Gaming laptops are practical, easy to haul around, and an excellent way to enjoy a more personalized gaming experience. However, gaming laptops are known to be loud and a bit of an annoyance to some gamers. Some gaming laptops can be so loud that you have to use headphones to drown out the noise, but why are gaming laptops so loud?
Here are 11 reasons why are gaming laptops are so loud:
- The cooling systems are in compact spaces.
- Fans and hard disks create noise when spinning.
- The laptop has a poor or old vent design.
- Heavy usage of processor and graphics card.
- The laptop is working in too hot or wet an environment.
- Vent blockages cause extra work for cooling systems.
- Background programs overheat the CPU.
- You’re trying to run overly demanding games or software.
- The laptop has faulty hardware.
- The computer is affected by a virus or malware.
- Trapped heat causes fans to spin faster.
Gaming laptops could be the future of gaming and make a fantastic addition to any gaming arsenal. However, before you invest in one, this article will explore more in-depth reasons why gaming laptops are so loud.
1. The Cooling Systems Are in Compact Spaces
Having an excellent cooling system in your laptop is essential; however, these cooling systems can cause the computer to be loud. Still, there’s a reason for this sound. Laptops are compact and need a reliable and sturdy fan to create the best airflow possible in such a tight space.
In general, gaming computers need a sound cooling system to run correctly and smoothly. Cooling systems keep the air flowing and the hardware cool, so the computer doesn’t overheat and cause any damage. These cooling systems can look and sound differently on laptops or desktops. Laptops tend to be louder due to insufficient space.
Gaming laptops, in particular, cause heat to be generated from the hardware inside of the computer itself. Your laptop needs a functioning cooling system for better performance and demanding workloads, such as gaming or software that requires a high-end graphics card.
In some cases, if the CPU temperature gets too hot, a mechanism will become triggered and cause a laptop to reduce performance. That can lead to a nosier and slower computer.
2. Fans and Hard Disks Create Noise When Spinning
Gaming laptops are loud. They use large fans to keep the compact space cool, so your computer doesn’t overheat.
Overall, gaming laptops are louder than most desktop computers because the fans tend to have thicker blades and work harder because of the compact space and less airflow. These high-tech fans can cause a laptop to be loud when you’re heavily using these components.
When gaming or consuming software, the computer works overtime to ensure the motherboard doesn’t overheat and cause damage. Gaming laptops can overheat more quickly than desktop computers, and the fans inside of laptops work harder to maintain a proper cooling temperature.
Hard disks are also known to make loud sounds when the platters spin and find data. Though they shouldn’t be as loud as a fan, and if you notice an odd noise, you should investigate the problem and fix it before it damages your computer.
If your fan is too small or not screwed in tight enough, it can cause a rattling sound or other noises within the computer. You need to differentiate if your laptop has a loud fan or an internal hardware problem.
3. The Laptop Has a Poor or Old Vent Design
Some gaming laptops are just poorly designed, and it can be a struggle for computer manufacturers to create a “perfect” cooling system. Computer systems are constantly changing and improving; still, developing the proper airflow for the cooling system can be challenging in such a compact space. Even the quietest laptops still make noise because of the design and vent size.
Gaming laptops are constantly updated and improved. If you have an older laptop with a loud system, it’s probably because it has a poorly designed cooling system, and the fan noises will continuously be a problem with your computer.
Different brands of gaming laptops may differ in sound. Some may be louder than others, and if these manufacturers can design a gaming laptop with proper airflow that produces less heat, gaming laptops will become quieter. Until then, loud gaming laptops are here to stay.
For now, you can combat this faulty design with cooling fans that you place under your laptop. If you’re considering such an investment, I suggest the Razor Core X External GPU from Amazon.com for your computer. It’s compatible with either Mac or Windows 10 and offers a power supply of 650W to support the graphics card.
Extras such as these can help keep your computer quiet if you don’t want to purchase a whole new system.
4. Heavy Usage of Processor and Graphics Card
Gaming laptops can handle heavy processor and graphics card usage. However, they don’t necessarily do it gracefully. Some laptops are just noisy when under a hefty workload.
Graphics card and processor usage allow gaming laptops to handle AAA games and other programs such as rendering software. These programs and games require a lot of power.
When your laptop begins to use its components, all of these pieces come together. When this happens, it allows you to use your gaming laptop to the fullest. However, your computer may be rather loud when performing these tasks because of the heat produced.
When too much heat surrounds essential parts of your laptop, it’ll trigger the fan to spin as fast as necessary to keep the motherboard at an acceptable temperature. A fast-spinning fan isn’t expected to be silent and is considered normal in the gaming world.
