I just... can't find the source

PGdude · 16 May 2012 at 20:23

I've just replaced my dodgy OCZ PSU and I'm still surprised to find that there is some transient basal level of noise in my PC. It's not the mechanical hard drive ticks (though they are there) but here's a constant "whir". It's not a whine, it's not a squeal nor a moan. I can only describe it is a whir.

Does a spinning hard drive make that sound? I think it's a Maxtor Diamondmax 22, 500GB w/ 32MB cache. My case is an Antec 300.

Do hard drives whir? Is this my problem?

If you're wondering, I find this an issue because I have my PC on my desk not more than a metre away. The sound isn't so noticeable with a headset on but still...

ukSleek · 16 May 2012 at 20:37

I used to have a sound like coming from my old set up and found it was my motherboard's fan making the noise,luckily i had a spare and replaced it.
It could also be your GPU's fan? or try disconecting the Case fan's one by one to eliminate them as well

horrorwood · 16 May 2012 at 20:45

Hard drives can make that noise. Try unplugging it and then turning your pc on?

J-FRO · 16 May 2012 at 20:47

I had an issue with my OCZ psu up til about 4 days ago. Whenever under load (i.e. long sessions of BF3 with other applications running in the background) it would make a loud clicking noise. At first I thought it was my H50 but I sent that of for RMA and noticed the sound still so figured "oh it wasn't that then", then when I discovered it was the PSU I simply turned it up the other way to the fan is point upwards and the sound has stopped!

PGdude · 16 May 2012 at 20:51

ukSleek said:
I used to have a sound like coming from my old set up and found it was my motherboard's fan making the noise,luckily i had a spare and replaced it.
It could also be your GPU's fan? or try disconecting the Case fan's one by one to eliminate them as well

No motherboard fan, just turned GPU down to 20% and the same sound is there. In fact I can turn the GPU fan up to 50% without hearing it.

horrorwood said:
Hard drives can make that noise. Try unplugging it and then turning your pc on?

I will give this a shot.

J-FRO said:
I had an issue with my OCZ psu up til about 4 days ago. Whenever under load (i.e. long sessions of BF3 with other applications running in the background) it would make a loud clicking noise. At first I thought it was my H50 but I sent that of for RMA and noticed the sound still so figured "oh it wasn't that then", then when I discovered it was the PSU I simply turned it up the other way to the fan is point upwards and the sound has stopped!

I just replaced my PSU with a CM Silent Pro M today. I always have it with the fan turned up. The sound is the same as before I replaced the PSU.

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll do some more testing. Perhaps it's better to describe it as a low hum with a hint of distant motor spin? Distant vacuum or food processor? It's not loud but the frequency (being neither high nor low pitched) is bugging me.

Mitzy · 16 May 2012 at 20:55

Could it be faint feedback being picked up by desk speakers?

PGdude · 16 May 2012 at 21:02

Don't use speakers, because of... well, bad audio chipset issues due to interference.

It's my 5770. I was turning off my PC just now and it accidentally went through a restart cycle. I noticed the fan on it went to full whine and then lowered... To the noise that I always hear. I guess non reference cooling solutions aren't always great, at sound levels anyway.

Just another dud thread, case solved, or at least it will be when I get a new GPU.

Seriously, 20% fan speed is almost identical to 30% on auto, which isn't too different from 40%. I wish I could turn it lower.