Had a client bring in a desktop that sounded like a jet engine

It was a Dell Optiplex from 2015 that they said had been getting louder for about two months. I opened it up and found a single case fan completely choked with what looked like gray carpet fluff. After cleaning it out and replacing the thermal paste, the noise dropped from about 80 decibels to near silent. Has anyone else seen a fan get that packed from just being on the floor?

4 comments

4 Comments

caleb_fisher441mo ago

That's not a computer, it's a carpet-powered air purifier.

ray_martinez8221h ago

Jet engine sound" seems like a bit much. My old office PC sat on carpet for years and it was just a little hum. Maybe some models are worse but most people probably don't need to worry this much.

angela_harris1mo ago

Oh yeah, that's classic. Those Optiplexes are dust magnets, especially if they sit on carpet. In my shop, we see it all the time. The low front intake just sucks everything right up. I always tell people to get it off the floor, even just onto a piece of wood or a stand. Makes a huge difference for how much gunk gets pulled in. A quick blast with compressed air every few months saves you from that jet engine sound later.

andrewreed1mo ago

Totally agree about getting it off the carpet. My old Optiplex sounded like a hairdryer until I stuck it on some old textbooks. The dust bunny inside was the size of a mouse. After that, I just hit it with the air duster when I remember, maybe twice a year. It never gets that bad anymore and stays way quieter.