New computer making slight grinding noise. Normal?

[RTY12]

I recently bought a new desktop running Windows 10. The last few days the computer was, I think, silent when I was using it. Today I noticed a light grinding noise that happens when I do things on the computer such as surfing the internet, opening up webpages, etc.. Is this noise normal? It's a very slight noise but in a quiet room it is very noticeable at least 3 feet (1 meter) away.

 

[ArchitSahu]

Full specs?

Could be your HDD disk loading.

 

[James Mason]

no it's not normal.
Take off the side panel and listen closely, it's probably a case fan that's out of alignment. Likely needs to be replaced.

 

[RTY12]

Full specs?

Could be your HDD disk loading.

It is a an i3 7100 CPU 3.90 GHz 3.91 GHz. Does that help?

 

[ArchitSahu]

That is your processor. But it is okay. Like Mason said, check your Fans in the PC. Maybe one has gone misaligned.

I suspect the HDD could be making noise, as this happened to me before, but better to check out the fans first just in case it is an easy fix.

 

[RTY12]

That is your processor. But it is okay. Like Mason said, check your Fans in the PC. Maybe one has gone misaligned.

I suspect the HDD could be making noise, as this happened to me before, but better to check out the fans first just in case it is an easy fix.

I do not know much about computers and was afraid to take the cover off (and then can't get it on if I have to ship it back) but for the last half an hour I have been surfing the internet and the computer is perfectly silent. No grinding at all. What does this tell you?

 

[RTY12]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from RTY12 : "New computer - sounds normal?"

I just got a new computer. I had some error messages and it wouldn't install updates but that went away on it's own. What is happening now is when I surf the internet, open or close webpages, etc. I hear a slight grinding-of-the-gears like sound that lasts for a few seconds, stops, starts etc.. This happened yesterday but then at night I was using the computer and there was absolutely none of that sound. Today the sound is back again. It's not loud but noticeable in a quiet room about 3 feet away.

I do not know much about computers and do not want to open it up to check inside. The manufacturer says I can return it but that will be a hassle, especially if I can't get the cover back on (which I could not on my last computer). My question is: Is the noise I'm hearing normal?

 

[Caleb Hale]

Grinding noises aren't normal.
It could be as easy as a case fan wire touching the fan blades as it spins. Somebody is going to have to take the cover off to find out what's causing it.