Determining where the noise is coming from in PC

[Muse]

I was at Harbor Freight last week and they had a Mechanic's Stethoscope on sale for $2 (HF part 41966). I've been wondering for some time if this sort of thing would help me determine what's responsible for the noise I hear from my PC. This is marketed (the packaging) as an aid in locating trouble spots within the engine block. Has anyone tried this or something similar?

 

[zagood]

In general it's fairly easy to track down where noise is coming from in an open case, however there have been a few moments where I couldn't distinguish some sounds and had to track them through trial and error.

For $2 though you may as well try it and let us know. Just make sure you get a white coat, one of those funny silver disc headbands, and take pictures.

-z

 

[f4phantom2500]

lol u could just do what i do when the case is open and manually stop each of the fans for a second or 2.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: f4phantom2500
lol u could just do what i do when the case is open and manually stop each of the fans for a second or 2.

Yeah, I've been doing that. It works for everything but what I think is really making most of the noise, my Antec Tru430. I can't reach the fans. Well, I guess I can reach the one in the back because I've cut out the grill (or removed it), but I think there's one on the bottom of the PSU, that I can't put my finger in. No biggie, I figure I'm going to replace it before too long with a Corsair 520HX.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: zagood
In general it's fairly easy to track down where noise is coming from in an open case, however there have been a few moments where I couldn't distinguish some sounds and had to track them through trial and error.

For $2 though you may as well try it and let us know. Just make sure you get a white coat, one of those funny silver disc headbands, and take pictures.

-z

It's quite sensitive to vibration, but you have to place the probe in direct contact with a vibrating object to hear anything. As a microphone it's doing nothing. Maybe small sensitive microphone with amplification would be more useful. Anyway, yeah, it was only $2. Seems well made too, compared to the one I saw before, which I think was at Kragen's. Might come in handy.

 

[Bluefront]

They work.....mechanics routinely use them to pin-point bearing noise. Not to mention doctors use them to listen to your heart. To listen to wind noise, your ear is probably better.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
They work.....mechanics routinely use them to pin-point bearing noise. Not to mention doctors use them to listen to your heart. To listen to wind noise, your ear is probably better.

It might be better to have a medical one than a mechanics. The mechanics has a long steel probe that you have to touch to a solid object (e.g. a HD case). Medical ones might act more like a microphone.