Crackling noise driving me mad

[Wouter Termont]

It's been a year now since I put together a basic build for daily use. One thing I like very much is silence (when it comes to computers). Alas, some time ago this lovely system began to make some crackling noise, not unlike the HDD clicking of my (much) older pc ... only this one runs with solely a 128 SSD.

Rather baffled I fiddled with it a bit every time it irritated me, in the hope that a good ear would find where the noise came from. I tried following things:
- slamming rather hard against the left side, right side and top
- stopping the 180mm front fan (switch)
- removing the CPU pull fan (which I didn't really need)
- stopping both GPU fans
- stopping the PSU fan
- removing the (empty) HDD case
- removing the GPU
- removing the (unused) WLAN PCI card

But to no avail. The noise might perhaps have lowered a little, but that could be subjective. So finally I come to this haven of knowledge to ask: WHERE DOES THIS NOISE COME FROM?! (excuse the caps) The only components left now are: a motherboard with 2 pieces of RAM and a CPU with heatsink, a PSU and an SSD. Any suggestions?

 

[Karsten75]

Take a paper towel roll, or roll up a sheet of paper into a tube sahpe - use it as a hearing aid (much like a stethoscope) and see if that helps you determine where the noise is doming from.

Perhaps you can also make a sound recording (video optional) to let us hear the sound and maybe that way we can judge better.

Good luck.

 

[huntersw2]

Double check to make sure all the screws are tight.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Do you have an optical drive?

 

[PassMark]

Is the mains power plug plugged in firmly? (Unlikely I know, but it might be pins shorting out on a loss connection).

 

[Wouter Termont]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I double checked the power plug (@PassMark), do not have an optival drive (@SR-71 BlackBird) and the screws that are reachable seem to be fastened tightly (@huntersw2). The paper tube tip (@Karsten75) didn't really reveal anything, since I have a rather big heatsink (Scythe Mugen), but I think the noise comes from the cpu area underneath it. It doesn't seem to come from the corners of the case anyway, which would exclude PSU and SSD, and RAM also looks innocent after taking it out (one piece at a time).

So, why would a cpu make noise? Or what could make noise close around it (i.e. the heatsink)? I've made a short recording of the noise, but it's not of the best quality: https://soundcloud.com/woutermont/crackling-computer-noise.

Any further ideas are welcome!

 

[Karsten75]

That's a fan noise.

First check that any wires around the fan are not touching the blades.

Then check that there isn't a frame or any other object that touches the fan.

Failing that, replace the fan.

Edit: Just Googled your cooler (Scythe Mugen 4?) and hte fan on it look like a cheapo fan. It would do you well to get high-quality, low-noise fans,


Cougar, Noctua and Corsair make some very good fans.

 

[Wouter Termont]

That's a fan noise.

That's not possible, I tested all the fans before and the sound continues with all fans of. During the recording only the PSU fan is turning, and the noise certainly does not come from there. Unless I'm very much mistaken, there are no other/hidden fans in my build.

Edit on your edit: I use my Scythe Mugen (3) without fans

 

[Karsten75]

ok, if you say that, then I can't argue with that. It sounds like a fan noise from your recording. Maybe your recording was worse that I thought or I picked up the wrong sound in your recording.

Hope you get it figured out, post back whan you do, we can all learn.

 

[Wouter Termont]

Thanks for the help. If it may make a difference for other people with ideas: it does seem increase with computer load, not in volume but in frequency. At boot it is absent till I log in (terminal login, if it matters).

 

[Karsten75]

that could bear on heat and that governs fan speed... Sorry. I know you say it isn't but...

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, ...

 

[Wouter Termont]

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, ...

I know 😛 it was also the first thing I thought of myself, but I don't know how a fan could be making noise when it doesn't turn. Any ideas or ways to test?

 

[Karsten75]

a slight vibration? maybe try and put rubber grommets where you're mounting it? I've once in desperation put a tiny bit of rubber cement on a case where a fan was making a noise. Not sure I'll do the same on a cooler mount though...

 

[Wouter Termont]

Will try that, though it seems unlikely: a vibration would have a more constant frequency, as would a fan problem. But this noise is more like the random ticking of an old hard drive.

 

[Karsten75]

OK, we're talking about different noises then.

Hard drive ticks are not all that rapid in my experience. The noise I heard in your recording was just like a fan blade hitting a wire, or maybe a bearing being out. Definitely not like a hard drive click.

Here are some hard drive click recordings: http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php

 

[Wouter Termont]

OK, we're talking about different noises then.

Hard drive ticks are not all that rapid in my experience. The noise I heard in your recording was just like a fan blade hitting a wire, or maybe a bearing being out. Definitely not like a hard drive click.

Here are some hard drive click recordings: http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php

Hmm, okay, can't find my noise on that page. What I should have said was "it sounds like what MY old hard drive once did", but that's not much of a help is it? 😛 I'll try to make a better recording if I can find some equipment.

 

[PassMark]

Here is another idea. Maybe it is the heat pipes making the noise. You can get gurgling / bubbling noises like this in fridge piping. The heatsink pipes are normally filled with a low boiling point liquid. This would also explain why you get more noise when the unit is hot & under load.

Try turning the whole case upside down or at 90 degree and see if you still get the noise.

Otherwise it might the electrical noise, a bad capacitor or inductor.

 

[Wouter Termont]

Here is another idea. Maybe it is the heat pipes making the noise. You can get gurgling / bubbling noises like this in fridge piping. The heatsink pipes are normally filled with a low boiling point liquid. This would also explain why you get more noise when the unit is hot & under load.

Try turning the whole case upside down or at 90 degree and see if you still get the noise.

Otherwise it might the electrical noise, a bad capacitor or inductor.

Thanks for the new ideas. Turning the case didn't help, and since the noise starts always on the exact time during boot it probably isn't something rather random as heatsink temperature flux.

How would I detect a bad capacitor or inductor? And if detected, is there anyway to deal with it other than replacing the motherboard?

 

[PassMark]

Try using a "giant screwdriver".
See, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U927cYhQXB4

Sounds (pun intended) a bit wacky, I know. Make sure you don't short anything out. You can do the same thing with a wooden pole as well.

 

[Wouter Termont]

Thanks PassMark, I'll give that a try. I situated the noise fairly good below the heatsink though ... not much there apart from a cpu and some motherboard parts, so probably need a new motherboard 🙁