Clicking sound from PC
Clicking sound from PC
Hello, I built my PC about two and a half years ago and after half a year I had to return the GPU (MSI 3070 X Trio) to the manufacturer due to an unbalanced fan that kept clicking. Once I cleaned dust from it, I noticed the GPU wasn’t sitting on its support bracket as it used to. I adjusted the bracket slightly so it could rest properly. You can see what I meant here.
Later, I began hearing clicking noises from the PC. These were short clicks, usually occurring once or twice when turning the PC on or off and stopping games. They sometimes repeated a few times after turning it off, but stopped after about half an hour. The sounds weren’t very loud, but noticeable—similar to a monitor’s plastic clicking during temperature changes or a car engine cooling down. Once I opened the case and started the PC, the clicks came from various spots inside, near the fans and GPU.
I haven’t tried fixing anything yet because I’m unsure what caused it. It hasn’t affected any moving parts since the clicks stopped after turning off the PC, and the wires aren’t touching the fans. I don’t think it’s related to electricity or overheating, as it wouldn’t damage the system after so long. Could temperature changes be a factor? Is this something others have experienced? Am I in trouble?
P.S. I don’t have an HDD that makes such sounds.
Consider using an A4 sheet as a cylinder, positioning one end near your ear while holding the other to detect the sound. Try placing the PC on its side to avoid contact with the support bracket and observe if fan rotation affects noise. Also note the age of the power supply unit along with its make and model, along with the current BIOS version for your motherboard.
Sound appears after approximately two minutes when I power on the PC, often following booting a game or closing it. The likely source is on the front side of the computer, near the back or middle where the GPU fans are located. The hardware in question has similar specifications and is about two and a half years old. I can't verify the BIOS version at the moment, and I haven't made any updates or changes.
A detailed account of potential causes and solutions.
The clicking sound from your PC may stem from various factors. Below are some likely explanations:
Fan Bearings: A minor misalignment in the bearings of one or more fans is a frequent reason. This often results from gradual wear, and large fans—particularly those located near the power supply unit or at the rear of the case—tend to be involved.
Case Fans: Another cause could be loose or improperly secured case fans. A faulty fan blade might also produce this noise.
Interference: Electrical interference on the motherboard is another possibility. This might arise from nearby components, especially if traces are close to sensitive parts.
To address the problem, consider these steps:
Examine the fans: Verify that all fans, including GPU and case fans, are firmly attached and operating correctly. Also, inspect the fan blades for any signs of damage or wear.
Check the motherboard: Search for any physical damage, dirt, or loose parts that could lead to interference.
I looked into all the details when this issue really started affecting me, during my first year of dealing with it. From what I observed, it might be one of the front fans, although I don’t know why it sounds after turning off the PC and checking the screws—they seem properly seated.
I should mention that the case fans are Noctua NF-S12A PWM, which means they’re not among the cheapest options and are less prone to failure. Still, if one stops working eventually, it shouldn’t cause major problems since these aren’t CPU, GPU, or PSU fans, and I’d be able to replace them easily afterward.
using a system that produces such sounds, my first step is to turn on all accessible fans; once they’re running, lightly press the center of each until it stops completely. if the sound ceases, you’ve identified the source. if not, move on to harder-to-reach fans one by one and repeat the process. once the fans are out of the way, inspect the case panels in the same way; keep each section fixed and check for any vibration that might stop the noise. even after securing the motherboard, graphics card, CPU cooler, and every separate part, if the issue persists, try removing the system from the case and concentrating solely on the sound as described by Lutfij.