Step 6: Chipset

Another component that potentially deserves an anti-social behaviour order is the motherboard chipset. These chips contain functions that support the CPU, and one in particular -- the northbridge -- can become quite hot. Some motherboards have fan-cooled northbridge chips that contribute a great deal to the overall symphony of noise. Northbridge fans are prone to malfunction, so if your PC is making a bizarre squeaking noise, chances are it's the culprit.

We've opted for motherboards with passive (fanless) chipset coolers (highlighted in picture) so there's no chance of noise or a fan malfunction. However, if your motherboard has an active chipset cooler you can swap it for a passive third-party model such as the Zalman ZM-NBF47 Northbridge Flower Heatsink (£10 from Quiet PC). Simply uninstall your existing heatsink by unscrewing the tiny screws beneath the motherboard and attach the replacement model in exactly the same manner. See your own motherboard manual for exact instructions.

If you're shopping for a new motherboard, try to avoid those that come with fans that cool the electrical capacitors. These are quite rare, but if you do end up with one you'll be stuck in a world of unnecessary noise.