Oftentimes when we play games, we hear the incessant whirring of the fans of our gaming PCs next to us. The gaming PC noise can get annoying for some gamers, but how do we reduce it? In this article we discuss a few ways to reduce gaming PC noises while gaming.
1. Choose a Quiet Case
What does a ‘quiet case’ mean exactly? There are cases in the market that are designed with noise reduction in mind. For example, the Fractal Design Define case series, which include models like Define R6 and Define 7 (see below), feature sound-absorbing materials, specialized panels, and effective airflow management to minimize gaming PC noise levels.
Images taken from Fractral Design.
These cases utilize specialized panels with sound-dampening materials to minimize noise transmission and isolate noisy components. With effective airflow management and optimized fan placements, they ensure efficient cooling while keeping noise levels low. You have control over fan speeds, allowing you to customize cooling performance based on your gaming needs. Additionally, quiet cases offer cable management solutions for organized cables and improved airflow, further contributing to a peaceful gaming environment with reduced gaming PC noise.
2. Upgrade your CPU Cooler
There are CPU coolers in the market that offers efficient cooling, all the while operating silently. You can looks for coolers with larger heatsinks, low-noise fans or even all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooling solutions. These will tend to be more silent than regular coolers, thus allowing you to minimise gaming PC noise.
For air coolers, you can look at the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition (see below).
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is a reliable and affordable CPU cooler that provides efficient cooling for your system. With its sleek black design, it adds a stylish touch to your build. Featuring a single fan with low noise levels, it operates quietly while effectively dissipating heat from your CPU. The direct contact heat pipes and the aluminum fin array contribute to optimal heat transfer, ensuring excellent cooling performance. The universal mounting system makes installation easy, allowing you to quickly upgrade your cooling solution. Furthermore, at $59, it is a budget-friendly option that can make its way into just about any type of gaming PC build!
For liquid coolers, you can look at the Cooler Master Masterliquid ML360L cooler (see below).
It is an AIO cooler, and thus makes it more silent than most of the air coolers in the market. Its large 360mm radiator and three 120mm SickleFlow ARGB fans deliver efficient cooling to keep your gaming PC’s temperature in check, all while operating quietly to minimize gaming PC noise. The customizable addressable RGB lighting on the pump and fans adds a visually appealing touch to your system. With an easy installation process, durable construction, and a dual-chamber pump design for improved cooling efficiency, the ML360L V2 ARGB ensures optimal performance and a more enjoyable gaming experience with quieter operation.
3. Use Silent Fans
Another way that you can minimise gaming PC noise is by using silent PC fans in your PC build. Some PC cases come with stock fans, and a good idea is to replace them with higher-quality, low-noise fans that are designed for silent operation. You can look for fans with low noise levels and good airflow to maintain proper cooling without excessive noise.
A recommendation of ours is the Be Quiet! Silent Wings 3 fan series (see below).
Image taken from Be Quiet! website.
With its focus on silent operation, the Be Quiet! Silent Wings 3 fan series is popular among users who prioritize low noise levels while still maintaining efficient cooling performance. Their fans utilize a unique blade design and high-quality fluid-dynamic bearing for silent and smooth airflow. With anti-vibration features, they eliminate disturbances caused by vibrations, ensuring a silent operation. The Silent Wings 3 fans also offer excellent airflow while maintaining a low noise profile, keeping your system cool and quiet. Finally, they provide a long lifespan and reliability. Currently, at time of writing, it costs $25.33 SGD on Amazon, which is very affordable for many gamers, and a good price!
4. Control Fan Speeds
If you happen to already own a gaming PC build, and you don’t wish to change any of your hardware components, don’t fret! You can look towards the software side of things too, to help reduce noise levels when you’re gaming. You can adjust fan speeds in your PC’s BIOS settings or use fan control software to ensure fans are running at an optimal speed based on temperature requirements. This can help strike a balance between cooling performance and noise levels.
To adjust fan speeds in your PC’s BIOS settings, you can follow these steps. First, restart your computer and enter the BIOS by pressing the specified key during startup (usually Delete (DEL), F2, or F10). Once in the BIOS, navigate to the ‘Hardware Monitor’ or similar section, where fan controls are typically located. Locate the settings for fan speed control or fan curves. Depending on your motherboard’s BIOS, you may have options to set fan speeds manually or use predefined profiles. Select the desired option and adjust the fan speeds according to your preference. Save the changes and exit the BIOS. You can now enjoy customized fan speeds to strike a balance between cooling performance and noise levels for your specific needs.
We think that this step, while helpful, might not change too much of the noise levels that you are currently experiencing. Of course, if you are able to, changing hardware to ones that are more silent will always reveal greater levels of results as compared to tweaking the software. But this is also an option that some gamers overlook, so we thought to point it out.
5. Install Sound-Dampening Materials
Most gamers might think that by adding sound-dampening materials, such as foam padding or acoustic panels, into the PC, it might cause the PC to overheat due to lesser space for the air to circulate within the PC case. Not only that, dust might be easily trapped within the foam surfaces, thus making it more difficult to clean. But this might not be the case – mostly.
Regardless of the seeming chore of adding these materials in, we think that the benefits might outweigh the costs. By incorporating sound-dampening materials in your PC build, you can enjoy several benefits. First and foremost, these materials help minimize noise transmission, allowing you to work or game in a quieter environment, free from distracting PC noise. The sound-dampening materials absorb vibrations and sound waves generated by the components, thus reducing noise pollution. Additionally, they contribute to improved acoustic insulation, preventing noise from escaping the case and minimizing the disturbance to those around you. However, it’s important to consider that the use of sound-dampening materials may increase the overall weight and bulk of the PC build slightly. Additionally, depending on the materials used, there may be an associated cost. Nevertheless, we think that the enhanced acoustic comfort and reduced noise levels make the inclusion of sound-dampening materials a worthwhile investment for a more peaceful and enjoyable PC experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, reducing gaming PC noise is crucial for a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience. By following these pointers, you can achieve a quieter gaming setup. Start by choosing a quiet case designed with noise reduction features to provide a sturdy and sound-dampened enclosure for your components. Upgrade your CPU cooler to a silent and efficient model, and opt for silent fans that offer optimal airflow with minimal noise. Control fan speeds through BIOS settings or fan control software to strike the perfect balance between cooling performance and noise levels. Lastly, consider installing sound-dampening materials inside your PC case to absorb vibrations and minimize noise transmission. Implementing these steps will create a quieter gaming PC environment, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the game without unnecessary distractions.
Thank you for making it down here, and we hope that this article has given you enough information to reduce noises from your gaming PC whenever it is turned on. Should you wish to purchase any other PC components, you can check out our catalogue here. Should you wish to check out any other articles that we’ve written of this kind, or about gaming in general, you can check out our Articles page here. Happy gaming!