I bought a XPS 420 in Feb also and have a similar experience with noise.  I'm not sure whether it is from the fan or case.  The PC starts out quiet and a little while later the noise starts.  It may then subside.  I have not yet opened up to investigate.  But it is very annoying.

When my 420 starts buzzing I put my hand on top of the case, it stops.

 

It's not nearly as noisy as my 8400, so it dosen't bother me.

Thats a normal issue

 

1. The HDs are placed at the bottom of the case and if u put it on a wooden surface, it generally vibrates (constant backgound vibrating sound)

 

2. Sometimes there is an alternating vibrations that i hear (i am thinking because of the cpu fan), and they are usually from the left plate below the air intake in the front, i tap that and it stops

 

--------------------------

XPS 420

C2D E8500-3.16GHZ

4GB ram - 667MHz

750GB HD

8800GT 512MB

E248WFP

Certainly not the hard drives causing it. There is a noise caused by at least one of the fans, but it's not that, either. The one I'm talking about is a much louder buzzing noise, but is intermittent and not related to fan speeds or HDD usage, so I can't work out why it starts or stops - but at times it seems I spend as much time trying to stop it as I do actually using the PC.

Too bad you didn't call for a refund or replacement befor your 21 days ran out.

I had the same problem. Stuffed some dense foam under the connector ends of my two HDs and that took care of it.

Luueeiie,

 

You were right.  I have to push down a little for the buzzing to stop.  I've now put a dumbell on top of the case and so far that seems to solved the problem.

 

Thanks

Hi,

 

I got my XPS 420 in January, and mine does it too.

 

I seem to get it after 10-20 mins of powering the PC on, and like everyone else has said, I press on the case to or sides, and most times it goes

 

Other times It takes ages to make it go away.

 

I've took the side off the PC to have a look but can't figure out where it comes from

 

Infact, last couple of days after taking the side off, PC seems to have got noiser like a constant low growl, but it could be mind over matter, the more you think about it, the louder it seems

 

PC is on one of those units where there is a small space that your PC sits in, so I think that is amplifying the sound 

 

I was thinking of getting some of that acoustic foam matting and putting a piece under the PC, and inside too

This sounds a lot like what I've been experiencing, FW16. I was also thinking about getting some acoustic foam - but as a test, I got a thick sheet of corrugated (okay, I tore a side off an Amazon box) - it seems to help in some ways, but I'm not sure if that's because I'm looking out for it. There're still frequent loud buzzing sessions, so I'm no longer convinced any kind of mat would help.

I had a noise that I believe was due to simple vibration. I bought a rubbermaid static mat and placed it under the pc. It removed almost all the vibration / noise...It's not a bad idea to have anyway if one is apt to open  the cover....