[SOLVED] PSU making unknown sound. Is this normal or bad?

[Edna Mode]

I have been using my PC for a couple of months now and I have recently started hearing a sound coming from my power supply. It is a sort of crackling, but I can't tell if it is electrical or something rattling / hitting the fan. I really don't want to have to RMA because i have already had to change a GPU and MOBO for different issues, am I just unlucky?



The PSU model is the Thermaltake BX1 Smart 650w



Also the sound happens after the computer has been on and in use after a number of hours. Is this a normal thing?



Here is the sound:

View: https://youtu.be/NfChFZwybt0

 

[jonnyguru]

I have been using my PC for a couple of months now and I have recently started hearing a sound coming from my power supply. It is a sort of crackling, but I can't tell if it is electrical or something rattling / hitting the fan. I really don't want to have to RMA because i have already had to change a GPU and MOBO for different issues, am I just unlucky?

Stop the fan (with a Popsicle stick or q-tip) and see if the noise stops. If it does, then it's something hitting the fan and you need to RMA it.

 

[Edna Mode]

Stop the fan (with a Popsicle stick or q-tip) and see if the noise stops. If it does, then it's something hitting the fan and you need to RMA it.

Is this good to leave the PSU running without the fan on? Because the sound doesn’t always happen, or at least it isn’t audible.

 

[jonnyguru]

Is this good to leave the PSU running without the fan on? Because the sound doesn’t always happen, or at least it isn’t audible.

It's not going to hurt if you stop it for just a couple minutes.

 

[Edna Mode]

It's not going to hurt if you stop it for just a couple minutes.

Ok thanks, does this issue sound urgent or would it be alright to leave a week due to lack of time? Or should I prioritise it

 

[jonnyguru]

Ok thanks, does this issue sound urgent or would it be alright to leave a week due to lack of time? Or should I prioritise it

Well, if it's a fan blade hitting a wire and that wire's insulation finally cuts off and the exposed copper wire then shorts against something... it suddenly becomes urgent, doesn't it?

 

[Edna Mode]

Well, if it's a fan blade hitting a wire and that wire's insulation finally cuts off and the exposed copper wire then shorts against something... it suddenly becomes urgent, doesn't it?

Ok, if I start hearing the sound do I turn my pc off and then put a popsicle stick in the fan and turn it back on. If this is true I’m not sure if it will work because the sound only starts after a number of hours. Should I see if my PSU has some sort of software for the fan with a zero or really low rpm mode?

 

[jonnyguru]

Ok, if I start hearing the sound do I turn my pc off and then put a popsicle stick in the fan and turn it back on. If this is true I’m not sure if it will work because the sound only starts after a number of hours. Should I see if my PSU has some sort of software for the fan with a zero or really low rpm mode?

Your power supply does not have any software that controls the fan.

You stop the fan once it starts making the noise. CArefully, of course, so you don't risk breaking a fan blade. Just gently press against the hub of the fan until it stops spinning.

But also, this is the first time you mentioned that the noise doesn't start for a couple of hours. Unless the fan is not spinning full RPM until after the PC has "warmed up" for a couple of hours, then a wire hitting the fan doesn't make sense.

 

[Edna Mode]

Your power supply does not have any software that controls the fan.

You stop the fan once it starts making the noise. CArefully, of course, so you don't risk breaking a fan blade. Just gently press against the hub of the fan until it stops spinning.

But also, this is the first time you mentioned that the noise doesn't start for a couple of hours. Unless the fan is not spinning full RPM until after the PC has "warmed up" for a couple of hours, then a wire hitting the fan doesn't make sense.

Yeah that's what i was thinking, maybe because by then it is vibrating a little bit and it moves out of place. Or worst case it is electrical. Is the hub of the fan the fan the circular part in the middle or is it another part. (Thanks for telling me, I would have put it in between the blades and then turned it on )

 

[Edna Mode]

Your power supply does not have any software that controls the fan.

You stop the fan once it starts making the noise. CArefully, of course, so you don't risk breaking a fan blade. Just gently press against the hub of the fan until it stops spinning.

But also, this is the first time you mentioned that the noise doesn't start for a couple of hours. Unless the fan is not spinning full RPM until after the PC has "warmed up" for a couple of hours, then a wire hitting the fan doesn't make sense.

Yeah that's what i was thinking, maybe because by then it is vibrating a little bit and it moves out of place. Or worst case it is electrical. Is the hub of the fan the fan the circular part in the middle or is it another part. (Thanks for telling me, I would have put it in between the blades and then turned it on )

Your power supply does not have any software that controls the fan.

You stop the fan once it starts making the noise. CArefully, of course, so you don't risk breaking a fan blade. Just gently press against the hub of the fan until it stops spinning.

But also, this is the first time you mentioned that the noise doesn't start for a couple of hours. Unless the fan is not spinning full RPM until after the PC has "warmed up" for a couple of hours, then a wire hitting the fan doesn't make sense.

Also. Can you tell me what you think this issue is, because it only starts after a number of hours playing games, and even at the start of that it’s quiet.

 

[jonnyguru]

Also. Can you tell me what you think this issue is, because it only starts after a number of hours playing games, and even at the start of that it’s quiet.

What graphics card do you have?

 

[Edna Mode]

What graphics card do you have?

Some specs
Gtx 1660ti
Ryzen 5 2600 (stock cooler)
Samsung evo
16 gb ddr4 ram

 

[jonnyguru]

Hmm.. That graphics card shouldn't be stressing out any of the magnetics like a higher end card would when using such a cheap power supply.

Could just be a poorly laminated magnetic that is expanding when heated up, causing audible noise.

Like I said, it's a pretty cheap PSU (double forward, no DC to DC, 230V input only, sleeve bearing fan, etc.). I would not have high expectations for quality control.

 

[Edna Mode]

Hmm.. That graphics card shouldn't be stressing out any of the magnetics like a higher end card would when using such a cheap power supply.

Could just be a poorly laminated magnetic that is expanding when heated up, causing audible noise.

Like I said, it's a pretty cheap PSU (double forward, no DC to DC, 230V input only, sleeve bearing fan, etc.). I would not have high expectations for quality control.

Does that mean that it isn’t harming my PSU and it is just an annoying sound? A

 

[jonnyguru]

Does that mean that it isn’t harming my PSU and it is just an annoying sound? A

yep. Odds are it's just an nuisance noise. As long as it's not something actually hitting the fan..

 

[Edna Mode]

yep. Odds are it's just an nuisance noise. As long as it's not something actually hitting the fan..

That’s a huge relief dude! I might still try the fan test but I’ll decide later, do i need to take the PSU out to stop the fan?

 

[jonnyguru]

do i need to take the PSU out to stop the fan?

I don't know. Can you access the fan without pulling the PSU out?