Wierd Buzzing Sound

BarneyBoots

BarneyBoots

BarneyBoots

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Joined
18 Jan 2007
Posts
109
Hi guys,just wondering if you could help ?

My system is about 3 years old and never had any problems with it until a couple of days ago when the noise levels suddenly increased.I have taken the case off and tried to isolate the scource of the noise and it appears to be coming from either the PSU or around that area.The noise it makes is like a buzzing sound which is fine if I am playing games etc with the sound turned up but in a quiet room drives you insane very quickly.The sound comes and goes so it is not constant but like I said it drives you mad in a hurry.

My system specs are

Intel Core2 Quad
ATI Radeon HD Series 4800
Creative SB X-Fi
500g hard drive
8g ram
EVGA NFORCE 680i SLI MB
Dual booting vista xp(32 Bit) and Vista (64 Bit)

Gave the inside of the case a good clean this morning and all the fans are free of dust,so my next thought would be the psu is on its way out.The current one is 700w,is this enough ?

Any help appreciated !
 
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Surely it cant be the card as I bought it from Overclockers a few months ago as I had worn my old one out.How would you fix it as when I had a look inside the case earlier,I would rather perform heart surgery with a spoon than try and mess with the wiring into the psu.I have changed them in the past but this one is a bit daunting for someone of my experience.The PC is a alienware if that helps at all.
 
it still can be a card, it's a very common problem for both ati and nvidia cards, my old gtx 285 did it from start, and radeons do it as well, not as loud though

if nothing to worry about really, but if it really annoys you, then i think you should be able to RMA
 
Took it to a IT tech that I know earlier and he reckons that he would be shocked if it was the PSU.We stopped the cpu fan and the noise was still there so I guess it rules that out.The only thing he thought it could be was the water cooling unit.Rapidly running out of ideas as to what could be casuing this buzz/humming sound .I have attached a picture if thats any use.The noise seems to be coming from the area round the psu and the top of the water cooling unit.

Please resize image.
 
i dont think it's the watercooling

im pretty sure its graphics card + psu combo, possibly gpu is causing psu capacitor to squeal
 
So how would you go about fixing this ? Sorry for the basic questions,just am a total newbie at this sort of thing.Would unplugging the GPU eliminate the noise for a while so I can pinpoint if this is the cause ?
 
try maybe downloading this software: http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

and see if the squealing gets louder when you run it, if it does then it's the graphics card.

if not, more likely psu, or even motherboard

there are no quick fixes really, but you will be eligible for RMA

edit: also try taking the psu out of the case, but keep it plugged in to everything - see if noise is coming from it
 
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Just downloaded that software and ran it on xp as it would not work with 64 bit vista.the noise remained the same,so tried unplugging the gpu and starting the pc.Noise remained the same,so that only leaves the psu which was my 1st thought earlier today.just wanted to make sure before I spent some cash on something that maybe wasn't the problem.any recommendations as to a good psu if you agree that is the most likely cause.My current psu is 700w
 
the only way to know for sure is try another part one at a time

my moneys on the psu, try it with another or take it out & short it via the 2pin methord.

Ie just stick a pin or bit of wire to link the black & green wire on the 24pin connector to make it think its pluged into a mobo dont worry it wont hurt it :D

But it will allow you to see if its that. However the capictor may only be whining under load thus this test wont show it.
 
The psu is what came with the computer,the only thing on the spec sheet is
700 WATT OEM ATX PSU REV2.If that means anything.

Just watching the video again,the noise does not sound as high pitched to the naked ear but I hope you can gets some sport of indication as to the sort of sound I am talking about.
PSU Problem then ?
 
sure it's not a case or CPU fan? try unplugging them one by one to elimitate the possibility.

does sound rather like a dodgy PSU though. what's the make and model on the actual PSU?
 
Positive it's not one if the fans.Going to pop up overclockers later and get a new psu and try that,will replace the CPU fan as well for what it costs.Shirt of that I can't think what else it could be ! Think the psu was made by Hipro or something like that,can't check at the moment as I'm at work.
 
Finally isolated the noise,it wasnt the PSU as first thought.It was the water cooling system in it.The pump was making the noise and the liquid had stopped pumping around the pipes,so I think the pump was straining to pump the liquid if that makes sense.

Has anybody else encountered this type of problem with water cooling before ?
 
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