XPS 420 case buzzing

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 have the same problem with my XPS 420.  So much for paying a premium price for "quality build"? :smileymad:  I'm really mad at Dell for the poor quality build of this case.  For what we paid, it should not have problems like this.  I expect this from the cheaper Inspiron line but not XPS.  C'mon Dell, what gives?

 

The buzzing sound comes from poor design of the plastic fan housing.  It is not mounted securely and vibrates causing an intermittent metallic case buzzing sound that starts soft and gets louder as the cpu gets warm and fan spins more.

 

How to solve this problem: 

1. Use this type of foam:  http://www.intelligentfoam.com/types/types.html
2. Cut a 2 pieces (depending on how thick your foam is...you want an end result of 1.5-2" thick) about 1.5" wide and about 5" long so it can securely be glued vertically onto the plastic fan housing.   It is easy to see when you have the case open.
3. Glue the 2 pieces together, skip this step if your foam is thick enough by itself
4. Glue the foam onto the fan housing.
5. Close the case and let dry for a few hours.

The pressure of the case side should push the foam against the plastic fan housing against the motherboard tight enough to eliminate the ANNOYING and QUITE LOUD buzzing sound.  I wish I could put attachments on here so I can record how loud the buzzing is but I'm sure most who searched this problem already know.

 

This solution works great for me!  Let me know how it works for you.  I used glue stick glue and my XPS is only about a month old.

mmh.. looks like I am not the only one having this problem. Like I said in my earlier post the noise usually goes away after I shake the front USB port or just slap the side of the case when the noise gets too annoying. 

Has anyone contacted tech support? If your box is under warranty and the Fan is a Problem... Get the fan replaced!

Sean

I have found this thread regarding the XPS 420 case buzzing very interesting.  I purchased two XPS 410 units some time ago.  I noticed that buzzing rather quickly on BOTH units.  I called Dell for assistance at the time and they were of no help.

 

I have lived with it for well over a year now.  Just moving the case or pinching the front panel plastic together (one system I need the case always open as I use it for hardware testing).  It has been annoying.

 

I thought for sure that with the 420 this would have been fixed but now I read that it hasn't.  It looked like the same, or nearly the same, case design as my 410 but I was hoping that internally they would have fixed it.

 

Even though others have posted a workaround for this problem, it does make me want to try HP when I need to replace these two 410 units.

 

To those that post that is can be a very LOUD buzzing or rattling noise, yea, I hear ya.  It was SO loud just now that I decided to post my complaint.  That is how I came upon this thread.

It really was very loud. However, I've not had it for a few months now - at some point I put the PC on a sheet of cardboard, but I'm sure it continued to buzz loudly occasionally. A few days later though, moving the PC slightly and all that, it seemed to stop - not done it since! Been very careful not to move it since, it'd probably start again...

 

Just got a new Dell (Dimension? it's fairly high spec whatever it is) at work, and that case buzzes too...