What is this sound about?
What is this sound about?
Hi! I’ve experienced a problem for a few months where I’d hear a sporadic clicking or rattling noise from my PC. It usually lasted a few quick half-second bursts.
At first, I thought it was coming from the hard drive, but when I got closer the sound came from the top of my case near the radiator or fan.
I replaced all my old fans and upgraded to new ones, hoping to fix the issue. The noise stopped for a month until recently, when it became the loudest and most persistent I’d ever heard.
My guesses were something loose or a wire hanging near the fan, but when I opened the case there was nothing obvious. It wouldn’t be likely to be intermittent, though.
I wondered if someone with more experience could help diagnose this by listening. Any suggestions or feedback would be really helpful!
(Also didn’t know how to upload a video, so I did it through YouTube: Rattle Noise)
If you’re familiar with RAM and motherboards, I’d also appreciate some advice on another possible problem. Thanks a lot!
It seems like a fan issue, stopping at the top of the case might indicate low lubricant in the hub or a short circuit. Most likely, checking inside the case will help identify the problem. Are you wondering about the power supply unit in the roof? I notice an AIO—do you know where its radiator is located? If you remove the glass, a rolled paper can act as a funnel to listen and isolate it. What specifications are you looking for regarding the PC?
Which model is this? Does it include a pump with a radiator positioned at the top of the loop? If yes, then you cannot position the radiator at the highest point. Air bubbles build up in the pump, which stops liquid flow and eventually damages the pump. The noise comes from the pump rattling.
Colif & Skynet, thank you for your reply. The AIO is a NZXT Kraken M22 with the radiator top-mounted and the PSU positioned at the bottom under the cover. It seems the pump is located inside the radiator. I followed standard guidelines for mounting on the fan’s top, but after watching the official NZXT video, they recommend either reading or front mounting. I tried mounting it in the rear, which was difficult.
I recently replaced the fans about a month ago due to some LianLi fans causing issues. I checked for hanging wires but found none. For now, I’m removing the glass panel from my PC. If the noise returns, I might briefly stop the fans by applying pressure to the middle section to see if it reduces or stops the sound as the fan slows. Just to be sure, unless you think stopping the fans when they’re driven by the motor is risky.
It appears the noise is coming directly from the radiator, I believe.
Thanks!
Move it to the front mount spot (or back position), with hoses attached at the base.