Mysterious Sound

[Whirlwind]

Hello.

For a lil while now I have had this wierd sound inside my computer. I suspect it's the CPU Fan, but not really sure.

I cleaned it out a week ago and it was gone, but showed up again. Can't really describe the sound, other then annoying and a lil loud at start up.

[peterb]

Take the case off and have a look - might be wire catching in the blades... - my x-ray vision powers are a bit weak this morning, so I can't see it for myself !!

It could be a noisy bearing on a fan that is on the way out - removing the sticky label that is usually found on the front of the fan may give access to the motor spindle, and a SMALL drop of oil (sewing machine or 3-in-1 might solve it for the time being.

[MSIC]

Noises in computers can be really wierd to sort out, and once you begin hearing it...oh boy it can be annoying.
There are lots of different potential sources of noise, but here are some of them:

Fans - CPU, PSU, Graphics, Case fans, Motherboard fans...
Optical drives (when accessing discs)
Hard drives - i was shocked when i first realised that the noisiest thing in a PC i had was an old hard drive. Not just when it's 'seeking' mind you, but the general noise of general rotation was loud.
Capacitors - when stressed / hot / overclocked, these can buzz if they arn't high quality.

Also, different noises have different pitches as well as volume, so for most of us a lower pitch noise (base) is less bothersome than a higher pitch noise (like a buzzing fly). A good computer case and/or insulation type material can deaden some of this.

The worst thing is, when you begin to hear a noise, and identify & resolve it, you then realise there was another slightly quieter noise that was being masked before that now becomes #1 noise.
Good luck

Edit: If it's a bit more when you boot up, there's a good chance its a fan, such as CPU fan, that spins up to maximum before settling into what it believes it needs to cool the CPU.
Hunt for Speedfan on google to help lower fan settings

[Whirlwind]

Well, I am sure it is the fan. The CPU one that is.

Thing is the only wire that runs over it is this mesh type material that is covering all these mixed wires. So there is no wires that are going into the blades.

So, under the sticker are bearings? Just put some oil in there if needed?

Yea, well my computer is like 5-6yrs old. So not real surprised if its age. I'm debating on replacing the fan. Cause it's not doing aswell as it used to.

[peterb]

So, under the sticker are bearings? Just put some oil in there if needed?

Yea, well my computer is like 5-6yrs old. So not real surprised if its age. I'm debating on replacing the fan. Cause it's not doing aswell as it used to.

Should be! (look and see)

Replacing fan better long term.

[Whirlwind]

I found the location of the sound.

It's coming from the small fan on my graphics card. I looked at it and has a lot of dust on it. Even after cleaning it all off still makes the sound.

Is there a way to get that part replaced without getting a new card?

[CrazyMonkey]

I had a clicking sound in one of my speaker satellites this morning, a big wack on the side fixed it. However i dont recommend wacking too many things, but sometimes a little shake or a knock sorts it out.

[peterb]

I found the location of the sound.

It's coming from the small fan on my graphics card. I looked at it and has a lot of dust on it. Even after cleaning it all off still makes the sound.

Is there a way to get that part replaced without getting a new card?

If you can remove the fan (should be screwed on) and take it to somewhere like Maplin, you might be able to get a replacement - I bought a small (40mm? fan for some additional cooling on a PSU. The fan is probably a standard size - but hard to come by. RS do a huge range of fans - but they aren't cheap.

However if you do remove the fan, it may be possible to get access to the motor spindle, and again a drop of oil (a small drop!) can breathe a new lease of life into it - the fans are exposed to quite a bit of heat (and generate heat themselves) so the bearing don't lead a particularly easy life.

I had a clicking sound in one of my speaker satellites this morning, a big wack on the side fixed it. However i dont recommend wacking too many things, but sometimes a little shake or a knock sorts it out.

LOL - a risky strategy - but it does sometimes work!