how do I find out what is making loud noise in my PC and how to fix it?

[bball1523]

I've had a custom built PC for almost 2 years, and since I bought it, it has made considerable noise, but I never found out what really made the noise.

I can't tell if it's the CPU Heatsink fan or the PSU, but it's coming from area.

Now a while ago I took off the left side case piece (facing the front of the case with the CD drives), and the noise settled down a lot. But lately it's been getting loud, like a Jet airplane. This happens when it's either a really warm/hot day, or if my window is closed. I am not sure why the window closing makes a big difference, maybe something to do with physics and lack of air space breathing room for the computer?

Well anyways, is there a way to pinpoint where the noise is coming from and how to fix it?

 

[oynaz]

The most obvious is to try and get your hands on a spare PSU, try it, and see if it changes anything.

Or use a microphone. Put it next to the PSU, then next to the CPU fan. Record in for instance Audacity. It should be easy to see which one is the culprit.

 

[bball1523]

the recording idea sounds good. I'll try and respond back with the results

 

[AncientPC]

Or you can do what I do, open up your case and stick your ear next to everything to pinpoint which device is the loudest.

 

[cubby1223]

You can stop fans with your hand without damaging the fan or damaging the components. Or carefully with a paperclip or pen cap. If you really want to be safe to the fan, with the system off, hold the cpu fan so it can't move, turn the system on. See if the noise is still there or not. Do the same with the psu fan. A few seconds without the fan running isn't going to overheat anything.

 

[Oxides]

I just stop the fans with a plastic soda straw. Its non-conductive and soft enough not to damage anything.

 

[bball1523]

Ok I used speedfan to lower the fan speeds and most of the sound is coming from the CPU heatsink fan.

There is another noise that doesn't sound like a fan, but some other type of mechanical device (hard to describe). It sounds like a low version of a Jet that is turned on, and ready to take off.

I'm unsure what that 2nd noise is.