my PSU is making a clicking sound

bobo696 · 14 Jun 2012 at 20:04

Hi there

I have a problem that appeared today and it's very annoying. My PSU is a corsair hx620w

It now makes a clicking like "click-click-click", like a car motor....

The strange thing is that when I lean my pc by approx 45 degrees, the noise disappears.

What's happening ?

MatsyLR · 14 Jun 2012 at 20:05

Is this while its underload or idle?

bobo696 · 14 Jun 2012 at 20:06

No, right when I boot the pc

Justintime · 14 Jun 2012 at 20:08

Fan bearing might be going or somethings caught on the fan?

MatsyLR · 14 Jun 2012 at 20:09

Try blowing into it (while the PC is off).
Something might of got inside like a bug or something.

Gav_881 · 14 Jun 2012 at 20:10

Sounds like the fans on its last legs to me

bobo696 · 14 Jun 2012 at 20:29

Well guys, might have been a screw not inserted properly, so it was vibrating against the case...

It's not clicking anymore for now, I hope that stays that way !

Thanks

EDIT: No it wasn't that, still making the noise

bobo696 · 15 Jun 2012 at 09:23

Here is a youtube video of what's happening
The clicking sound is not obvious on the video but we can hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3zG-7fZOrc

Any ideas? I tried shaking a little bit the pc to see if there was something trapped in the psu but no success

Tealc · 15 Jun 2012 at 09:41

Fan bearing.

Tilting the machine just changes the angle of the fan and moves it away from wherever the wear is on the bearing.

How old is the PSU? Still in warranty?

bobo696 · 15 Jun 2012 at 09:46

Psu is 3 years old. No warranty as I bought it second hand...

What should I do ?

Nightglow · 15 Jun 2012 at 10:07

Can you not replace the fan, only a matter of removing four cover screws, & four to secure fan, you need to splice the red and black wires only.

Stock fan is 120mm @ 1000rpm, I used one from Scythe, to replace mine, can't remember exact one now.

See this link for internal view.

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/Corsair HX620W/index.htm

Edit: Could have been a Scythe Slip Stream 120MM 1200rpm beastie, as I have packaging for one.

Unicorn · 15 Jun 2012 at 10:19

Tealc has a guide on fan changing for a psu fan. find a super silent one the right size and get it changed.

bobo696 · 15 Jun 2012 at 10:43

Ok thanks guys ! it's annoying... Fortunately it's a modular so I just have to get the main voltage cables off

Tealc · 15 Jun 2012 at 14:55

According to that hardware heaven review the stock fan in the HX is a 2200rpm 120mm x 25mm fan. Stated airflow is 83cfm.

Depending on your usage and how hot the unit runs normally you might be able to drop in a slightly slower running fan. My first replacement was a scythe s-flex 1900 and my second ( as per link in my sig) was a Enermax Magma 1500rpm. Some run really slow fans and get away with it.

Nightglow · 15 Jun 2012 at 15:18

Tealc said:
According to that hardware heaven review the stock fan in the HX is a 2200rpm 120mm x 25mm fan. Stated airflow is 83cfm

The fan fitted to my Corsair HX620 was a ADDA - AD1212HB-A71GL

http://addausa.com/datasheets/AD12025.pdf

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=1735918&action=view&CMP=GRHB-OCTOPARTSAPAC-1008148

When I removed the fan I measured it's speed at about 1000rpm, thinking about it now, it might have been running slower than it's design speed due to it being knackered.
PSU is long gone, gave it away, but it never failed with the replacement fan I fitted, even though it was the wrong speed.

Tealc · 15 Jun 2012 at 16:19

If you measured while the fan was installed and operating in the PSU then the fan control circuit in the PSU would have lowered the speed. If it was outside the PSU then it must have been truly knackered and you were right to replace.