Noises a computer makes
While a personal computer is running, several noises may be heard depending on its components and activity level. One of the most common sounds is the gentle whirring of cooling fans. These fans regulate the internal temperature of the system, and their speed (and thus volume) increases when the computer is performing demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, or running multiple applications. In older models or desktops with hard disk drives (HDDs), a faint clicking or spinning noise may also be noticeable as the drive reads or writes data. In contrast, solid-state drives (SSDs) operate silently, so a computer equipped only with SSDs may be noticeably quieter.
Another source of noise can be the optical drive, if present, especially when reading a CD or DVD, producing a distinct spinning and clicking sound. Additionally, coil whine—a high-pitched electrical noise—may sometimes be heard from the graphics card or power supply, particularly during heavy graphical workloads or gaming. These noises can vary from a soft buzz to a more pronounced whine, depending on the components and their quality. Together, these various sounds form the acoustic signature of a running computer, providing subtle clues about its activity and performance.