Very loud rattling noise???

demon8991 · 20 Sep 2009 at 11:08

My computer seems to have developed a very loud rattling noise but not a vibration one. I think it is coming from the fan in my psu i have stopped all other fans and that noise is still there.

Could the bearings be knackered in my psu fan would a drop of oil sort this or completely new fan? It is getting worse and has just started doing it while i type.

What you guys reckon?

PermaBanned · 20 Sep 2009 at 11:24

Are the fins damaged in any way?

demon8991 · 20 Sep 2009 at 11:26

Not that i can see, the noise has gone again now. But it will come back.

PermaBanned · 20 Sep 2009 at 11:33

Could you RMA the PSU? The fan would be impossible to replace without opening it up, which isn't recommended. And 'oiling' it wouldn't work, since you'd most likely not get it anywhere near the bearings and end up getting oil on the PSU itself, which wouldn't be good and would probably void any warranty it may have.

That's a good point actually, why don't PSUs have external, removable fans?

demon8991 · 20 Sep 2009 at 11:43

Hmm i bought the PSU last november time so it should be good to RMA i suppose.

Such a hassle though, if thats the only way i'll have to do it.

PermaBanned · 20 Sep 2009 at 11:44

What PSU is it?

demon8991 · 20 Sep 2009 at 11:46

Zalman ZM600-HP Heatpipe Cooled 600W Modular Power Supply

Hairybudda · 20 Sep 2009 at 12:08

Have you considered the possibility of a wire or other debris touching the fan as it rotates?

doggs · 20 Sep 2009 at 13:26

I had a nasty rattle coming from my psu, simply tightening the screws fixed it.

demon8991 · 20 Sep 2009 at 17:25

Had the psu out checked the screws and any wires that might be catching but still no use.

I am pretty sure it is coming from the PSU i cant imagine it being anything else?

JonJ678 · 20 Sep 2009 at 18:17

Superewza said:
That's a good point actually, why don't PSUs have external, removable fans?

Because people would replace them with inappropriately specified fans, the psu would die and the customer would then blame the psu maker rather than themselves.

PGdude · 20 Sep 2009 at 18:23

demon8991 said:
Not that i can see, the noise has gone again now. But it will come back.

...Sounds scary.

Is the rattling like shaking something small in a pot? Or lots of small things?

demon8991 · 20 Sep 2009 at 18:56

Yer it sounds like that something being shaken violently in a pot.

It can last 5 seconds and go or do it for a minute or 2.

Hades · 20 Sep 2009 at 21:28

demon8991 said:
Yer it sounds like that something being shaken violently in a pot.

It can last 5 seconds and go or do it for a minute or 2.

As mentioned above it sounds like a wire touching the fan. Mine did it for a while. The wire was fine until I pushed the side of the case back on and then it made contact with a fan blade.

zsolmanz · 20 Sep 2009 at 21:36

[Off topic]
Some of the older PSUs do have external, removable fans. But yeah - they don't do it any more for good reasons. It looks ugly too.
[/Off topic]

Demon, do you notice if it only happens if the PSU is hotter than usual, ie more load on? And what happens if you shake the PSU (gently) when it's not happening?

demon8991 · 22 Sep 2009 at 17:13

zsolmanz said:
[Off topic]
Some of the older PSUs do have external, removable fans. But yeah - they don't do it any more for good reasons. It looks ugly too.
[/Off topic]

Demon, do you notice if it only happens if the PSU is hotter than usual, ie more load on? And what happens if you shake the PSU (gently) when it's not happening?

It's definately not a heat issue as it does it from cold boot sometimes.

Right now it is doing it over and over in a pattern of noises.

Driving me mental!!! To the point where i want to kick my computer over and over untill my foot bleeds!

PGdude · 22 Sep 2009 at 18:29

Back on Hades point, my fan actually made a similar noise just stroking against a wire. Check on that.

demon8991 · 15 Oct 2009 at 13:33

I am devasted going to have to RMA the PSU and i was really getting into NFS:S!

I had the PSU out again a couple nights ago as the noise is still there.

I checked to see if wires are rubbing and there doesnt seem to be anything touching the fins of the fan. Also i have made sure all the screws are tight and that there is nothing rattling inside the psu but to no avail.

It's so annoying as it is not even a year old!

asoxedri · 15 Oct 2009 at 14:22

i've had fans go wrong in my psu after warranty, i just replaced fan, and they still work today. although if its within warranty, give them a call.

demon8991 · 15 Oct 2009 at 14:26

How do i replace a fan that is within the unit itself though?