Noisy Motherboard

[roger04]

Hi guys,

The noise from my cheap MSI P4MAM2-V (7095) is driving me crazy. The sound isn't pleasant. I've installed a case fan to help bring the noise down by bringging the mobo/cpu temp down. I rather prefer the fan noise than the mobo.

The noise comes from the CPU area and is definately not the CPU fan which is noisy. It sounds like "tuu.." or "woo..". High pitch. It gives me headache at times.

Please help me. I want to get rid of that noise...TQ.

Mobo: 37c
CPU: 36c
HD: 32c
CPU fan: 2500RPM

I consider the temps are good to me, but still noisy

 

[route66]

I undestand your concern. Each time I build a new system I always tell myself that my next will be passively cooled, but I never make good on that promise.

Anyways, if you think it's the chipset fan you may be able to slow it down by putting a resistor in series with the V+ line. I've never done it myself, and it's probably not the brightest idea.

Edit:

PS - Or get a new chipset fan.

PPS - Are you sure it's not your harddrives?

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: route66
I undestand your concern. Each time I build a new system I always tell myself that my next will be passively cooled, but I never make good on that promise.

Anyways, if you think it's the chipset fan you may be able to slow it down by putting a resistor in series with the V+ line. I've never done it myself, and it's probably not the brightest idea.

Edit:

PS - Or get a new chipset fan.

PPS - Are you sure it's not your harddrives?

You can just unplug the chipset fan.. 99% of the time it makes no difference to stability at all, infact it only really affects overclockability.

 

[route66]

You can just unplug the chipset fan.. 99% of the time it makes no difference to stability at all, infact it only really affects overclockability.

Awesome, I didn't know that.

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: roger04
Hi guys,

The noise from my cheap MSI P4MAM2-V (7095) is driving me crazy. The sound isn't pleasant. I've installed a case fan to help bring the noise down by bringging the mobo/cpu temp down. I rather prefer the fan noise than the mobo.

The noise comes from the CPU area and is definately not the CPU fan which is noisy. It sounds like "tuu.." or "woo..". High pitch. It gives me headache at times.

Please help me. I want to get rid of that noise...TQ.

Mobo: 37c
CPU: 36c
HD: 32c
CPU fan: 2500RPM

I consider the temps are good to me, but still noisy

Hmm wierd sounds like the chirps i use to get out of my ibm scsi drives. It was normal for the drive to do that and it would only do it once in awhile but it could get anoying.

 

[o1die]

I use rpm adjusters. Zalman makes the "fan mate" series, which comes with some premium heatsinks, or you can buy them separately for about $6.

 

[the cobbler]

Originally posted by: o1die
I use rpm adjusters. Zalman makes the "fan mate" series, which comes with some premium heatsinks, or you can buy them separately for about $6.

i agree, FanMateII would be perfect, awesome product

just keep the RPMs over 1500 or your mobo will probably not boot

 

[forumposter32]

what about the Zalman fanless heatsinks?

 

[roger04]

guys, I don't think it's my chipset fan because I once 'touched' it to slow it down to zero and the noise was still there. Well, all I know the noise get's louder when the mobo/cpu temp and chipset fan speed rises..

 

[ZoSo]

I would still check the CPU fan, also the video card fan, basically check them all.
You would be surprised what a small amount of dust can do to get some fan bearings to start whinning

 

[forumposter32]

Yeah, I removed some dust off the fan fins once and found sort of rattle noise stopped. I guess I can expect that with cheap Chipman case fans. I ordered a silent Cooler Master to test it out.

 

[GadgetBuilder]

Is the noise from a fan or is it a high pitched whistle/whine? Sometimes, boards make a noise from a component vibrating -- mostly, the toroid cores in the switching regulators used to reduce voltage from 12v to that needed by the CPU and chipset.

