Keep hearing a really fast ticking sound coming from my PC when I play games?

[k_2___]

It only happens when I play games, I think it might be my GTX 970? It's only a reference so it's only got one fan. But the sound might also come from my Hyper Evo TX3??

I can't tell. It's always been happening and it's starting to worry me because the ticking makes me think my graphics card is spitting fire even though the temps only ever reach 80C max which isn't often. Here is the video, hopefully you can hear it. Very annoying. (Turn up your volume if you can't hear it) (I mean really turn up your volume, it may sound like a bee at first but it's hard to hear over the fans)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euEA9EtgNfU&feature=youtu.be

 

[Sedivy]

You sure you don't have a cable or something in the path of one of the fans? Or close enough to touch it by just a tip.

 

[k_2___]

You sure you don't have a cable or something in the path of one of the fans? Or close enough to touch it by just a tip.

Nope

 

[Sedivy]

Could be the bearing on one of your fans going, depending on what kind of fan you have.
You can check if it's your video card. You can pull it from the system, boot in safe mode and see if you can still hear it if you load the cpu a bit. Obviously not with games, just something to stress it a little, long enough for you to listen for the noise.

 

[k_2___]

Could be the bearing on one of your fans going, depending on what kind of fan you have.
You can check if it's your video card. You can pull it from the system, boot in safe mode and see if you can still hear it if you load the cpu a bit. Obviously not with games, just something to stress it a little, long enough for you to listen for the noise.

Hmm, what programs would be CPU intensive?

 

[Sedivy]

Well you can always use prime95 to stress test it but I don't think it's necessary to go that high? You can just run an antivirus scan or something. That should ramp it up enough to hear if the noise is present or not.

 

[k_2___]

Well you can always use prime95 to stress test it but I don't think it's necessary to go that high? You can just run an antivirus scan or something. That should ramp it up enough to hear if the noise is present or not.

Ok well my it's my GPU fan. Is this a problem or should I just let it to continue to tick? I've only had it for like a year so I can't see why the bearings would go so soon?

 

[Sedivy]

Yeah but you don't want to just leave it, run out of warranty and then have it die on you either. I'd RMA it if you're still within manufacturer's warranty.
If you're out of warranty and no chance of RMA, then look up some tutorials on how replace a fan on your card yourself. It'll differ depending on whether it's a one fan, blow out the back style card or blow air out the sides, multiple fans type. In either case, either manufacturer or various parts shops online can carry the replacement fan, and you just take care of it yourself.

 

[k_2___]

Yeah but you don't want to just leave it, run out of warranty and then have it die on you either. I'd RMA it if you're still within manufacturer's warranty.
If you're out of warranty and no chance of RMA, then look up some tutorials on how replace a fan on your card yourself. It'll differ depending on whether it's a one fan, blow out the back style card or blow air out the sides, multiple fans type. In either case, either manufacturer or various parts shops online can carry the replacement fan, and you just take care of it yourself.

I think I'm going to have to take care of it myself, I regret buying a prebuilt. They said the PC had a 3 year warranty which is stupid now that I think of it because they should've gave me the warranties that came with the graphics card.

Why do this have to happen to me. I'm HOPING they'll understand and just make me send back the graphics card, but I don't think this will happen. What's the worse case if I just leave it? I think I might just end up breaking it trying to replace the GPU fan and I can't afford to replace it.

EDIT: Actually it looks pretty easy to replace the fan, I already have everythin apart form the fan. I'm looking forward to it actually

 

[Sedivy]

The fan should be pretty simple to replace, it isn't that hard, just getting the replacement may be tricky.
As for the card, unless it's some no name card for pre-built PCs, you can still contact manufacturer of the card directly and check what the warranty on that model is. Usually a year, maybe 2. If you're within that time window, you should be ok. Just have ready the receipt where you bought the entire system (card included).

 

[k_2___]

The fan should be pretty simple to replace, it isn't that hard, just getting the replacement may be tricky.
As for the card, unless it's some no name card for pre-built PCs, you can still contact manufacturer of the card directly and check what the warranty on that model is. Usually a year, maybe 2. If you're within that time window, you should be ok. Just have ready the receipt where you bought the entire system (card included).

Well I ended up replacing the thermal paste on the GPU die which seemed to reduce the temps a little. You were right about finding a replacement. I went to the reddit tech forum and asked what cooler I should use because I couldn't find the right fan as a replacement. I ended up getting reccomended a GPU cooler known as ARCTIC Accelero Twin Turbo II or something in that series. It's out of my price range but it seems to completely replace the shell and fan of the GPU which in theory should lower temps by quite a lot since it isn't just one mini fan working away in a boxed area like my reference one is now.

What are your thoughts on these GPU coolers? Why do they use so much power though? I have a 600watt PSU and this cooler goes well over that. It states on amazon it has 250 WATTS!

 

[Sedivy]

Ah...haven't tried a liquid gpu coolers but they shouldn't differ much in build from the cpu ones, other than for the plate that fits onto it. Tubing, pump, fans, should all be the same as for CPU coolers, and that market has matured steadily over the years. Nowadays you can find cpu coolers with 5 years warranty, which then makes them a decent investment to make.
It's true it will probably keep your card cool but plan accordingly in case where you'd actually fit it. Cable length will limit you in positions so plan that in advance with respect to your case.
As for power, as I haven't used them before I can't really say, but that power req seems really odd. In reality they should not be any more taxing than any CPU cooler, as they're literally the same thing, and so if CPU cooler power draw isn't an issue, this shouldn't be either. I'd contact the manufacturer of the aio cooler and ask directly as they'll be in position to know.
Personally, I'm a little surprised you can't find any sort of replacement fan. Have you tried contacting the maker of your card and asking where you could buy replacement parts? Even if they don't sell them themselves, they can give you the part number, and if you google by the part number, you should find something for sure. Not sure if it will be cost effective and so on but it's strange not to find anything.