Tower noise with World of Warcraft?

jessek · #1 May 18th, 2008, 02:43 AM

Whenever my son plays World of Warcraft the computer tower gets really loud, like it is working overtime on the game or something.

My husband guesses that the computer has to really strain to play the game and it is the fan making the noise to keep things cool during this big effort.

It is really noisy and irritating to the rest of us trying to watch TV in the same room, so if anyone here thinks it might be a fan issue and can tell us if we can buy an extra fan and what kind this computer needs, we would all really appreciate it!

The computer we have is an AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core Processor 5000+ 2.6 GHz, with Windows Vista, 250 GB hard drive and 1 GB Ram.

Thank you.

jessek · #2 May 18th, 2008, 08:34 PM

I see that my question has been moved to the gaming section and I'm not sure if that is where it belongs.

I should have maybe added a few more facts to my original question.

The tower noises also happen when I get to web pages that have a lot of "action" on them, like animations playing and also I get the noise during some parts of the AV run every morning. I also get the problem when I'm doing a shockwave jigsaw puzzle, but only if I am moving a piece from the side and don't release it within about 2 seconds. If I hold the puzzle piece and move it around the completed portion of the puzzle, while trying to decide where it might go, I get the loud "motor-type" noise from the tower.

It is not just WoW, but that is when the rest of the family is most irritated.

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough in my first post, but maybe this should go back to hardware?

agithegreat · #3 May 19th, 2008, 09:48 AM

Hi,
As a game runs, it clearly is a lot more demanding on the computer than say, windows media player, or microsoft word.
All the computer is doing is trying to remove the excess heat that is produced due to the components working harder.
If the computer is a couple of years old, you may wish to consider cleaning it. Do a search for "what to use when cleaning pc".

If you have additional space inside your computer for more fans, it may be worth adding some. Especially near the top and back of the computer. When looking for fans, pick one that has a high CFM - this is the amount of air it moves. Also consider the Db rating - how loud it is. The lower clearly the better. Anything below 28ish and its pretty much inaudiable. Make sure you get the right size fan too. 120mm, 80mm and 92mm are standard sizes. Most loikely you can fit in 80mm. But if you can fit 120mm ones in, they don't have to make as much noise to move more air, due to them being a larger fan. see here for some god products. - http://www.quietpc.com/

jessek · #4 May 19th, 2008, 02:22 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The computer is about 18 months old, and has been this noisy from day one. We cleaned it not too long ago, when we were trying to fit an old graphics card in it from another computer, but will clean it again (as we do regularly anyway) when we put in a new fan.

And what is considered the back of the tower? Is it when you open it up and have to stick your hand all the way to the back, or is the back the place where all the cords go in?

misterbadnback · #5 May 19th, 2008, 03:26 PM

The back is where you plug your mouse, monitor, keyboard, etc... you may not have a fan in the back or a place for one because it all depends on the case you have. You can always install a fan in the top of the case but that depends on what type of case you have too since there has to be enough room between the PSU and CD/DVD ROM to drill out holes to make one fit. If it is the HSF on the CPU that is making the noise you you can always purchase a better one that would keep it cooler plus it would make it quieter too. What make and model is your computer? If you built the system what case are you using?

How to install a top fan in your case. ( You must make sure there is enough room between the PSU and CD/ROM before you do this)
http://www.modthebox.com/blowhole.shtml

agithegreat · #6 May 19th, 2008, 05:33 PM

Ok... i have drawn on common (maybe not all) fan locations.
Behind (from this angle)(side panel off) of the two fans at the left of this case is normally where your cable plug into. This may be different, dependant upon the case.

jessek · #7 May 20th, 2008, 05:25 PM

Thank you again.

This is the computer I have.

http://www.shopbot.ca/pp-acer-aspire...ce-100491.html