Weird clicking noise

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NinyaPenjin

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I recently built this new gaming PC with a i5-4690 and a GTX 970 SC. It seems to work fine with great frames and resolution, but whenever i play graphically demanding games like CS:GO with everything maxed out or Minecraft with Shaders the PSU will occasionally make a click or a group of clicks. it sounds like it is coming from the PSU but because it is at the bottom of the build it could also be the GPU. i know no wires are hitting the fans (and if it was why would it only be when i am playing games?) and if I ALT+TAB to the desktop the clicking will stop. on CS:GO if i turned off muli-core rendering it would be less frequent but it would still be there. i am using the stock coolers for everything it is not water-cooled and here are the PC specs:

Intel Core i5-4690 non-k
GTX 970
MSI Z97 SLI Krait mobo
B700 Modular PSU
Zalman Z9 U3 Case

the clicking wont happen if i am playing older games like Fallout 3 or CS:S. i am worried that something is wrong but i only built it about 3 days ago so i dont see why anything would be failing. i havn't downloaded anything sketchy, only a few things.
 
Solution
Darkbreeze
Games are more intensive. Many fans don't come on at all until under a specific load. I'd make absolutely sure nothing is hitting a fan blade, or getting sucked into a fan blade when the fan speeds up. If it's coming from the PSU, which wouldn't surprise me since the Cooler Master B series units are junk, I'd return it and get something better, or at least RMA it. Clicks from the PSU are usually due to something working loose inside and hitting the PSU fan blades. Take a flashlight and look inside the psu through the vent grill and see if anything might be interfering with the blades.

There are a few much less common possibilities, but clicks are almost always something hitting a fan. Sound transfers in crazy ways inside a PC case, so...
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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Games are more intensive. Many fans don't come on at all until under a specific load. I'd make absolutely sure nothing is hitting a fan blade, or getting sucked into a fan blade when the fan speeds up. If it's coming from the PSU, which wouldn't surprise me since the Cooler Master B series units are junk, I'd return it and get something better, or at least RMA it. Clicks from the PSU are usually due to something working loose inside and hitting the PSU fan blades. Take a flashlight and look inside the psu through the vent grill and see if anything might be interfering with the blades.

There are a few much less common possibilities, but clicks are almost always something hitting a fan. Sound transfers in crazy ways inside a PC case, so check ALL the other fans including CPU and case fans to make sure it isn't one of them.


With a GTX 970 I'd HIGHLY recommend replacing that power supply anyhow. Cooler Master B series units are low quality indeed. In fact, aside from a very few models, most Corsair, Cooler Master and Thermaltake units are junk, not fit for use with gaming rigs OR overclocking.

 
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Solution
Dogsnake

Dogsnake

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From your list of components I suspect that you bought a LEPA PSU. If that is true, then I am pretty sure that it is the PSU crapping out under high load. The reviews I have seen on the B1000 (same design but bigger) are not very positive. Return the PSU and buy a better one. I bet your issues go away. If you can post a price range suggestions will follow.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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I didn't notice the modular annotation. Since the CM 700B doesn't come in a modular flavor, then I suppose the LEPA unit is more probable, but is just as crappy, if not worse. It doesn't make an appearance on any of the tier lists, v1.0, 2.0 OR the old Newegg tier list, and on the LEPA website shows the unit was end of life a while back, so it's probably aged on top of being low quality. The fact that there are apparently no reliable reviews for this model on any of the major PSU review sites would further indicate the irrelevance of the unit. I think it's a safe bet that if something is not interfering with a fan somewhere, the clicking you hear is possibly a bearing or shorted circuit bridging a gap. If the unit wouldn't start I'd say it's the voltage regulation cycling the power off and on in an attempt to start, but since it runs that's not likely to be the case.


More likely is a wire has come unglued inside the unit and is being slapped by the fanblades. Lots of other possibilities as well, but I'd start by looking at those things.
 
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Dogsnake

Dogsnake

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Here is the link to a review of the larger model (http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=413). You can draw your own conclusions. However as to your issue, I am pretty sure it is related to the PSU being unable to meet the demands of the system. Without going through a lot of grief, I would try to return it and replace it with a better quality unit. We can offer some suggestions if you would please post what you can spend. Also if the PSU is going into some protection mode or approaching instability, it's failure could damage other items in the system. Do yourself a favor and replace it asap.
 
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Darkbreeze

Darkbreeze

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All good points, however, there's often disparity between models in the same series. In fact, very often. Plus, I'm uncertain what could be wrong on a unit that does in fact power the machine normally and doesn't cause any relevant issues aside from clicking. I'd be more worried about determining with absolute certainty WHERE the clicking is coming from first.
 
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NinyaPenjin

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thank you! I will be sure to get a better PSU

 
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NinyaPenjin

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alright thanks
 
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