Problem with sound after changing power supply unit
Problem with sound after changing power supply unit
Hello there !
First I'll have to say I am not sure if this is a PSU issue or not, maybe the post will have to be moved.
Specs :
MB : MSI Z370-A pro
CPU : I5 9600k (not overclocked)
GPU : Gainward 3060 Ti Ghost (not overclocked either)
RAM : 2x16 GO DDR4 Corsair LPX Vengeance (2666 Hz)
PSU : Bequiet Purepower 11 FM 750W (quality gold 80+)
OS and games on SSD, with an unused side hard drive (kinda old, used before swapping to SSD)
TL/DR : PC makes this sound when stressed / temp is rising, and I can't seem to locate it or the problem. I would like to solve it, but as long as I know it's not an issue I'll be fine.
https://imgur.com/a/FO2IpKD
Here you can hear the sound at the start. Sound is from outside the case, at the back (close to GPU and PSU)
Long story :
A while ago my old PSU died, nothing seems to have been hurt in my PC. I then bought the new PSU and installed it.
The noise started really soon (to not say immediately), and since I'm paranoid about things like that I've been searching for a while now, and here's what I found with my noob knowledge :
- Noise seems linked to the heat in the case. It usually starts when I play and the temps are rising, but almost never happen with the case open.
- Every cable is firmly in place, i checked the screws as well.
- Fans aren't hitting anything.
- Noise seems to get stronger when i fully close the case (screwing back the lateral panel)
What I can think about is either something vibrating (tho i can't find what) or coil whine ?
Thanks for helping !
It could be fan bearings from the power supply. Be quiet! High-quality parts are often hard to verify for defects or damage. The temperature effect happens because fans only reach speeds that cause noise at certain temperatures. Watch live temperatures while listening to see if a specific point triggers the noise.
Hey !
I checked the temperatures and they stay above 70°C, usually around 75°C when things are running, that’s when I notice them. Most of the time I keep my setup near 75°C, with CPU and GPU monitored.
Things I didn’t mention:
- My CPU uses a fan for cooling (Bequiet model).
- The sound might be louder when the case is open because the rest is quieter.
- When checking resource usage, the CPU is under the most stress, but it doesn’t seem linked to any other part’s load.
Would a bearing issue need fixing? I guess if it just makes noise and I can handle it, it probably isn’t a problem.
It might indicate that the PSU fan's performance will keep declining, eventually failing to provide adequate cooling and potentially causing further issues.
You can replace the fans in the PSU, but doing so will cancel any warranty with Be Quiet!
The preferable solution would be to return the PSU for repair if you can demonstrate it is producing noise.
And how would you like it done? Is there a program available to check each fan separately? (You might want to test every fan to determine the issue)
Updated testing attempts using FanControl showed limited control over all fans, particularly the PSU, and I managed to get a noticeably quieter sound when increasing GPU fan speed. However, the original audio wasn't fully reproduced with every fan at maximum.
Later, I also checked the PSU screws without mentioning it before, but my initial assumption was correct.
There has been an update.
I wasn't able to find those specific tools, but I was able to cut down the noise significantly by loosening the GPU and PSU a bit. It seems like vibrations from the back of my case are the main issue.
The noise is still present often when the fans spin fast, though it's much quieter otherwise.
Noise reduction kits can be placed in certain computer cases, which are thick layers of sound-dampening material. Some manufacturers offer rubber mounts that fit all four corners of 120mm and 140mm fans. The choice depends on how quiet you wish your computer to be and whether you're comfortable with visible foam blocks inside the case. A mesh panel isn't suitable as it obstructs ventilation holes, and a glass side panel also doesn't work well. Your option has the advantage of being free.
It is quite an old case, it is fully made of metal, with some sound absorbing foam on the side panels.
My objective wasn't to stop the noise, I mainly wanted to know if my PC was in danger.
While opening again to unscrew things a little, I notices there are screws from the case pointing toward the interior around the PSU (from the rubber feets and other things), maybe it is slightly bigger than the previous one and when the fans runs the PSU touch the end of a screw with the vibrations. At least it doesn't seem like there is a broken piece anywhere.
Thanks for the help !