Noisy Cybertronic gaming computer

December 1, 2017 2:19 PM

After a Nvidia update, and Mozilla update, and my grandson setting up some epic games, and using the xbox for the first time; my computer sounds like a sparrow with OCD is frantically typing the same short bit over and over, after hitting the return bar in a manual typewriter. At times it sounds like the machine takes a deep breath. So, does anyone know about this? It makes so much noise it is unpleasant, and this is a new machine, year and a quarter old. I got it for the ram and the video card.
posted by Oyéah to Technology (9 answers total)

Best answer: Fractured bearing in one of the fans? You should be able to tell by taking the cover off and briefly stopping them in turn.
posted by pharm at 2:35 PM on December 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

To be clear, this is a mechanical noise and not something coming out of your speakers? I agree that it's likely related to a fan.
posted by jordemort at 2:46 PM on December 1, 2017

Best answer: I assume this is a desktop computer and the sound is coming from the tower, so I would think it's a moving part, like either a fan or a hard disk drive. Are you comfortable opening it up and having a look and listening to narrow down the source?
posted by AppleTurnover at 2:59 PM on December 1, 2017

I bet there's a wire getting hit by a fan. Take the cover off and turn the computer on.
posted by gregr at 3:11 PM on December 1, 2017

Response by poster: OK I have to take that big tower out from its inconvenient location, and I will look. Nothing changed it was not moved, it is not where it can be kicked or disturbed, I vacuum the intakes to keep it free from dust, so yeah, I will break the whole thing down and set it up in front of a light so I can watch it run. Thank you folks.
posted by Oyéah at 3:40 PM on December 1, 2017

Usually with a noise like that I spank the fan-containing area of the case and it goes away. For a while.
posted by Dmenet at 4:12 PM on December 1, 2017

Response by poster: This thing has six fans, tried the concerted whack, no. It is like galloping, I will just take the whole thing apart, the spaghetti, the inconvenient location. Yup, and thanks to you all.
posted by Oyéah at 5:16 PM on December 1, 2017

Galloping sounds like a fan going bad.

Short, high pitched sounds could be a hard drive working hard, could be caused by software. Might be normal.
posted by H21 at 8:16 PM on December 1, 2017

Response by poster: OK Zotac right hand fan loose and making all the noise. I have to take it in somewhere for replacement. I did clean it though. Egads.
posted by Oyéah at 4:13 PM on December 2, 2017