5. The Laptop Is Working in Too Hot or Wet an Environment
The loud sounds of a gaming laptop are usually because of heat. When the computer runs too hot, the fan turns on, and the system cools down. This can happen because a program is too demanding, you’re playing a game that requires a lot of power, or the environment isn’t suitable.
Notably, a hot or wet environment can cause issues for computers. Laptops are small and produce a fair amount of heat; if you add humid air, this can cause damage to your motherboard.
When your computer gets hot, it can cause a load of problems. Environmental heat could cause issues such as performance and unfamiliar noises. If you live in a humid place, this heat could negatively affect your electronics.
Keeping an air conditioner running during this type of weather can undoubtedly improve your computer’s conditions without needing anything like a cooling fan.
6. Vent Blockages Cause Extra Work for Cooling Systems
Airflow is essential when considering why a laptop is loud. Understanding the way airflow works can help with this.
Gaming laptops are known for not having the best airflow, and sometimes a vent blockage can cause a computer to work extra hard to keep the system cool. Thus, making a laptop sound louder than might be expected.
Consider the last time you cleaned your vent. Some suggest cleaning out your computer vent every 6 to 12 months to maintain a healthy ventilation system for your laptop. Before disassembling your computer, please be aware of the safety precautions and warranty of your system.
Dust particles collect inside your fan and can cause overheating and system failure if not dealt with promptly. Dust can also be one of the main reasons for a loud computer. Gaming laptops are especially susceptible to this problem due to small spaces.
7. Background Programs Overheat the CPU
Another reason why laptops may be loud and run slowly is due to background applications running. Due to extra power consumption to these programs, your computer might suffer.
Your laptop only has so much processing power to offer. If you’re running a GPU-hogging game while streaming with other programs running in the background, your computer may need to run harder to handle that. In turn, your fan will work extra hard and become louder.
Your CPU should only be around 140 degrees F (60 degrees Celsius); anything higher can damage your system.
Overheating can occur when your computer has too much going on in the background. You can always use Task Manager to end these programs and check how hot your motherboard is.
8. You’re Trying To Run Overly Demanding Games or Software
Gaming laptops are fantastic for lugging around. These powerful machines are effective and provide the freedom to explore a game wherever you are.
When you turn on your favorite graphics game, your laptop turns into a beast. It may be loud, but it runs fantastic. Performance usually isn’t affected by fan noise. In fact, you should start to worry if your computer lacks any sound at all, as that could indicate a hardware failure requiring immediate attention.
Sometimes your computer may get louder depending on the type of game or software you’re running. Before downloading and playing a game or software, ensure your hardware can handle what you are asking it to do. Check your minimum requirements, and your PC automatically adjusts the fan speed to the right setting for your workload.
9. The Laptop Has Faulty Hardware
Gaming laptops are typically loud since they use a lot of power and produce a lot of heat. However, there’s a difference between a noisy fan and a broken fan.
There are often ways to tell the difference between the two. Broken fans are known to rattle or make other unusual noises like grinding. A working fan can usually make a soft yet noticeable humming sound when the laptop is running a game or program.
One of the fastest to tell the difference is to look and listen. You should be able to hear or see something off with your fan. Hearing nothing at all can also be a sign that something isn’t working correctly.
If you hear nothing and notice your computer is constantly crashing or won’t turn on, you may have faulty hardware that needs replacement.
10. The Computer Is Affected by a Virus or Malware
Aside from hardware problems or a generally loud laptop, you may also have a sick computer. If you notice that your computer is running at a higher temperature than usual or it seems to be overheating, you may need to consider that you may have malware or a virus that needs to be removed.
Malware or viruses can affect computers in different ways. If your computer is brand new and still sounds loud. It might just have a large fan for gaming. However, your computer is a little older and suddenly begins to make loud noises or become overheated. It may have some malware.
11. Trapped Heat Causes Fans To Spin Faster
Where you put your computer can make a significant difference in sound. If you place your laptop on a bed or blanket, your computer may need to overuse the fan to keep your motherboard cool, which in turn can make your computer noisy.
If your computer is uneven, you may notice your computer makes a different sound. If you don’t have a rubber component under your laptop, it can negatively affect your computer’s sound and cause your fan or hard disk to tip.
That may cause a blade to hit a wire or a different piece of your motherboard. It would help if you used a table or cooling pad to keep your laptop evenly placed. That may also reduce heat and keep your fan from having to overwork itself.
