Arrgh! Noisy computer! Help, please?

Factual Questions
1

So my main computer started, several months ago, making a loud high pitched “eeeeep” squeaky noisy every once in a while. “eeeap!” it would say… “eeeap!” and the noise would go away and I’d continue surfing porn.

Then it got more and more frequent.

Now it’s continuous. To the point that I don’t use it anymore. Too loud!

So I decided to fix it. Obviously, it’s a squeaky fan, right?

The computer has 5 fans: power supply, video card, CPU, 2 case fans (one on the side, one on the top).

My first suspect was the side case fan, as that has been squeaky before, and replaced. So I unplugged it. The noise continues… that’s not it.

Next suspect is the CPU heat sink fan. I replaced it. Noise continues. That’s not it. WTF?

So today being my day off, I decided I’m gonna fix the F’ing thing.

Next suspect was the video card fan… but I’m not taking any chances this time!

I take off the side panel to the case and power up: “eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeap!!!”

I manually stop the video card fan with my finger. The noise continues.

I stop the top case fan. Noise continues.

I stop the power supply fan. Noise continues.

Back to the new CPU heat sink fan; stop that. Noise continues.

It can’t be the side case fan, as that was ruled out earlier, and besides, it is on the floor next to the kitchen table; not only unplugged, but several feet away as well.

WTF?

I start unplugging the power to drives: I have a CD drive, a DVD RW drive, a floppy drive, a SATA HD, and an IDE HD. I unplug them all, one at a time, and the noise continues. The hell?

I’ve now ruled out EVERYTHING I can think of that might make that high pitched loud squeaky noise!

Can it be something on the motherboard?

I start to poke around trying to hear where the noise is coming from; no dice. Is there a fan somewhere I missed? No.

I turn the computer over on its side, to look more carefully. Nope, no other fans anywhere… but after several seconds, the noise stops!

I turn the computer back upright (it’s a horizontal case), and no noise.

That computer over there on the kitchen table? The one simply whirring away for the last 30 minutes with no “eeeeeeeeaap” noise? That’s the one.

What the hell??

I stopped EVERY moving part, and the noise continued, but when I turned it on its side, it stopped…

Is there anything on the motherboard, non-moving, that might cause it? It’s an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe.

I’m gonna leave it right there, on the table, until it starts "eeeeeap"ing again, because I know, as soon as I take it back to my office, plug the keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, etc. back in it’s going to start "eeeeeeeeeeap"ing again! I guarantee it. I’ve lived this life for almost 42 years, and I know this to be true.

Anyone know what could be causing this noise? “AAAARRRGGGHHHH! It’s driving me nuts!” said the pirate.

Thanks in advance for the help…

2

Could be some of the magnetics in the power supply. If so, the only fix is to replace the power supply.

3

I agree with beowulff the inductors or transformers in the power supply are making the noise. I also agree that the only real solution if it is the power supply is to replace it. You really don’t want to open a power supply and start poking around.

4

No, I’m pretty good with hardware, but I’m not gonna open the PSU and start messing with it.

Think that’s it? I may have an extra PSU in the closet… I’ll have to poke around…

5

Why not just leave it on its side?

6

Two reasons:

  1. On its side, it wouldn’t fit in the bracket that I have affixed to the side of the desk in my office.

  2. I still wouldn’t know what caused the noise!

7

Back in the “good old days” I used to fix squealing Mac 128 & 512Ks by putting a drop of oil on the flyback transformer, where the two halves of the core met. This would cure it for quite a while…

8

This really depnds upon the noise its making. It’s most likely the CPU overheating, in which case you probably need to clean the CPU fan and cooler assembly. Note that if you remove said assembly you can’t just replace it: you need to clean then recoat the CPU and heatsink: I use Arctic Silver. If you’ve added hardware, particularly a graphics card, it may be the PSU complaining that it doesn’t have enough power, in which case you replace the PSU with a beefier version. Messing with the inside of a PSU is not for the unaware person. If you suspect the PSU to be clogged, restrict your actions to blasting it with compressed air.

9

Well crap.

Turns out I have 3 PSUs in the closet; a 300W, a 350W, and a 380W.

The current PSU (still humming away with no “eeeeeeeeap” noise an hour after the OP) is a 430W… which I wasn’t sure was quite enough to begin with.

Guess I’ll be going to Fry’s tomorrow.

10

I replaced the CPU heat-sink and fan, including, of course, the thermal compound between the CPU and the heat-sink. Pretty sure that’s not it…

11

Before you hit Fry’s you should do the old Car talk trick to make sure. Get a short piece of garden hose and put one end on your ear and then move the other end around the computer just to make sure the sound is coming from the PSU. If you have a stethoscope lying about some much the better.

Quartz, why would the CPU over heating make noise?

12

Come to think of it, Quartz, from a purely physics perspective, HOW could it be the CPU?

The noise is not coming from any speakers, so the CPU itself would need to be vibrating very rapidly to produce said noise… can this happen? I’d think not… but then again, if I knew everything, I’d need no help! (and Jennifer Love Hewitt would be my love-slave!)

Still whirring away on the table… no noise.

13

No. I have garden hose issues. That’s another thread though…

I do have a stethoscope, but it would be of no use here as the noise is LOUD!

14

The fancy word for this is squegging. It’s a semi-common problem in switching power supplies such as the ones in nearly all computers.

The power supply is ailing. It might be overloaded, but whether it is or not, the noise is driving you nuts, so it needs to be replaced.

As a bonus, squegging is on the Official North American Tournament Scrabble Word List.

15

When the CPU overheats, the temperature sensor on the motherboard detects it and sounds the alarm. If you look in the BIOS you should see a warning temperature. Mine’s set to 75 degrees.

16

Just add a power supply. you have spares. No reason to not run two temporally or until $$$$ accumulate to buy bigger-better-new -shinny…

Can sit outside with the connectors running in to a couple of the devices… Don’t have to use the connection to the MB, the power supply don’t care… They have switches on them.

Been there, done that…

17

Fahrenheit?
If that’s the case, you’re being very careful. My CPU is running at 93F and I’m quite happy with that. Pleased in fact.

18

OK… new power supply has been procured! 500 watts. That oughta do it, I think.

It’s sitting on the table next to the computer. If I get some gumption, I’ll install it tomorrow after work.

19

Celcius; it normally runs at 40C (104F), but games will push it to the mid 50s (130F).

20

I didn’t see mention of the fan in the power supply. I would guess it was that before the transformer. Either way it was the power supply.