Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dark RevenantX on June 26, 2006, 03:28:51 pm

Title: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Dark RevenantX on June 26, 2006, 03:28:51 pm
Every once in a while, my power supply will make this... awful... annoying... sound.  It sounds sorta like a pair of demented hummingbirds with extra helium, almost like a long line of broken mini-jingle bells.  It's hard to describe, but it is definitely a high-pitched ringing.  The sound comes on when the power supply has a sudden change of power, or any change of heat.

Here's a timeline:

1.  Sound comes on... I hope it goes away.
2.  Sound doesn't go away... I get mad.
3.  Sound goes away... Then it comes back again.
4.  I pound my desk and open my case to cool it off.
5.  Sound gets softer and dies away... Then it comes back again.
6.  I blow on the power supply... Nothing happens.
7.  I give up and close the case... The sound turns off.
8.  Repeat seventy times.
9.  I post here.

HELP ME!  My power supply is a 400W thing with a brand name that i forgot.  I already threw away the box for it.


P.S.  The sound came back on.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: achtung on June 26, 2006, 03:30:46 pm
Does it sound like the whine a t.v. makes?
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Shade on June 26, 2006, 03:33:42 pm
Any loose wires from the PSU dangling around inthere? If one happens to be near the fan, it could create a not entirely dissimilar noise if it comes into contact as it keeps bouncing off each fan blade.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Dark RevenantX on June 26, 2006, 07:54:27 pm
No, I tried shaking it randomly when the sound didn't appear and nothing happened.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Flipside on June 26, 2006, 08:50:53 pm
Sounds like it might be a bearing in the fan rattling, if the fan has bearings. It's not a direct problem apart from the noise. If it is that, you'll probably need a new PSU, but it's not something you'll need urgently, just when the sound finally drives you to it. ;)
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Descenterace on June 27, 2006, 01:12:52 am
Sure it's the PSU, and not resonance in the case caused by a fan or disk drive?

The near side panel of my Stacker case tends to vibrate when the DVD drive spins up. My 5-second-fix for the problem is a piece of paper wedged in the gap between panel and frame.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: pecenipicek on June 27, 2006, 03:57:36 am
there is a chance that one of the transformators went bonkers.


i have that problem with everything that uses high voltage, as my ears are.... well, apparently, well attuned to catch high frequencies. :ick: one of the reasons i dont watch tv anymore. cant stand that whine.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Triple Ace on June 27, 2006, 02:57:36 pm
I had a similar problem a while back. I fixed it by taking apart my power supply and cleaning out all the dust and crap. I don't know if this will work for you if you even want to attempt it.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Shade on June 27, 2006, 03:09:09 pm
Quote
one of the reasons i dont watch tv anymore. cant stand that whine.[/i]You're not the only one... I hate that, can tell if a TV is on through several closed doors despite the sound being. Not as bad with newer sets, but old ones... they're horrible. As long as the sound is on though it doesn't really bother me much.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: Dark RevenantX on June 27, 2006, 11:50:19 pm
The noise is most definitely the fan.  It makes noise when the temperature changes and when the workload changes.

It's the PSU because the sound started to happen when I replaced my PSU a few months backs.  I replaced my motherboard, not my PSU a few weeks ago, and the sound still happened.  Yep, it's my PSU fan.

Luckily, my computer is quiet enough to run with the case opened up.
Title: Re: Really... Annoying... Sound...
Post by: achtung on June 27, 2006, 11:58:46 pm
there is a chance that one of the transformators went bonkers.


i have that problem with everything that uses high voltage, as my ears are.... well, apparently, well attuned to catch high frequencies. :ick: one of the reasons i dont watch tv anymore. cant stand that whine.

Then you never want to walk behind the T.V. in my living room, I get a headache after about 30 seconds behind it.