Need some help with a very noisy computer.

[allthingslvie]

I plan on upgrading my graphics card soon and while at it fixing my noisy computer. My computer is very quiet when not playing games, but every minute or so, my heatsink slows down then speeds way up, and goes hmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm. I'd like to fix this, although it isn't the main problem. The biggest problem is when I'm playing video games like Arma 2, Minecraft, or Counter Strike GO, my computer slowly starts humming more and more loudly until the point where I can't talk to my friends on Skype because it's just too loud. It's not the fan on the back of the computer, I think it may be the power supply. It's rated to supply 350 watts max, yet I used a power calculator and found that my computer needs roughly 450 watts. Does this sound reasonable? Is my computer just really taxing the power supply?

It could also be my graphics card, which is the weak link of my computer. Anyway, I'm going to have to upgrade my power supply regardless, so how much power should I get to ensure it can run my computer and a Radeon HD 6850 and possibly overclock? I heard getting almost double is the way to go, so maybe a 700 watt power supply? And if I want to fix my heatsink problem, what would be a recommended heatsink for a : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @2.8 GHz, again, possibly overclocked?

I'm kind of low on the old cash and I'll be shelling out about 150 bucks for the graphics card, and I wouldn't like to spend much more than another 150 on a new power supply and heatsink, so if you know any sites where I can get a good deal, please let me know.

Thank you very much for all the help guys, I know very little about computers and I really appreciate any advice.

[glc]

Please post full specs of the computer, including brands and models of the components.

[allthingslvie]

Originally Posted by glc Please post full specs of the computer, including brands and models of the components.

As far as I know, these are all the correct specs.

Motherboard : Studio XPS 8100 (I think this is the motherboard)
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @2.8 GHz
Ram : 8GB
Hard Drive : 1TB
Graphics Card : ATI Radeon HD 5700 series
Heatsink/Fan : Stock, not sure what brand if there is one.
Power Supply : 350 watt max, Delta Electronics. Model : DPS-350VB C
My computer is a Studio XPS Desktop 8100 if that helps at all.

[glc]

That's what I needed to know, thanks.

You won't be able to overclock a Dell.

Open it up and blow all the dust out of it, especially the CPU and video card heatsinks/fans and the power supply.

If you want to upgrade:

Newegg.com - SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (100314-3L )

I don't know if a premium CPU heatsink will fit in the case. You are better off cleaning the OEM one and making sure it's working right.

[allthingslvie]

Originally Posted by glc That's what I needed to know, thanks. You won't be able to overclock a Dell. Open it up and blow all the dust out of it, especially the CPU and video card heatsinks/fans and the power supply. If you want to upgrade: Newegg.com - SeaSonic M12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V v2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (100314-3L ) I don't know if a premium CPU heatsink will fit in the case. You are better off cleaning the OEM one and making sure it's working right.

Yea, I cleaned everything SPOTLESS a few days ago. I just now figured out it's the graphics card that's making all the noise, which makes sense since it's the part that's laboring the most. Also, do you have any idea how I should go about fixing up my heatsink? I can take a video of it if you want, but it stays at a normal level most of the time then every now then it slows down then revs up really fast. And I have quite a bit of space in the case, here's a picture.

And what's the difference between the 6870 and the 6850, besides the 10 dollars?

[glc]

Your CPU heatsink is fine - just upgrade the video card and power supply.

The 6870 performs better.

Best Graphics Cards For The Money: August 2012 : Best Graphics Cards For The Money, August Updates

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (100315L )

[allthingslvie]

Originally Posted by glc Your CPU heatsink is fine - just upgrade the video card and power supply. The 6870 performs better. Best Graphics Cards For The Money: August 2012 : Best Graphics Cards For The Money, August Updates Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity (100315L )

I see what you mean, a lot of those review for the 6850 are not so good.
But do heatsinks usually do that? It revs loudly every 45-60 seconds instead of staying at a certain speed... it seems like it's running at like 30% right now but revs up to 85% for 3 seconds then goes back down to 30%. Why can't it just stay at like 45%?
Sorry that I keep going on about this, but you're the first person whose actually been a big help and I really just want to get this sorted out.

