ODD HD-like sound from my P4 / motherboard

MIDIman

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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I have an Abit BD7-II w/ a P4 1.6a that can hit up to 150fsb (though I usually leave it at 133). Heatsink is an Alpha 8945 and a Silencer 80mm

Ever since I bought it, it has had a very odd high pitch squeel @ 100% usage. This is NOT the HD, but its quite similar in that its a repetitive sound as the CPU is used. I have a near silent system, and it is definitely emmanating from the CPU or motherboard. I've actually had this rig for about a year, but always thought this was just something a P4 does...

Any idea what this might be? Prime95 makes it especially noticeable in the slower tests. As it goes through the tests, it becomes less, but still quite loud (again, I have a silent rig).
 

Baronz

Senior member
Mar 12, 2002
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It could be the heat affecting your fan in some way...the heat might be making some parts enlarge and make more or less sound...I dont know, are you saying it's the fan or the cpu itself?
 

MIDIman

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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definitely the CPU itself or someplace near it on the motherboard. i've never heard this from a CPU before.

granted, in the current setup the CPU runs quite hot since the fan is super slow (48-50 idle, 55-60 at 100%), but note that even when i had the original P4 heatsink/fan i could hear it.
 

CTho9305

Elite Member
Jul 26, 2000
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If you find out a real answer, let me know. Anyway, I am certain it is the motherboard, since I've swapped every component out. I'm not sure if Newegg actually gave me a differnet board or just sent my RMA back to me, but based on my past experiences, I strongly lean towards the "2 different motherboards with same issue" end.
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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I concur with CTho... I can't imagine it being the cpu. It would have to be something on the motherboard.
 

MIDIman

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: CTho9305
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If you find out a real answer, let me know. Anyway, I am certain it is the motherboard, since I've swapped every component out. I'm not sure if Newegg actually gave me a differnet board or just sent my RMA back to me, but based on my past experiences, I strongly lean towards the "2 different motherboards with same issue" end.


THANK GOD - someone feels my pain. We have the same issue! Just like you, it is most noticeable when using Prime95, and you can clearly hear it when scrolling webpages. I find it so odd that this is completely undocumented anyplace - and we have not only different motherboards, but different chipsets AND different brands! What I DO know is that I have ruled out every part of the system except for the CPU and motherboard. At least I know now that I'm not going utterly insane.

The biggest problem I have now is that there is no solution (or known problem) of this issue, and I'm trying to acheive a silent system. I'm thinking of just selling it and getting something else...
 

RalfHutter

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2000
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I build all my new rigs on a workbench until I get everything sorted out and I noticed that when I started building P4 800FSB rigs that most of the MoBos make wierd little squeeks, buzzes and chirps while running Prime95 during my validation process. They cycle on and off in phase with the Prime95 operating sequences. The worst offender was the Intel 875PBZ board, the wierd noises were loud enough to hear from 5-6 feet away. The best has been the Asus P4P800-D. It still makes odd noises but you have to be a few inches away from the board to hear them.

The noises seem to eminate from around the NB-RAM-AGP slot area on all these different P4 boards.