A new sound from my computer

DriftRoot · Post by **DriftRoot** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:24 pm

It's almost impossible to describe the sound my computer has started making, or even MAKE the noise myself, but it really needs to be diagnosed. I've checked all over the Internet for problem that could create this noise, with no luck.

So does anyone know what it means when my computer suddenly gives this low-pitched, electronic, vibrating NNRRRRAAAAANKKKK!!! without warning or provocation? Aside from "something's going horribly wrong," of course.

The machine makes no other suspicious sounds and is very quiet overall. It's about three years old, has been kept very clean and only dropped twice. I reformatted it over the weekend, thinking maybe it was something in the system provoking the sound, but still it persists. Could my hard drive possibly make such a terrible sound?

My current half-baked theory that allows me to post my query in this forum: I have a "new" video card from BFG that replaced a really new one that died on me...if this card is also defective, that could be the problem...but the way this noise is, I think card would chewed itself to pieces if it was the source. I've inspected every inch of the case interior and nothing seems out of place or physically damaged.

Pwolf · Post by **Pwolf** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:58 pm

sounds like its probably just a fan... unless you start hear clicking sounds then it could be the hard disk.

Pwolf

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:46 pm

I've had a similar sound from a dislodged screw in the casing of a fan jostling around a bit. Might want to check your fans for that.

DriftRoot · Post by **DriftRoot** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:54 pm

But would this happen so sporadically if it was a fan? I can go a few hours without a peep, then AAAGGHHH!! (it scares my dog to death) or I can get a few sounds within 15 minutes or so. The fans are on all the time (all three) and I don't necessarily have to be working at the computer for this sound to suddenly occur.

You know, I just realized what it kind of sounds like. The clamps that hold in the video card and anything else down there are not very secure and, if something nearby did vibrate badly enough, THEY would vibrate...causing the noise. Still...why so sporadically? Hrmmm

I guess I'll be spending this evening with my head inside a computer.

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:26 pm

The sporadic quality can be attributed to basic entropic settling of things (yea, i think i made that up right now, but the terminology sounds like what i'm going for). Small vibrations cause minute movement to the point of creating a noise when the piece or pieces move enough out of their origional places. Enough vibration or movement along one axis may push the offending piece back into place for a brief amount of time where the cycle can begin again.

My best advice would be to open your case up and check any screw or connection that may be loose. If you want to attempt to pinpoint the noise before hand to get a general idea of the location, that may work too. In fact, Run your system with the side-pannel off (if you can do that with your set-up) and see if your ears can pinpoint the offending area of the system.

oldwrench · Post by **oldwrench** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:04 pm

With the case open and running, you can probably pinpoint the noise by touching the sides of the fans or edge of a card. The noise comes from the part that vibrates the most. I have seen fans do this intermittent vibration, especially if they have some speed control running them. You can try oiling the fan. Remove the fan, peal back the paper cover in the center of the motor side, add a drop of oil to the shaft in the center of the hole under the paper cover. Wiggle the fan blade around and up and down to get the oil into the shaft bearing. Stick the paper back down and reinstall the fan. I have done this to quite a few fans, mostly the non ball bearing ones, and it has even repaired a stuck fan on my videocard.

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:14 am

I bet on a fan.

My fan on my old videocard does make a whine very rarely. It is "upside-down" so it is near impossible to oil properly. If I touch the card (carefully, don't wanna transfer static electricity) while the computer is on, I can feel it vibrate. When it does whine it's only for a bit until the oil that is in there distributes. I think the bearings are about to go, but finding a replacement fan that fits and doesn't take 2 slots or have blue/red/blinking LEDs is hard.

oldwrench · Post by **oldwrench** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:29 am

Willen, youneed to remove the fan from the card to get oil into the right place. The bearing is under the paper lable in the center of the motor, not on the fan side.

DriftRoot · Post by **DriftRoot** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:12 pm

The sound has stopped.

This better not mean a screw became so loose it fell out.

I haven't had a chance to check things yet, there's three fans to go over, one that involves some disassembling I am not familiar with (yet). I HOPE it's a fan, and not the one on my "new" video card. I kind of thought it wasn't a fan because I couldn't find any description of the sound I was hearing anywhere. Too bad I don't...wait, I could set up my microphone to record for a few hours on the off chance the sound returns. Aha! Not.

Thanks for all the advice, I will try the least hazardous first and proceed from there.

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:10 pm

oldwrench wrote:Willen, youneed to remove the fan from the card to get oil into the right place. The bearing is under the paper lable in the center of the motor, not on the fan side.

Trust me, this fan is different. I removed the fan the side to the card/chip is flush. The label side has a hole, but it's nigh impossible to properly get lubricant in there. It's like the motor is upside down or reversed from all the other fans I've encountered on a video card. Two other cards that I've fixed by oiling the fans were the standard configuration so were cake compared to this one. I remove the fan, peel back the sticker, drop in some oil, stick the label back and reinstall the fan = works. Not this one...