Vibration on computer case cover makes humming noise.

Aapo · 23 Apr 2015

My computer case cover vibrates, making humming noise. I know this because if I gently press the computer case cover the humming is significantly reduced. I suspect the culprit may be a new hard drive that I recently installed (Seagate Barracuda 1TB). What puzzles me though is that the pressing place that reduces humming sound is on the other side of cover from where the hard drive is. There's nothing behind the spot, but CPU fan is blowing hot air that direction. GPU is 10cm lower. I don't think the case cover is directly touching any components. Cover model is Antec Sonata III silent atx.

I installed the hard drive on same spot where last hard drive was, with four screws and elastic grommets that are supposed to reduce vibrations. I think the installation itself went fine. Screws are tight and cables seemed reasonably uncrowded. How should I troubleshoot this problem?

Ranger4 · 23 Apr 2015

Remove the cover so you can touch the hard drive & see if you can feel excessive vibrations from the new hard drive. You should feel slight vibrations in it as it has parts rotating at high RPM.

The vibration could also be caused by a dry fan bearing & these can get very noisy & vibrate a lot.

OvenMaster · 24 Apr 2015

Last fall I bought a new WD 1TB drive. When I installed it in any of my case's five plastic tool-less 3.5" drive sleds, the hum and vibration drove me crazy; it even made the floor vibrate and could be heard downstairs.

To make sure that it's the hard drive causing the trouble, set your Power Management settings to spin down your hard drive after 2 or 3 minutes. Go to that drive and just open and close a folder to get it to spin up. If it's the HDD at fault, you will hear the hum stop after there's been zero activity on that drive.

I tried elastic grommets, rubber padding, foam under the computer, and rubber feet. The only solution that actually worked was to mount the drive with 5.25" to 3.5" steel adapter brackets in one of my spare 5.25" optical drive bays using machine screws.

What I actually should have done is return the drive for one that was balanced.

Aapo · 24 Apr 2015

Ranger4 said:

Remove the cover so you can touch the hard drive & see if you can feel excessive vibrations from the new hard drive. You should feel slight vibrations in it as it has parts rotating at high RPM.

- Cover is held in place with two screws: one in top and one in bottom. As I removed the bottom screw humming stopped. Now if I touch any other spots in cover the humming begins again. I guess if I just leave out the bottom screw I can enjoy peace and quiet again :)