My computer makes noises...what is it?

[iLoveDivX]

Well, I checked all of my fans and it looks like nothing (no wires or anything) is getting in the way. The noise goes on and off sometimes at a frequent pace (for hours and hours) and at other times it just disappears for several minutes. The noise screeches for like a second and a half and then stops for a second then goes on again....it's not on continuous hum or anything. It sounds like something is scrapping against another at short intervals. A friend of mine listened to it and his only guess is that it might be the hard drive. But if my hard drive made sound like this, why would my comp still work? Anyone know how i can figure out what is causing this noise?

 

[ElDonAntonio]

you could try to open the case, run your computer, and try to pinpoint where the noise comes from simply by listening?

 

[JonnyDuke]

Well not actually being there to take a listen myself, I would say that there is a chance it could be one of your fan's bearings. It could also be your power supply, and not neccessarily the fan for it.

 

[iLoveDivX]

<< I would say that there is a chance it could be one of your fan's bearings. It could also be your power supply, and not neccessarily the fan for it. >>



so how can i test to see if it's the power supply or the power supply's fan?

 

[beach2nd1]

Bump because I'm having a similar problem and am curious to the answer to the above question.

 

[mee987]

open up your case and use your fingers to stop each fan in your case individually. if you stop a certain fan and the noise stops, well... you should be able to figure it out

im almost positive that it is a fan, if your psu was making a noise like that you probably wouldnt be able to boot. oh, and the psu fan will be a bit tougher to stop, but hopefully you or someone you know has some small fingers (small enough to reach through the fan grill and stop the fan)

one last thing, when you stop the cpu fan dont keep it stopped for more than a few seconds

 

[Barrei]

Sounds like a bearing in one of your fans.

 

[QTPie]

<<open up your case and use your fingers to stop each fan >>
Dude, don't put your finger on the fan blades.

 

[lung]

QTPie: unless your fingers are made of silly putty and/or the fan blades are made of razor blades, a computer fan shouldn't damage you if you run your finger along the edge of the blades slowly, stopping the fan gradually. Now, if you were to ram your pinky finger in the fan in one quick motion, you might just need a band-aid afterwards.

I've stopped the various fans in my comp for just that reason. One was making noise so I had to isolate it. Turned out it was the cpu fan, so I changed it. Simple.

 

[mee987]

<< Dude, don't put your finger on the fan blades >>


if you are a little nervous about this, just put your finger on the middle of the fan (you wont be touching any blades) and it should slow to a stop