Funny Noise = Problem?

Major caveat: I am using the same monitor I've had for the past decade. Literally, I mean--ten years with the same CRT. (Try that with one of your fancy shmancy LCDs, right?) 21" Dell, approximately 70 pounds, max resolution of 1600x1200... bad habit of devouring souls in darkened rooms; A real man's monitor.

SO! My problem is as follows: when viewing videos (specifically I'm referring to the videos in the opening cuts of Crysis; I have not actually noticed this under other circumstances), my computer makes an extremely high pitched whirring/whining noise. Not very loud, but noticeable (admittedly, I do have exceptional hearing. :( )This started about a week ago. I built the computer at the end of November.

Environmental factor: ambient temperature in the computer's location gets down to nearly 50 degrees (Fahrenheit) at night, while--of course--the computer's operating temperature is significantly higher. Thermal expansion could potentially loosen parts with time?

I have not fully eliminated the monitor, unfortunately, but I'll do that on lunch break today--just turn the thing off and then start Crysis.

My questions: IF this sound is coming from my computer rather than the monitor, is it a problem? ...and if so, how would I fix it? Has anyone experienced a problem like this before? Is this a problem at all? (I don't mind the noise; it just worries me since it didn't do this initially and does do it now.)

Update: I have tested with and without my monitor now; the sound persists with the monitor turned off and disconnected.

Could be a few things. If you find its high pitch during bright areas of video with lots of white etc then its normal but it could also be some sort of noise suppressor issue on the monitor. I once had one that screeched so much it was unuseable. Its just down to the age of the screen I would think.

If its your PC it could be your graphics card, my old 6800GT used to make a high pitched noise when the 3D clocks started. Its normal for some cards. It may also be your PSU on its way out.

You know, perhaps its your video card's fan ramping up? My 8800GT is a bit louder now that its fan is stuck at 100%; maybe your dual Ultras are ramping up to a higher speed than most other games do. *shrug* I'd get RivaTuner and look at oyur fan speed percentages and temps when at the desktop, and keep the monitor ON so it'll show you this info in-game. When I run FEAR at top detail levels, my video card jumps from 45c to 65c inside of 10 minutes (but never climbs higher). Of course, as I said, my fan is stuck (despite my attempts to change it) at 100% thansk to RivaTuner. :( Ah well, my computer stays cool!

Alternatively, could it be your hard drives spinning up, or your HSF?

Edit: Considering his PSU is only a little over a month old and is an Antec, I would think the chances of it going out, while possible, would be exceedingly small. :D But it is possible...

If its your PC it could be your graphics card, my old 6800GT used to make a high pitched noise when the 3D clocks started. Its normal for some cards.

This particular sound only occurs when my machine is actually displaying 2D video. It starts when the video starts and stops when the video stops. Wouldn't seem to involve the 3D clocks.

Ok, definitely not the monitor. Can processors make funny noises? >.<

yes, underload they can buzz a bit

That's where it *sounds* like the racket is coming from. This is normal, then?

High pitch screeching usually means a can-cap is on its way out (or already gone).

Take a look at the mobo and see if any of them have a popped (usually leakage on top).
It could also be a can in the PSU although more likely the mobo.

Bishop, its good that your mobo has a lifetime warrenty! :D (I just happen to know you got the A1 variant ;) You wouldn't shaddap about it.)

Hard to shut up about the single component that causes you the most problems during a build. :P

(Still curious how those engineers could have conceived of such a cockamamie design, actually.)

Any other symptoms of a "can-cap" (not entirely sure what that is, actually) going out? Any negative repercussions? Like I said, if the noise is all that happens, I really don't care.

Have you checked your cpu fan? If it's a bit elderly it could be the ball bearings in there protesting when it gets up to speed. unlikely though if it's only the videos..

could maybe just be the voltage regulators on your motherboard, mine (p5k premium) do that sometimes when i run orthos. Though my understanding of it is that they're nothing to worry about.

You haven't overclocked anything have you?

edit: I see you have, does it squeal under load at all? or is it just crysis?

I have a DELL CRT and I live with the same problem. A light sound ( like when you just switch on your TV ). I reckon it's a Picture Tube thing.

Have yiou tried stopping each fan?

To eliminate the monitor entirely, the sound persists even when the monitor is shut down, unplugged, etc.

The noise does seem to be associated with certain load factors--again, most notably when playing 2D videos. The processor has been overclocked (voltage held at stock settings, though). All of the parts new as of two months ago now.

I have manually set the CPU fan to run at a constant speed (85 or 90%; I don't remember).

No, I have not tried stopping each fan--they didn't seem likely culprits, as all the case fans also run at a constant speed.

I'm thinking of just attending rock concerts to dull my hearing.