How can I tell which component is making noises?

Chrisruptor · Jan 14, 2014

My desktop computer makes an awful whirring noise, and has done for a long time now. I dusted the inside with a compressed air can over a couple of years ago when it first started, but it started up again about a year ago, and I have never been able to fix it, despite giving it another dust.

I suspect the noise is caused by a fan... but I can't determine whether it is the PSU or the graphics card, or possibly something else. When I listen to it, I can't make out where exactly it's coming from.

I was going to fork out for a new power supply, but I dont want to do that, only to find out that it is not the issue.

Any ideas how to work it out?

USAFRet · Jan 14, 2014

Chrisruptor :

empty paper towel tube or rolled up sheet of paper. Hold it next to your ear, and point it at each component.

aevm · Jan 14, 2014

Maybe you can also narrow it down a bit.

For example run Prime95 for a few minutes. If the noise goes up at this point, your noise is (most likely) from the PSU. That's because Prime95 will make the CPU run at full load, increasing the load on the PSU, while the GPU would remain idle.

noise · Jan 14, 2014

Noise from a PC is usually fan or HDD related but can also be coil whine from the PSU or GPU.

The HDD can be ruled out by booting the PC with the HDD disconnected from the power.

For testing fans I personally just pause them briefly with my finger or disconnect them from the motherboard. Please be aware that, that advice isn't exactly best practise so while you are very likely not to have any issue in using that method; it is not endorsed.

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How can I tell which component is making noises?

Chrisruptor

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aevm

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