XPS 8000 runs very loud. Please help.

My computer has been running very loud since I got it about 6-8 months ago (from a business that was closing shop). It sounds similar to a car engine running idle.

Is this normal for an XPS? Is there a cheap/easy fix for this?

It doesn't seem to be running too slow.

...I attached screenshots of my specs... please let me know if more info is needed.

Obviously, you figured out that I am a computer noob

Thanks for the help

http://forum.desktopreview.com/de...level.html

should be quiet the questions are:

Have you updated and checked the BIOS there is I believe an option to run the fans all the time.

Is it the power supply or the case fan or processor fan

Is is just noisy as in a bad bearing or is it all fan noise

Does the Video card have a fan is that making noise

have you blown out the case and made sure there is not a lot of dust stuck in any heatsinks?

try and figure out exactly where it is loud. Obviously it has to be a fan, but which is the question. Power supply? Case fan? Open the case while its running and figure out which and then get a replacement from dell.

Quote from komondor : http://forum.desktopreview.com/de...level.html should be quiet the questions are: Have you updated and checked the BIOS there is I believe an option to run the fans all the time. Is it the power supply or the case fan or processor fan Is is just noisy as in a bad bearing or is it all fan noise Does the Video card have a fan is that making noise have you blown out the case and made sure there is not a lot of dust stuck in any heatsinks?

Quote from nizzy1115 : try and figure out exactly where it is loud. Obviously it has to be a fan, but which is the question. Power supply? Case fan? Open the case while its running and figure out which and then get a replacement from dell.

Thank you both for taking the time to help

Repped.

I flashed the BIOS and restarted my computer. My computer seems to be running quietly now

Glad it was so easy to fix

Quote from komondor : Glad it was so easy to fix

Bad news is it looks like it was only a temporary fix...

The good news is I think I narrowed down what is causing the noise.

It seems like it is my fan by the graphics card. Everything remained quiet until playing a game. When playing the game (NBA 2K12 if it makes a difference) the fan was running which is to be expected I guess. The problem is the fan stays running even after turning off the game which is causing the noise.

Any ideas how to get the fan to stop once I finish playing a game without rebooting my computer?

My driver is old (from 2009). I tried installing the latest driver from the NVIDIA web site and I keep getting an error telling me that it failed (see attached screenshot). I am positive that it is the correct driver. I did a system scan from the NVIDIA web site and I also typed in my graphics card manually. Both took me to the driver update which I downloaded.

I tried completely removing the old driver before installing the new one from safe mode. But when I started my computer in safe mode I couldn't find the installer for the latest driver I downloaded from the NVIDIA web site and saved to my desktop. It's as if the file disappears when running my cpu in safe mode.

I ended up having to do a system restore just to get the original driver back.

Thanks again for your help.

you can't do the intall in safe mode you have to boot normal then install

I would also suggest opening up the computer and blowing out all the dust. It is probably getting hot and running the fan more, thus causing the sound.

Quote from gabe23111 : I ended up having to do a system restore just to get the original driver back. Thanks again for your help.

Check Windows Update to see if there is a new driver for your card. It may not be the absolute newest, but it will be better than 2009.

Also, be sure to open up the case and blow out all the dust with a can of compressed air. Hold the center of the fans with your finger so they don't spin while you clean out the dust.

Quote from LiquidRetro : I would also suggest opening up the computer and blowing out all the dust. It is probably getting hot and running the fan more, thus causing the sound.

Quote from Jabbit : Check Windows Update to see if there is a new driver for your card. It may not be the absolute newest, but it will be better than 2009. Also, be sure to open up the case and blow out all the dust with a can of compressed air. Hold the center of the fans with your finger so they don't spin while you clean out the dust.

I cleaned out the fan... no dice.

Again, this issue is only after playing a game where the fan stays on even after closing the game.

I tried everything to get the new driver to install including doing a a clean uninstall including using "Driver Sweeper".

I still get the driver failed to install (screenshot posted in post above).

I checked windows update and nothing is showing available.

Quote from gabe23111 : I cleaned out the fan... no dice. Again, this issue is only after playing a game where the fan stays on even after closing the game. I tried everything to get the new driver to install including doing a a clean uninstall including using "Driver Sweeper". I still get the driver failed to install (screenshot posted in post above). I checked windows update and nothing is showing available.

Do you have another video card you can try, or even just use onboard video?

Quote from gabe23111 : I cleaned out the fan... no dice. Again, this issue is only after playing a game where the fan stays on even after closing the game. I tried everything to get the new driver to install including doing a a clean uninstall including using "Driver Sweeper". I still get the driver failed to install (screenshot posted in post above). I checked windows update and nothing is showing available.

Windows update is a bad place to get drivers in general. Go get the drivers from NVIDIA. during the install it has the option to do a Clean install, which takes care of the uninstall and cleaning.

The fan stays on after you are done playing for a little while to cool off the card. Clean out the entire case to lower ambient temps.

Quote from Jabbit : Do you have another video card you can try, or even just use onboard video?

I tried completely removing the original driver before installing the current one. After removing the original driver I was using the on board VGA dirver. All of the items/icons on the screen were large and not as clear. The fan was making no noise while using that "graphics". I had to do a system restore to get the original driver back.

Quote from LiquidRetro : Windows update is a bad place to get drivers in general. Go get the drivers from NVIDIA. during the install it has the option to do a Clean install, which takes care of the uninstall and cleaning. The fan stays on after you are done playing for a little while to cool off the card. Clean out the entire case to lower ambient temps.

I did get the latest driver from the NVIDIA web site direct. I only tried the Windows update thing based on a suggestion earlier in this thread.

I also tried installing the driver via the "clean install" method you mentioned where it rebooted my computer mid installation. After the reboot I received the same error (see attached screenshot)

I also tried updating the driver through device manager, right clicking my driver, and clicking "install driver update"... it said "windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date"