By 'thinking noise' I mean the strange noise the computer makes when it's starting up Windows, and the noise made whenever applications or even folders are launched. Which component makes these noises? I would like to know as my computer makes quite loud 'thinking' noises and would like to find a way to make it quieter.
What makes the 'thinking noise'?
- Thread starter Inazuma
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The others have got the most likely cause, hard drives are one of the few mechanical components left in a modern PC so they are the most likely candidate although it could concievably be something else it is a bit more unlikely. You could try an enclosure for the hard drive if you don't want to replace it as that may reduce the noise or suspending it on rubber bands if it is down to vibrations. 
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Everybody is right, it probably is the hard disk seeking that you're hearing. If you've got a particularly old machine you might be hearing floppy seek as well. We all remember the sound of a 5.25" drive seeking at boot, right?
duh duh duh DUT duh duh DUT
duh duh duh DUT duh duh DUT
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I have an older Maxtor Diamond but it's inside a nice enclosure. Can't hear a a thing from it.
I would suggest a Samsung if you want quiet, *sometimes* a seagate can be quieter but its pot luck, whereas the samsungs seem to be consistantly quiet.
The "thinking" noise (in case your really interested) is actually mainly the stepper motor (well now its a "voice coil" but again similar concept) that is used to rotate your hard disks platters to the correct location. When a voltage is applied the motor is able to be rotated to a very specific location, the downside is this happens so rapidly and often that we get the very distinctive "hard drive" grind.
Hard drives also "whine" (high pitched, much worse on older or knackered drives) this is due to a few reasons, air pressure internally, and the quality of the motor itself (7200RPM is v fast to be spinning 2+ platters of solid aluminium!)
Oddly (im led to believe) the heads are actually some of the quietest components inside a hard drive, they literally can move on a 1 dimensional axis (well its radial really but hey whos counting
), forwards and backwards (the platters do the moving, the heads just "look" up and down each "row" of data.)
Personally I have a Samsung in a SilentMaxx enclosure, the drives are good value for money, the enclosures seem pricey though at about £30 BUT they are transferrable (use other hard drives in it) very well made and they really do dampen the noises of even the loudest drive to near silence.
Other sources of noise inside your computer are fans (one in the power supply, one on your processor, probably one on your graphics card and possibly 1+ attached to the inside of the your case to aid in internal air flow)
Really there isnt anything else that can produce a large enough amount of noise to be noticed.
The "thinking" noise (in case your really interested) is actually mainly the stepper motor (well now its a "voice coil" but again similar concept) that is used to rotate your hard disks platters to the correct location. When a voltage is applied the motor is able to be rotated to a very specific location, the downside is this happens so rapidly and often that we get the very distinctive "hard drive" grind.
Hard drives also "whine" (high pitched, much worse on older or knackered drives) this is due to a few reasons, air pressure internally, and the quality of the motor itself (7200RPM is v fast to be spinning 2+ platters of solid aluminium!)
Oddly (im led to believe) the heads are actually some of the quietest components inside a hard drive, they literally can move on a 1 dimensional axis (well its radial really but hey whos counting
), forwards and backwards (the platters do the moving, the heads just "look" up and down each "row" of data.)Personally I have a Samsung in a SilentMaxx enclosure, the drives are good value for money, the enclosures seem pricey though at about £30 BUT they are transferrable (use other hard drives in it) very well made and they really do dampen the noises of even the loudest drive to near silence.
Other sources of noise inside your computer are fans (one in the power supply, one on your processor, probably one on your graphics card and possibly 1+ attached to the inside of the your case to aid in internal air flow)
Really there isnt anything else that can produce a large enough amount of noise to be noticed.
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