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What's that High Pitched Squeal @ BIOS Boot up?

R

RedDog75

Member
I'm at a loss. My computer has been running great as is for a week now (latest was to install a new AGP 9700pro vid card and 500W PSU).

I am now getting an audible high pitched squeal when I boot up my pc (cold boot) during the BIOS post screen. The sounds dies down during the Win2K startup white screen. My computer was built within this last year and is kept very clean (little/no dust) :

Generic 500W PSU
ABIT IS7 Motherboard
Intel P4 2.6C (Hyperthreading Enabled) @3.26Ghz
Geil PC3200 DDR (400Mhz) 2x256MB Dual Channel Enabled
ATI Radeon 9700pro 128MB 256bit @365Mhz core/320Mhz DDR
Maxtor 60GB HDD w/8MB buffer - 7200rpm
Seagate 160GM HDD
NEC ND-2500A DVD_RW
EPO DVD-8216 (16xDVD,40xCD-ROM)
Sony CRX-140E (32x8x4x)
Samsung 997DF Flat Screen CRT

I also notice a high pitched tone (very soft, but audible if you listen closely) that I don't remember having a couple days ago.

I thought that at first it was a fan issue - I've disconnected fans or slowed them. I have also reset CMOS. None of these changed the sound. I have also ruled out HDD since the sound does not appear to be coming from there. The sound is localized around the CPU area on my IS7. I can't tell if it is the PSU for sure, but I doubt it.

I have not read very many things on the internet that is helping - any thoughts? Help!
😕
 
Had that too... my PS was dieing and so it wasnt providing enough power right at post. Went and got a new PSU and am having annoying issues. Considering just getting an antec instead of dealing with generic crap.
 
Although this doesnt necessarily answer your question -
it might be worth getting a branded psu with that rig.

Re- whine, unplug all your drives, and see if it is still there.
Then, look carefully for all the fans, you may have forgotten one snuck away somewhere sneakily that has got a little dust on it
 
I should probably update - I say that the PSU is generic, but it is actually an Ultra 500W PSU. It apparently is relatively new (can't seem to find much about it online). Here's the link:

Ultra 500W PSU (Black)

I found a new review (Dec 10th, 2004) on it here

I didn't see any noticeable capacitor deformation on my MB, but I'll have to check again...

Any thoughts?
 
if u did have capacitor deformation, there probably wouldn't be any whining sound, or any sound ;-)

Think - its gotta be something that should be moving freely, but isn't - so a something with a moving part
Drives / fans

Unless it sounded like an 'electrical' whine, in that case i wouldn't turn it on again if i were you unless there was a class c fire extinguisher to hand
 
Not sure if I know what an electrical whine sounds like. The computer seems to be running just fine. Voltages are good. I'm not getting any weird reboots, etc.

I'm just concerned because usually sounds like that are not good news.

As I said, the inside of the computer is relatively clean. No major dust build-up.

I have also put a dab of oil (not WD40!) in the bearing sleeve of the stock HSF.

The sounds seems to be something that is kind of like "revving-up", but its a whine when I boot up the computer and dies down when the computer shuts down.

I guess then, there is a real possibility that it is a fan - although I was sure to disconnect the case fans. The only ones I didn't get to are the PSU fans. Is it common for a brand new PSU fan to start going 5 days after install?
 
Doesn't sound like from one of my HDD. Sounds like it's coming from the processor area.

Last night, I didn't get the squeal when I booted up. I got it after Windows was loaded and I opened up MS Outlook Express. It went on for about 20sec then died out again.

HDD seems to be running fine. Speedfan shows Fitness on main HDD to be close to 100%. My large 160GB HDD has about 80%. Don't understand that since it is brand new.

Any other thoughts?
 
if its from the cpu area - then it is most probably the fan.
Give it a light vacuum, or get some canned gas to blow away dust
 
So, I was totally fed up with the darn noise! I went out and exchanged my PSU for the same brand, but the higher wattage (they were out of the 500W model)

Ultra 600W PSU Review

This is my first led lighted PSU - 1st led lighted PC, in fact.

So, I'm hooked. I didn't think I'd really care about it, but now I think I found a new love.

I'll have to eventually put in a case window and additional lighting.

Thanks for all your help! So far so good - I was worried it was something else...

Have a great one!
 
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