[glc]

The video card fan or the CPU fan?

[allthingslvie]

CPU fan.

[glc]

The bios should be controlling the speed - and it senses how hot it's running. Are you SURE the fan and the heatsink fins are clean?

[allthingslvie]

Yea, atleast the part I can see is clean. I spent like 10 minutes with tiny tweezers and a little needle trying to get every particle of dust off. The bottom of the heatsink fan may be dirty, if dust even gets in there, but I wasn't sure how to remove the fan so I didn't dare try.

[glc]

Did you blow it out with air?

What I do is take it outside, take a pencil or something to keep the fan from spinning, and blow it out with a leaf blower.

[allthingslvie]

I didn't use a leafblower, but I sprayed some of that can air into it, yea.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by allthingslvie I didn't use a leafblower, but I sprayed some of that can air into it, yea.

Canned air is not usually powerful enough to get all the dust out of the Fins. You should be able to get a flashlight in there to make sure it is clean. May have to turn the fan a few times. What does the BIOS say the CPU temps are?

[allthingslvie]

It usually sits around 35-39 degrees celcius. When the fan revs up, the usually climbs up to the low 40s when the fan revs up. (it's kinda hard to keep track of the temperatures)

It says the load is at about 6%.

And if I remember right, the CPU fan has been doing this since I got the computer.

[glc]

Low 40's are fine. You may just have a noisy fan. It's supposed to vary speed with temperature.

[allthingslvie]

Yea, it's just hat it hums so loudly at set intervals. Whatever. I'll just try moving my computer further away from my mic.

Regardless, thank you guys for all the help. I'll look into getting that power supply and graphics card real soon, for the upcoming Borderlands 2!

[glc]

Replacing the heatsink/fan will probably involve removing the motherboard from the case. I don't know if you want to do that on a Dell.

[Dominic753s]

Originally Posted by allthingslvie it seems like it's running at like 30% right now but revs up to 85% for 3 seconds then goes back down to 30%..

Originally Posted by allthingslvie It usually sits around 35-39 degrees celcius. When the fan revs up, the usually climbs up to the low 40s when the fan revs up. (it's kinda hard to keep track of the temperatures)

Could it be a software related issue? Wrong fan speed settings?

[glc]

I don't think Dell uses software to control the fan speed, it's all in the bios, if it's even configurable at all.

[Dominic753s]

Under 'software' I meant the bios as well. Is it possible?

[glc]

Sure. I'm not familiar with the bios on that particular board.

[allthingslvie]

Newegg.com - XFX HD-695X-CDDC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

How much of a step up from the 6870 is this ^ graphics card? Will it work with the PSU you recommended earlier?

[glc]

For 200 bucks that's a hard card to beat, but we do not recommend XFX. Get this one:

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 11188-22-20G Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (OC Edition)

The 520 watt PSU is sufficient.

[allthingslvie]

What makes Sapphire better than XFX? Just build quality?

And do you know about how cheap those PSUs go? I'm thinking of buying this graphics card today, since it's at such a steep deal, and getting a PSU later, when the price is better. The one you recommended earlier is hovering around 80, will it ever come down to like 45-50?

[glc]

Build quality, and more important, customer service (or lack of same).

Buy this in the next few days to get the promo code, and you will have a decent PSU for 50 bucks after rebate:

Newegg.com - PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK III 500W Modular 80PLUS Bronze Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom

This is made by Seasonic.

[allthingslvie]

Alright, I just ordered both!

They'll be here in the 3 days. In the meantime, do you know of any good instructional videos on how to change the PSU and graphics card?

[glc]

They both should be fairly obvious.