Dell Dimension 5150 - noisy when idling

Marty999

My Dell PC runs W7 32 bit SP1 Home Edition with 2Gb of RAM and emits a low pitched hum even when idling. It has done this for as long as I can remember but I'd really like to silence it. I have opened the case and hoovered out all the dust but this has not really helped. The task manager shows the CPU usage is at about 12% with just essential stuff running, and Resource Monitor tells me that 9% CPU usage is caused by WMI Host Provider (WmiPrvSE.exe). Internet searches tell me this is a necessary program and should not be stopped. But my HP desktop in my office has a similar spec, consumes only 2-3% CPU usage when idling and is virtually silent.

Any ideas please? The only other clue that might help is that the PC refuses to go to sleep automatically, something seems to prevent this, but I have checked the settings and can't find anything related.

John_Gray

Is this a fan hum or a PSU hum? Have you tried the universal panacea? (WD40 on the bearings...)

mrochester

Have you put your ear near to the hard drive to see if it's resonance hum from the vibrations from the hard drive?

Marty999

Thanks guys for your input, I will check out your ideas tomorrow and report back.

Marty999

mrochester wrote: »

Have you put your ear near to the hard drive to see if it's resonance hum from the vibrations from the hard drive?

mrochester: I think you have identified the problem, the hard disk sits in a plastic caddy and then this slides/clips into the case, and it is vibrating/humming in the case. I have tried swapping caddies and drive bays but the noise is just the same, so I guess I need to insulate the caddy in the casing somehow. Any bright ideas at all?

mrochester

Marty999 wrote: »

mrochester: I think you have identified the problem, the hard disk sits in a plastic caddy and then this slides/clips into the case, and it is vibrating/humming in the case. I have tried swapping caddies and drive bays but the noise is just the same, so I guess I need to insulate the caddy in the casing somehow. Any bright ideas at all?

Typically you need to isolate the drive from the material that is causing the humming. I've done this in my computer by putting the drive in Silentmaxx HD-silencer (basically an insulated box in which you put the drive and it then fits into a 5.25" drive bay http://www.techniz.co.uk/silentmaxx-hd-silencer-rev-20.html) although it seems these hard disk enclosues are harder to find these days.

Marty999

Well I invested in a pair of these and mounted the hard disk in a spare drive bay, and that has certainly reduced the sound level, but the PC is still humming. It's not deafening but I can hear it from the next room with the door open. I have now realised that the sound is being caused by the case itself vibrating and humming, I have removed the side and the front and still it is buzzing away! The PC is standing on a piece of carpet and not touching anything else, so I am now wondering about buying a new 'quiet' case and re-fitting the PC components inside that. Can anyone advise me if this is a tricky project please? I have never built a PC before. Thanks.

chunter

I'm just looking at 5150 and it's NOT a generic motherboard.
Also, the connection to the front panel is non standard.

MontyWest

Hi, I too have had the same problem with case vibration with my Dimension 5150 since it was new. It is very VERY annoying!

I have a scuba diving weight on top of the case which eliminates most of the noise. I have had the machine apart and checked it very carefully to find nothing amiss. Turning off the auto indexing helped.

I think it is the design of the side panel release mechanism just under the top cover that is causing the vibrations and I am going to take it apart tomorrow to see if I can insert some foam door insulation to damp down the vibrations.

LOL at the Newbie alert!

Marty999

Hi MontyWest

I gave up in the end and built myself a new PC with an SSD - very pleased with it!