Need Help - Power Supply Noise Driving Me Crazy!!

[dukeofcrydee]

I appreciate the post, but I was pretty sure the noise was the power supply - only to find out it was the video card!

Hopefully someone not that familiar with computers will pick up some tips from you text cause you're spot-on with your recommendations.

hehe, the fingernail thing wasn't to test the noise. The PCI card next to it was blocking my view of it, so I used the fingernail test to make sure the thing was at least still running at all, or at least at top speed (which it was). I didn't stop the fan, just barely touched it to do the test. I'm pretty familiar with PCs, but thanks for the heads up

 

[JAGedlion]

Maybe i'm commming way to late to this conversation but, zalman makes noiseless coolers for gpu's, aside from quiter theextra price might be nice cause you know they'll never break as there is NO fan.

 

[Rob423]

im posting way to late, but i gotta say, that was an entertaining convo!.. anyway... Before you make a SUBJECT directing the problem to your PS.. why don't you do put something called your EAR next to the case when your PC is running.. and you will be able to identify your problem... then obviously, Change the FAN... i wasn't even here and i just solved your problem

This Community is like a Second Family!!

 

[dude56]

Well guy I must say the dialogue has been interesting to say the least. Several of the replies I think were accurate. Since the noise sounds loud, first question is it a high pitched squeal? If yes then most likely the bearings in one of the fans are getting dry and will probably seize sometime in the near future. Excessive heat is probably the leading cause of bearing failure, i.e. lack of lubricant, excessive dust in the immediate environment, inferior or cheap components, etc. You could also be hearing a faulty fan on the CPU chip. The video card as you stated is very hot, so maybe the fan has bad bearings. As for the PSU, I personally use PC Power & Cooling PSU's. Top quality components, quiet, very stable in voltges regulation, and reliable. I always buy the heavy duty components if I can, usually the brand names, made in USA/Canada and think of Murphy's Law to justify the more expensive purchases. And as one guy mentioined it could be the HDD. I have Maxtor 60 Gb and it's starting to emit a constant high pitch whining noise. So take your pick and hope you find the cause.

 

[Duke_of_Crydee]

Before you make a SUBJECT directing the problem to your PS.. why don't you do put something called your EAR next to the case when your PC is running.. and you will be able to identify your problem... then obviously, Change the FAN... i wasn't even here and i just solved your problem

Yeah it's been a while. Actually I'm a bit smarter than a rock, so yeah I did open my case and put my ear to it to try and pinpoint the problem.

From my first post, I mentioned it was really hard to pinpoint the origin of the noise because of the tight area and the volume of the noise. The PSU and the video card and the CPU fan are very close to each other, and the volume was so loud that it was hard to pinpoint the device.

And even if it was my PSU, I explained my reservations on changing the fan like you suggested.

Just to update this old thread while I'm here, it wasn't even my video card's fan. What I explained earlier as proof positive evidence turned out to be just a conincedental fluke.

What the REAL problem was, was the little fan on the co-processor of the ABit KT7A. I stumbled on the possibility while doing some Google searching and then found A LOT of people with similar problems. Just popped the fan off and I fixed it (didn't even need the fan I came to find out).

Go figure.

 

[Rob423]

well atleast its fixed now

This Community is like a Second Family!!

 

[the_Prisoner]

For future reference to pin point noise, try using a paper towel cardboard tube or something similar. Then put your ear to it and move it around the case to pinpoint the noise.

the Prisoner

I'm not a number, I'm a free man!