Strange clicking noises

[Englander]

Since a couple of days ago, every time I turn on my PC I get 2 clicks originating from the bottom of my case (graphics card sort of area).

I thought nothing of it until twice, just now, my computer has clicked (once) and restarted.

Any clues as to what is going on?

[peterb]

REally need to identify exactly where this is coming from. My first thought would be a dodgy capacitor somewhere on the mobo. Signs would be a bulging case. How loud are the clicks? Otherwise a problem within the PSU itself (again likely to be capacitor related).

[Englander]

REally need to identify exactly where this is coming from. My first thought would be a dodgy capacitor somewhere on the mobo. Signs would be a bulging case. How loud are the clicks? Otherwise a problem within the PSU itself (again likely to be capacitor related).

It's very hard to identify exactly where they originate from but I'll give it another go when I next restart. I quick inspection now shows that the capacitors I can see in the area are all ok. The clicks aren't especially loud but certainly audiblefrom my chair which is an entire 3 feet away from the case. The PSU isn't that old and neither is it a cheapo one so I hope I'm not going to be PSU-less. Interestingly, I had two restarts in quick succession and have since had nothing whilst I've been on CoD.

[Nanek]

Maybe it's a fan getting stuck on a heatsink or something, could cause it to overheat and restart. Do you get any error messages or BSODs when/after it restarts? fualty PSU also seems likely.

[Englander]

Maybe it's a fan getting stuck on a heatsink or something, could cause it to overheat and restart. Do you get any error messages or BSODs when/after it restarts? fualty PSU also seems likely.

No error messages or BSODs, when it restarted it was just as if I pressed reset myself.

[watercooled]

What brand is your PSU?

[Englander]

It's an Enermax 425W (refer to my system <-----)

EDIT: I've circled the source of the sound. It seems like somewhere from there. Excuse the horrible picture - I achieved it by having rubbish lighting, lying on the floor, using a camera phone and generally shaking everything.

[watercooled]

Just wanted to check - some people think EZ-Cool is a good brand you see... The first thing I thought of when I heard clicking noises was a hair or something caught in the fan but that would more likely be a constant clicking rather than it happening once every so often. Does it sound like it could be arcing?

[Nanek]

graphics cards fan possibly? I had a similar problem but it didn't really cause any restarts, just a sort of clicking/grinding sound, especially when I started up the computer.

[Englander]

I was fiddling with my sound card settings yesterday and upon aimlessly changing "Analog out" from 2 "2 speakers" to "FP [Front Panel] 2 speakers", it made a rather familiar clicking noise!

So for anyone who searches this thread in years to come, it was just the sound card sorting itself out and certainly isn't a problem

[handscombmp]

I was fiddling with my sound card settings yesterday and upon aimlessly changing "Analog out" from 2 "2 speakers" to "FP [Front Panel] 2 speakers", it made a rather familiar clicking noise!

So for anyone who searches this thread in years to come, it was just the sound card sorting itself out and certainly isn't a problem

What sound card is it.

I've got a Asus Xonar D1 which does the same.

I can't help but feel that they should say somewhere in the box as it had me worried at first.

[Englander]

What sound card is it.

I've got a Asus Xonar D1 which does the same.

I can't help but feel that they should say somewhere in the box as it had me worried at first.

Asus Xonar DX. It would certainly have been nice to be made aware that it's a feature of the card!

And I'll just re-link the photo I linked to earlier - I rejigged the folders in my photobucket recently.



You can just see the sound card at the bottom there, but I honestly thought the noise was originating from higher up towards the graphics card area.

[jim]

Are you sure it's the PC?

[Englander]

[mribrahimali]

the clicking noises may be mice with tiny pneumatic drills building an underground lair with a labyrinth of tunnels, just waiting for you to close your eyes.