Need serious help. Big worries.

MrElve

MrElve

MrElve

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Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
OK guys, long post im afraid :(. I've had my newly built computer for just over a month now and I'm just having problems.

I recently made a post about my power supply possibly ticking but that has now escalated. I was up last night, feeling extremely sick and worrying constantly because £800 just felt like its gone down the drain and I've got nobody that can help me.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T @ 3.5Ghz
Cooling: Coolermaster V8
Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair III Formula (RoG) NB & HT @ 2000Mhz
Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) Dual-channel @ 1666Mhz
GPU: XFX ATI Radeon HD 6870 1GB
Case: Antec 1200 Gaming Case
PSU: XFX Pro 750W Core Edition
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB (7,2krpm)
OD: LG 22x DVD/RW

Originally I thought that the power supply's fan bearings made a clicking noise as the fan speeded up under load on a game when it heated up. But I'm sadly mistaken. I've had the side panel off my computer all morning whilst using a cardboard tube used on a toilet roll to find the source of the noise and I cannot differ between the GPU or the PSU. It's definitely not the hard drive making this noise as its completely out of the way, plus i listened to the HDD while under gaming load and it sounded perfectly fine, Just makes a strange sort of, electrical sound, ticking buzz thing for a couple of seconds on startup if you will.

Originally i thought this noise only came about under load (fullscreen game, etc.) but after i turned my pc on this morning the sound became constant. I'm lead to beleive that the power supply could be 'arcing' in which case worries me further as if it is, and it blows, could take a component, or my entire PC with it. Can anybody help me on this issue? Ive put my finger on the gpu fan for about 2 seconds to stop it and its not the GPU Fan making this noise so im 80-90% sure its the power supply. I dare not put anything into the fan of the psu though to stop it to check because electricity?

Please help me put my mind at rest.. i've already contacted OCUK on RMA for the PSU but now ive just lost track and im getting the feeling that everything in my pc is faulty somehow.. or i've done something majourly wrong. (which i havn't because its been fine till now).
 
One way to stop or slow a fan without risking the blades is to use a rubber sucker on a stick (like a kids arrow) placed over the centre hub and pressing lightly on it until the fan stops. Like a friction brake in fact.

Have you checked the PSU output volts?

andy.
 
Get an antec PSU tester. They are not 'that' expensive. Or pay for your PSU to be RMA'd and they will test it for you. Have you tried borrowing a friends power supply? Is there anyone on here near you to try another one out?

Lost track? Then request another, or phone them and sort it out. Without trying to offend you, sounds like your the 'blocker' in getting it sorted.

ARE YOU SURE it's not a fan? That can easily be checked by stopping a fan (Case fans, CPU fan, gfx card fan etc..) and seeing if the 'ticking' stops. It could also be a cable or something that is loose, a connector earthing out on the case.... Many things. (I note your CPU cooler is pretty complicated. Disconnect the fan, then turn on the system briefly to check the fan in that is not the problem.)
 
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nkata said:
One way to stop or slow a fan without risking the blades is to use a rubber sucker on a stick (like a kids arrow) placed over the centre hub and pressing lightly on it until the fan stops. Like a friction brake in fact.

Have you checked the PSU output volts?

andy.
Click to expand...

All my voltages are set to auto in the BIOS if that helps. I havn't changed any voltages at all since I built it.

Scougar said:
Get an antec PSU tester. They are not 'that' expensive. Or pay for your PSU to be RMA'd and they will test it for you. Have you tried borrowing a friends power supply? Is there anyone on here near you to try another one out?

Lost track? Then request another, or phone them and sort it out. Without trying to offend you, sounds like your the 'blocker' in getting it sorted.

ARE YOU SURE it's not a fan? That can easily be checked by stopping a fan (Case fans, CPU fan, gfx card fan etc..) and seeing if the 'ticking' stops. It could also be a cable or something that is loose, a connector earthing out on the case.... Many things.
Click to expand...

I've stopped every single fan in my case, including the cpu fan for about 1-2 seconds one by one and its definetly the power supply fan or electrical thats making the noise. Im just having a hard time at the moment. Im going to see if I could find any friends that could help me.
 
Do you have any other computers in the house? If you don't have a spare power supply. Then hook up the psu to another computer and see if it makes the same sound. Then you can be sure that it is indeed that.

P.S No other components will be taken out if the PSU is dodgy.
 
Just to rule things out does it sound anything like this?


It's definitely a mechanical ticking/clicking sound not a buzzy, whiney, screechy, fizzy, poppy sound?

Arcing is normally a more electrical, fizz, buzz, crack or pop kind of a sound.

Can you take the psu out of the case plug it all back in but keep it as far from the PC as possible. Maybe put a sheet of cardboard between then stick your head either side. You can do the same with the HDD as long as you put it somewhere flat.
 
Fourstar said:
Just to rule things out does it sound anything like this?


It's definitely a mechanical ticking/clicking sound not a buzzy, whiney, screechy, fizzy, poppy sound?

Arcing is normally a more electrical, fizz, buzz, crack or pop kind of a sound.

Can you take the psu out of the case plug it all back in but keep it as far from the PC as possible. Maybe put a sheet of cardboard between then stick your head either side. You can do the same with the HDD as long as you put it somewhere flat.
Click to expand...

Sorry but it doesnt sound anything like that. Trust me, its not the HDD, i've listened to it for a long time whilst running crysis and HD tune pro and its fine. Its the PSU or GPU because i cant determine which one it is because they're so close together.

Just to clarify, my PSU is sat fan upwards in my antec 1200 but it sits on rubber mounts to its not rattling against the chassis but could this affect it somehow? should i mount upside down or will it not make a difference if its not fan related?
 
MrElve said:
my PSU is sat fan upwards in my antec 1200 but it sits on rubber mounts to its not rattling against the chassis but could this affect it somehow? should i mount upside down or will it not make a difference if its not fan related?
Click to expand...

Your PSU can only be mounted one way in any case. The 4 screw holes that align up with the case from the psu. There is always one slightly off centre, so you can't install any other way. Unless of course you managed to somehow forcefully install it upside down.

This explains what I'm on about

psu-installed.jpg
 
Should not make a difference, fan up seems the way many go. Is the fan securely screwed to the psu casing? Try to move it with your finger with the psu switched off.
 
MrElve said:
Just to clarify, my PSU is sat fan upwards in my antec 1200 but it sits on rubber mounts to its not rattling against the chassis but could this affect it somehow? should i mount upside down or will it not make a difference if its not fan related?
Click to expand...
The orientation shouldn't matter. I was just making my suggestion to try and physically move the components further apart so you might be able to work out which is making the noise.
 
I hope this helps a bit -
Its a different power supply, but made by the same manufactura

I was looking at buying the same power supply as you untill I read your comments.
looking around the web,for a bit more info i came across this-

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1561018

it seems that some people are having an issue with their XFX power supplies clicking , possible down to the fan.
Some after just a few days , others after several months.
Im not so sure about it now, I dont want to biuld a new Pc up and have the power supply fail.
I hope i have not brocken any rules posting the link to another forum.
 
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Try this, disconnect the psu from everthing in your pc, connect a single fan or cold cathode if u have one to a molex. Now go to YouTube and search for vids on 'jump starting' your psu(it's easier seeing it done than me trying go explain). You will then have the psu running with nothing else connected other than a fan or cold cathode, if you hear the ticking rma that bad boy!
 
Ok. Here is a video i've just whipped up.


EDIT: im at my desktop now instead of on a game, the fan is still spinning at the same speed but now its not doing it.
 
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