Sound alert, likely originating from PSU
Sound alert, likely originating from PSU
I’ve noticed a persistent ticking noise from my PC for some time. It happens every few seconds, and because I haven’t played any games lately, it wasn’t bothersome at first—it was almost silent, and I eventually overlooked it. But yesterday, while playing Cyberpunk 2077, the sound suddenly got much louder after about ten minutes. After investigating possible sources, I’m around 90% confident it’s coming from the power supply unit. I’ve shared a recording here: https://youtu.be/ok_nk9hGiDw. I’m unsure if my guess is right, but since the game is resource-intensive, it’s possible the PC was drawing more power for the GPU, CPU, or fans, which could explain the increase in noise. Unfortunately, I don’t have a backup PSU to test, so I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do or if I should replace it entirely. I’m currently using a BeQuiet Straight Power 11 750W unit.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
I’m currently running a BeQuiet Straight Power 11 750W.
Here are the details of my build:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
Please include the age of the PSU along with its make and model. Also, provide the BIOS version for your motherboard at this time.
Of course, please see the below:
CPU: i7 11700k
CPU cooler: unknown. My PC was not build by me, I only agreed on some specific "main" parts and I chose a few of them myself. Not sure if there is any way to check this.
Motherboard: Z590 Aorus Master. Bios version: F3, Bios ID: 8ARKL003, Bios date: 01/08/2021
Ram: Kingston Fury DDR4 2x16 GB 3600 Mhz CL18
SSD/HDD: 2x Samsung 970 EVO 500 GB
GPU: RTX 3060 12 GB VRAM
PSU: BeQuiet Straight Power 11 750W, ~3 years old
Chassis: BeQuiet Pure Base
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Monitor: LG 29UM68-P 2560x1080
I wanted to add that I haven't had any problems with the PC's stability so far or anything like that. The PC isn’t restarting or crashing, but obviously I don’t know what might happen if I played a demanding game for a few hours.
If the noise comes from the PSU, it is probably due to the PSU fan.
The fan will begin to spin up to offer additional cooling for the PSU when it is working under load.
It might be that the fan blade is slightly off-balance or there is an obstruction in the fan area.
What should you do?
1. Ignore it.
2. Have the person who assembled it inspect it.
3. Replace the PSU, as it comes with a 5-year warranty.
Honestly, I'm not entirely certain the noise comes from the PSU, but that's my main hypothesis after examining inside the PC without the side panel. A fan problem was one of my initial thoughts, though I thought the delay between each "click" might be excessive. I plan to inspect the PSU and possibly replace it, just to be sure.
Form a roll of paper into a tube; place it to your ear and hear what comes from the other side near the PSU.
It doesn't seem to be a PSU fan or bearing; it appears to be a relay clicking inside the PSU.
You possess a reliable, high-quality PSU (Tier A), though its warranty is quite limited at just five years (possibly due to Be Quiet's cautious approach to durability).
Such premium PSUs typically come with a ten-year warranty (for example, Corsair RMx, Seasonic Focus GX/PX) or even twelve years (like Seasonic Vertex/PRIME).
If you're concerned, opt for a brand-new PSU.
For optimal performance with a PC featuring a dedicated GPU, a Tier A unit is ideal. Examples include Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, and Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.
PSU tier list:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...JW...1973454078
Tier A will suffice, while Tier A+ is recommended.
(My two PCs are exclusively powered by Tier A+ PSUs. I own Seasonic PRIME 650 Titanium (Tier A+) and Seasonic PRIME Ultra 650 Titanium (Tier A+) units. Details and images are attached.)
I can confirm, it's definitely a PSU. There is even a small vibration when the "click" is happening.
Thank you, will check that list.
In general, I always try to buy at least an A-tier PSU. But I don't know if it's just bad luck or something else, but I have problems with PSUs every few years. This will be my fourth in the past 11 years, and I don't think that's normal. The only thing that comes to my mind is that even though I've moved to a different flat in the meantime, it's also an old building, so maybe the electrical installations in both buildings suck.
Verify that your wall outlet is correctly grounded and has the right polarity.
A $10 tester such as this one works: https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Power...MI...gJIifD_BwE
To some extent, PSU quality lists are personal opinions.
A professional review is a good way to confirm this.
Alternatively, check the warranty information.
High-quality units typically come with a 10-12 year warranty.
A proper, high-quality UPS with line-interactive design and pure sine wave output can address grid problems. It safeguards against surges and brownouts (thanks to its AVR), and also protects against blackouts (because of the battery). My two setups rely on these UPS units (one per PC) and my PSUs remain reliable. In my opinion, every PC should have a UPS installed. The costlier the PC, the stronger the case for adding a UPS as well.