Loud whirring noise from PC

Kalith · 7 Dec 2010 at 11:21

Hi all,

Currently have quite a loud pitched whirring noise coming from the PC. Hard to describe accurately.

It happens when inside a game, so I think it might be the GPU fan, HIS 5870. I opened the comp up and blasted it with the compressed air. There was a lot of dust under the CPU fan which I thought might have been the problem.

Hasn't solved it though. As soon as I tab out of a game the noise goes away but a few minutes in and it's back. Any ideas?

gjrc · 7 Dec 2010 at 11:22

can you unplug GPU fan?

sounds like one of your fan motors is about to burn out....

SeraphX · 7 Dec 2010 at 11:23

or boot the machine without the card plugged in

TWiNKLeT0Es · 7 Dec 2010 at 13:27

Try gaming with the side of the PC off to locate the noise maybe?

wapcatlet · 7 Dec 2010 at 13:54

It could be capacitor "squeal" on the PSU/GPU.
I've heard of this happening sometimes when power usage is increased. e.g. When running benchmarking tools or playing graphically "demanding" games that put extra stress on the PSU/GPU.
But the sound of a "dodgy" capacitor is definitely more of a high pitched squeal rather than a whirring noise.

Toughnoodle · 7 Dec 2010 at 14:02

It could be the fan motor axle spinning inside of the fan blade. Happens far too often with cheapo graphics card manufacturer HSFs.

DragonQ · 7 Dec 2010 at 14:08

That'll be the hamster.