I've got an Intel P4 3,0 GHz based computer at work that's testing my patience. It's not that it's extremely noisy, but after a hard days work fans are really tiresome to listen to.

The PSU is a nice and quiet one, and the CPU-fan seems to be temperature controlled as it only speeds up occasionally. However, there's this case fan that's eagerly spinning, no matter the circumstances. Maybe the harddrive is also partly resposible for the overall noise, it's difficult to pin point the precise source.

Is there anything I can do about this?

I cant/wont/don't dare open the computer for any hardware mod. Tried installing SpeedFan, but apparently I need "administrative privilegies" for that...
Any alternatives to SpeedFan? Any other tips?

why won't you open it? just blame it on the last guy who had it.

If you're not in a position to open the case or modify the software, all you can do is complain to your IT department.

Hi, I agree the "right" course of action is to get your IT dept to sort it out.
If the case fan is going full blast all the time it may well be fixed to 12V supply not through the motherboard so SpeedFan can't help you. If you open the PC should only take a few moments to see if case fan is connected to motherboard.
A few minutes on Google and you can find a CD image that boots a Linux system that will allow you to change / blank the local administrator password, you could then login as the local admin and see if SpeedFan can help. (On login screen change username to administrator, password as chosen – I find blanking it best, and log on to as “whatever (this computer)â€