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E510 noise
i have this hummimg, sort of "whaaaaaaa", low pitch noise going on every so often, maybe once every couple of weeks. it makes the noise for about 3 seconds then off for about 2 and on again. i do not let it go on making that noise for fear it is hurting something. so i click the "turn off computer" button and it stops (but the computer is still on, just on it's way to shutting down). i continue with the shut down and restart the computer and no noise for a few weeks. i have tried holding the sides, moving it around, and nothing makes the noise go away. my dell is about 1 1/2 years old and everything runs fine on it, no problems as of yet, well, except that noise. any help would be appreciated.
mes444
75 Posts
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February 13th, 2008 13:00
Have you opened the case and cleaned out the interior of dust, etc. recently. Also, check the fans for excessive dust and clean them as well. Sounds like it might be dust slowing the fans. I even vacuum with little computer tools, around the main processor fan, video card fan, etc. Really helps.
ty_ger
812 Posts
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February 13th, 2008 13:00
Most likely it is a fan bearing which is drying out and wearing out.
Remove the case cover and boot up. When the noise starts, try to figure out where it is coming from. If you suspect one of the fans, stop the fan from spinning with your finger and see if the noise stops.
You can re-oil the fans if desired; and sometimes that keeps them quiet for a while. To do this, remove the fan from the component it is attached to. There will be a sticker on the fan frame on the side which was facing the object it was attached to. Remove that sticker and apply some sewing machine oil to the center of where the sticker was (you will see the bearing there). Clean up the surface the sticker attached to and try to re-attach it or at least install a piece of tape over the bearing to keep dust out. Then re-install the fan.
trifoxn
3 Posts
0
February 13th, 2008 14:00
trifoxn
3 Posts
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February 13th, 2008 14:00
mes444
75 Posts
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February 13th, 2008 14:00
You should unplug the computer's power cord completely so no power is getting to the computer when you go inside. You don't want to short it out or electrocute yourself. Two really bad things :smileyvery-happy:
The fans are in the back, they vent out the rear of the case. So you can vacuum the outside of the fan vent, and once you look at the back and see the vents, the fans are right inside the case. Ground yourself by touching the power supply and then get a small flashlight and see if you see a bunch of dust on the fan blades. You can use a qtip or somthing like that to clean the blades and then vacuum up the dust.
There may be a fan in the front too. They just look like little fans, nothing odd.
Also, some older cases have a removeable front panel and tons of dust gets in there also.
I think it's a dirty fan or dust build up. Keep looking and post back.
ccwind
125 Posts
0
February 13th, 2008 23:00
Besides what the other posters here suggested, you can also try damping the vibrations caused by the hard drive shaking inside the case. I fixed a noise problem in my E510 by putting 1/2" strips of cloth inside the tray where the hard drive sits. This makes the drive fits snugly instead of being loose inside the tray.
See this link to find the hard drive:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim5150/en/sm/parts1.htm#wp1366406