If you think this might be your problem you may be able to locate the vibrating part by touching it with a plastic soda straw while the machine is running. Touching a vibrating part will change/eliminate the noise. If you can locate the offending part(s), a small dab of silicone rubber can often fix the problem; usually, securing the toroid core to the thick wire winding will do the trick (let it cure over night). Sometimes, the large electrolitic capacitors can make a noise so check them if the toroids aren't the problem; again, a blob of silicone rubber to bond to a nearby component may reduce/eliminate the noise.

The vibrating component problem doesn't seem to be a quality control problem nor does it occur on only inexpensive boards. It seems to be random and can occur in a few boards of a type and not on other identical boards.

 

[Aenslead]

Great explanation.

That is the same thing I was thinking. I don't think the noise he describes comes from the fans.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Buy a Zalman NB47, it's great. My mobo chipset fan was dying and now I relplaced it with one of those, passive cooling for teh win

 

[Aenslead]

"buy", "buy this", "buy that"... gosh, people. Isn't there any technical support instead of shopping support?

 

[roger04]

lol Aens

Gadgetbuilder, I can't tell if the sound is whining or whirr... It's justhigh pitch and constant. I think it's whining though. Like a jet b4 taking off.

 

[GadgetBuilder]

Roger,

Your "jet engine" description is much better than my "whine"

It would be worth poking around with a soda straw (or similar) to see if you can locate the source.

If there is any question about the fan being the source, you can put the straw into the fan prior to startup, then just pull it out once the machine is up and running; if the noise starts when the fan starts you found the culprit. If the noise is present with the fan stopped, see my earlier note.

Please let us know what you find.

 

[etalns]

I'd be interested to know the answer too!

 

[Granorense]

Isulation is the right answer.

1. CPU fan
2. PS fan(s)
3. Chipset fan
4. Hard drives

Try to stop the fans for a few seconds, one at the time. Unplug hard drives and you should be able to find the source of noise.

I hope this helps.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: roger04
guys, I don't think it's my chipset fan because I once 'touched' it to slow it down to zero and the noise was still there. Well, all I know the noise get's louder when the mobo/cpu temp and chipset fan speed rises..

I never head of a motherboard in and of itself making noise....

I would say it has to be iether your chipset fan or your CPU fan.....

or your h/d......

or alot of other variables...

 

[GadgetBuilder]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: roger04
guys, I don't think it's my chipset fan because I once 'touched' it to slow it down to zero and the noise was still there. Well, all I know the noise get's louder when the mobo/cpu temp and chipset fan speed rises..

I never head of a motherboard in and of itself making noise....

I would say it has to be iether your chipset fan or your CPU fan.....

or your h/d......

or alot of other variables...

Here is a reference to motherboard noise and an indication that it is uncommon but not rare:

http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1026503&postcount=6

http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthr...a22d90be61716d1c&p=1026503#post1026503

The difficulty in finding references to this problem is choosing the right description -- squeal, squeak, whine, etc. are just some of the possibilities.

 

[roger04]

Gadget, I kindda tried the straw trick on the mobo. Roughly went thru. But what if maybe the chip which is making noise is under the heatsink or around below the CPU where the area is covered by the HS?

 

[GadgetBuilder]

Noise is less likely to be directly from a semiconductor chip, more likely from a passive component or FET which is handling a lot of current. Mostly, the toroids and their coils used in switching regulators on the motherboard; sometimes from coils in the PSU. Occasionally from an electrolytic used to filter power.

If the picture here shows your board:
http://www.directron.com/p4mam2v.html
Then the green coil core just northwest of the CPU clamp/frame would be the usual suspect. Parts near the power connectors and/or just north of the frame are likely to be handling current; check the 4 FETs (white background in the picture) since they may be switching large currents.

The small parts located within the black frame are VERY unlikely to be the noise source. The large electrolytics just east of the CPU are also a lesser possibility.

If the fans are being speed controlled using PWM then the fan windings could squeak so check for this too (SpeedFan can be used to manually adjust the fan speed via PWM, one possible way to check this).