![\"Dusty](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/Dusty-PC-fans-1.jpg\" "\\"Dusty")
<\/a>Both the CPU and PSU cooling fans are caked with dust<\/p><\/div>\n
Wethekam agrees that manufacturers have woken up to the problem. A recent test of notebooks and ultrabooks showed all devices scoring between good and satisfactory when it came to operating noise.<\/p>\n
Many ultrabooks, which come with energy-saving processors, high-end housing and a graphic chip directly on the processor, are often somewhat quieter than standard notebooks, but also more expensive.<\/p>\n
There are also some certificates that grade devices on noise emitted, though they are not used universally.<\/p>\n
Herzog says a PC advertised as running quietly should emit no more than 45 decibels when idle.<\/p>\n
If the goal is to quiet an existing machine, there are multiple options.<\/p>\n
One easy approach is to install a new fan with larger blades, which pull the same amount of air into the computer, but with fewer rotations.<\/p>\n
Herzog notes that an older trick, a device that would control the rotations, no longer makes sense, since most fans’ speeds are regulated by the temperature of the processor or graphics chip, and not set for a certain number of spins per minute.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Hair and dust clog this side-panel fan<\/p><\/div>\n
A computer can also be quieted by deactivating unnecessary components.<\/p>\n
Windows’ energy management function includes settings that stop the hard drive spinning for certain periods. Separate graphics cards are also usually easy to turn off with a simple switch.<\/p>\n
Herzog also notes that some desktops include processors with passive cooling.<\/p>\n
“It’s a big metal block with vents. When combined with a good blast of air, the computer is as quiet as a tablet.”<\/p>\n
Casemodders – people who like to personalize their computer’s housings -get even more creative.<\/p>\n
The trend is mostly about appearances, but many of their modifications can also make the computer quieter, explains Alexander Gliserin, who has judged casemodding contests.<\/p>\n
Some enthusiasts have stolen the idea of water cooling from the car industry. But that’s usually only necessary for “high-end computers, in the super performance category,” says Gliserin.<\/p>\n
More Hardware News<\/h3>\n
AMD diversifies beyond PCs, hires chip veterans<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n