Loud Buzzing Noise while playing game

[Codelyoko373]

I was playing league of legends not that long ago and for the first time, my computer started making this strange buzzing noise. It only happened for about a minute and then didn't happen again. I haven't tested to see if it happens with any other games and so far it doesn't seem to happen when I'm not playing a game.

I checked my temps including GPU and CPU temps while the noise was going on and the temps were normal, CPU being about 62C and GPU about 50-55C. (I was playing a game)

Does anyone have any idea what could be the cause of this noise? It doesn't seem to be anything bad as like I said, it only happens for about a minute but it's never happened before until now.

 

[Codelyoko373]

The specific condition is known as oil whirl, or simply whirl. It's what happens when there's not enough oil at a point on the bearing, and the shaft basically grabs the journal and throws it around the shaft like a hula-hoop. If the oil film is replenished, which can occur as a result of the shaking (or kicking the computer), the grip loosens and the shaft can recenter, and the whirling ceases. As oil escapes, or the journal wears down, the whirling will occur with increasing frequency.

Whirling is most likely to occur shortly after the fan starts turning, as the oil will settle when the fan is off.

Whirling can sometimes be forced if the bearing is violently shaken or gets hit by something. If the whirling is induced in this manner, it's not necessarily a sign of the bearing failing.

So I shouldn't be that worried? (As currently I'm quite worried about the whole situation even though basically nothing has happened)

About two years ago, the fan on my CPU cooler started whirling. I ordered a pair of SP120s to replace the fan and so I would have a spare. After learning just how awful the screeching that those fans make really is, I put the old fan back on. It lasted about 18 months longer with an occasional kick. I decided to replace it when it took two kicks to stop the whirling.

You're probably fine.

I'm so glade to hear that, I'm very grateful for your help but just another thing... If the noise is just whirl, why did it suddenly make a sort of loud buzzing noise and then stop after about a minute, twice. The problem is I can't really remember the sound anymore, haha but I remember it being a buzzing... almost like the computer was processing something with it being around the same volume as when a disk drive reads data.

I highly doubt it but thinking about it now... the buzzing may of been my disk drive but even when I pressed the button to open the disk drive up, the noise still continued which also makes me think it isn't the disk drive.

 

[the nerd 389]

Have you tried the file-copying test yet?

 

[Codelyoko373]

Have you tried the file-copying test yet?

No I haven't yet, currently it's midnight so I was going to do it in daylight. Is it simply moving files that you want me to do?

 

[Codelyoko373]

Whirling can also be induced when a chunk of dust finally breaks loose, either from the fan blade or onto a fan blade and throws off the pitch of the blade temporarily, making it wobble like a ceiling fan. Then the fan changes speeds, dust comes off and all goes back to normal, making you nuts chasing ghosts that no longer exist.

So you think this buzzing noise that happened for about a minute I'm talking about was the fan simply wobbling?

 

[the nerd 389]

Yes, preferably lots of small files. Just don't cut/paste them, as that won't stress the disk. Copy/paste them.

It can wait until morning, though.

 

[Codelyoko373]

Yes, preferably lots of small files. Just don't cut/paste them, as that won't stress the disk. Copy/paste them.

It can wait until morning, though.

Well I've actually got to move an unreal engine project to my memory stick so I'll try in a minute. Also thinking about what Karadjgne said... it would make tons of sense is that was the reason for the loud buzzing sound. Last time I cleaned out my computer, I forgot to clean the dust out of my GPU fans so it expelling dust and making that loud buzzing noise would make sense. And would also make sense why it hasn't happened again.

EDIT: Also It's not my hard drive, moved the files and it didn't make the sound

 

[the nerd 389]

Yeah, in that case, you're probably fine.

 

[Karadjgne]

Clean your gpu. Lol, it may show the cause, it may not, but it's piece of mind either way. If the buzzing happens again, at minimum you can write off dusty fans as the cause. When you clean the fan off, see if it has any kind of play in it, it shouldn't have any, but if there is, that'll be the culprit.