My CPU is making high pitch noise

[silentdispair]

Hello,
i got a new i7 system.
When my harddrive is active i can here a strange high pitch noise from the CPU or the area around the CPU. Fx when i'm transfering files from another PC on LAN.

Is this normal? I'm very concerned! Please...

Thank you

 

[swanysto]

I am not sure the CPU can actually make sounds. Maybe it is the fan on the Heatsink, or the actual hard drive itself. Only things that move in the system can make noises. I would think that is the hard drive making that noise since it happens when you are transferring files.

 

[silentdispair]

I used a long tube to locate the noise, and it's comming from the CPU area. I think it might be comming from the build-in ethernet.
I know it sounds weird, but i only hear the noise when SpeedStep is Deactivated in bios.. Maybe it's a coincidence, but i tried 3 times now, by activate and deactivate SpeedStep.

I also hear the noise when my HD is working slowly (background apps.), fx working with System restore, Superfetch etc.
If i'm transfering files from another PC on LAN, the noise disappear when i disconnect the network cable.

I've tried with another bios with no luck.

EDIT: After trying 2 more times with SpeedStep on and off, i'm 90% that the SpeedStep=Disable is making the file-transfer-noise.. but i would really like to know why.. If someone have some good troubleshooting ideas it would be very much appreciated.

It's a bit difficult for me to explain how the noise sounds, but it's like a high pitch harddrive chatter.

 

[silentdispair]

bumb, please, i need help. I'm thinking about ordering a Gigabyte EX58.. I think this card is much better quality than this Asus crap.

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,

CPUs do not make noise. There's no way they can. A CPU with a heat sink is dead silent. Without a FAN on the board itself, the fan of the PSU, and hum of a HDD, the computer would be dead silent nearly. If you're hearing a whine, it's coming from something like a Fan attached to your CPU's heatsink, a HDD or your PSU's fan, etc. Essentially, your `moving parts' components. That's more likely, than your `cpu making noise.' When you hear hoof beats, you look for Horses.... not Zebras.

Very best,

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

More than likely it's the HDD. My Caviar Black 1TB is very noisy and creates the high pitched squeal when downloading really fast.

 

[Idcurrie]

Only things that move in the system can make noises.

False.

Many solid state components can make noise.

It's not at all uncommon for power regulation circuitry to make very high pitched whining noises. This can come from either the power supply itself or the capacitors surrounding a CPU. This is a fairly well known issue with speedstep and some boards.

As an aside, you may also notice this with some cell phone power adapters if you have good ears like the OP.

While ASUS makes good quality product, a different board (not necessary different type even) may solve the issue.

 

[Tantalum]

I hear high pitched "squeaking" noises coming from my motherboard when Speedstep is enabled. Probably resonances within circuitry.