Uncommon sharp sounds from the PC, not just coil noise—could it be connected to the load?
Uncommon sharp sounds from the PC, not just coil noise—could it be connected to the load?
Here are some key points about the issue:
- My PC occasionally makes a loud, distinct click, like a relay switch.
- No fans are spinning abnormally; the noise isn’t coming from them.
- The sound doesn’t occur when using an iGPU, only with the GPU.
- It happens mostly after launching games and can repeat after closing the game.
- The click seems linked to system load or GPU activity.
- Testing with different PSUs, GPUs, and motherboards didn’t resolve the problem.
- Some users reported similar issues with other GPUs, but mine was unique.
- Attempts to change BIOS settings, undervolt the GPU, and swap components had limited success.
- The noise is still present even when testing with better headphones.
TL;DR: A persistent loud click occurs during gameplay, possibly related to system load or GPU activity, and no fix has been found despite multiple changes.
the only components that might make noise are: an AIO pump possibly in some very unusual situations, an HDD when it’s failing, any speaker inside if there’s a discharge and the cables aren’t properly shielded—but it doesn’t sound like a normal click. PSU can sometimes work but you changed it. From your video, at 0.31 the sound seems to come from something hitting the fan, not the fan itself. At 3.06 I’m confused because I hear a HDD sound, but your case is tilted so it might be the side affecting it. The 0.31 and 3.06 clicks are odd, like something physically touching your case or a fan blade.
I know it's definitely not an AIO pump (since I don't have an AIO), and it's definitely not the HDD, as I disconnected it during the tests. I also put the system apart and together again when swapping the motherboard, and I ensured that all the screws are tightened, none are loose. The sound at 3:06 is indeed a little different, I don't quite know how to explain it. Sometimes the click almost sounded like it was going through the case or something, but it hasn't sounded like that ever since I swapped the motherboard. My case is usually standing as it normally would be, I only rotated it for the video. It was made for an RMA so I wanted to show that it's not any of the fans getting hit by anything.
The initial noise is clearly a fan striking something, easily identifiable anywhere. The other two sounds differ—one faint amidst background, the last resembling a solid impact. Have you attempted to move your system outside the case? Try placing it on wood or cardboard without the enclosure to check if the problem disappears?
I intend to run a similar test later when I have some free time (it’s a bit tricky because of the limited space on my small desk), but I’m unsure why this would happen. I realize it’s not related to the GPU fan, since I noticed the noise even when all three were off. That narrows it down to the PSU fan, the 5 case fans, and the CPU fan. It can’t be the PSU fan, as I’ve checked the noise level outside the case, and it probably isn’t coming from any of the case fans either—since I was trying to locate the source and it didn’t match any part of the case. That leaves the CPU cooler, but that wouldn’t explain why the sound only occurs with a GPU. After spending half a year trying to figure this out, I’m hoping it’s something unusual, like heat from the GPU causing the metal in the CPU cooler to shift. If that’s the case, replacing the GPU would be a huge hassle right now.
It’s a plausible scenario. For the fan test, you can operate your system without any case fans for an extended period if you remove the side panel, switch them off, and check if the problem continues. If the issue remains even when all fans are off, consider removing the CPU fan as well. The motherboard may signal trouble and trigger a POST error—just press continue and let the system boot for a few minutes without interacting. Avoid logging into Windows unless necessary. If the problem persists, it’s likely the GPU, as there are few moving components. When the GPU or CPU heatsink expands, it can warp and press against the fans. Metal expansion and contraction cause noise; stress relief releases heat, sometimes producing a "pop" or "thunk." Imagine a metal can lid—when heated and cooled, it makes a similar sound.
It seems like you're exploring several possibilities for the issue. You're considering testing the system fan hub, checking if the CPU fan test is effective, and replacing the cooler or case. You're also thinking about how the new motherboard might affect fan behavior and suspect a potential hardware issue involving your cards. Your observations align with what your brother experienced, and you're curious about whether the problem could be tied to the cooler or thermal management differences between components.
Little update on this: I replaced my Endorfy Fera 5 with the stock cooler, I've been using it for about 24 hours now, and so far I haven't heard the click. I won't draw any definitive conclusions yet, as the issue is pretty random and doesn't always appear, but it looks like my clown "GPU heat is deforming the CPU heatsink" joke theory might actually be real. I'll give it another day or two, but if I don't hear the click then I'll order a Peerless Assassin or something and see if that clicks when I install it. I genuinely didn't expect this test to do anything.
Many folks think this confusion started with older hard drives and only became a problem after they changed orientation over time. In reality, today’s drives work smoothly in any position. Also, troubleshooting usually checks just one side, so the drive isn’t likely affected during regular use.