroDaGR8]

And yes, it sits on the floor sandwiched between the wall and the desk so it doesn't get much air...

if that fan is blocked then a new fan won't help you at all...you need to move the computer so that it can get proper airflow before you damage something more important than a fan

Very true, blocking up the fan like this is not good for the life of the components in your computer. THe fan is there for a reason, to cool what ever it blows on. By blocking it up, you are hindering its ability to cool said parts.