I don't need noise, so much as I need music. Although my need for it varies by mood.
Occasionally, I'll have music playing in the background. Other times, I turn everything off because the sounds are distracting and they're keeping me from forming coherent thoughts.
But, there are plenty of times when I must have some soundtrack beating a tune in the background as I write (for inspirational purposes or for mood setting, I don't know). The only thing I really hate is having someone TALK TO ME while I am writing. It is, by far, the most frustrating thing I have ever had to deal with.
Oh, I'm not talking about person-to-person talking (although that HAS happened before). I'm talking about people raging to me on instant messaging and I'm like: bro, I'm trying to write here. And they're like: No worries, I just need to vent.
....
No, it is a huge worry because then I find my attention divided between wondering what they are saying and what I have to write.