PC Running Very Noisy

[Squid_uk]

System is a Packard Bell 9085 iExtreme

Problem Description: Machine has latley been running very loudly and it just suddenly happened. the noise has a very high pitch tone when running, i know that it is not the fans as i have checked this, it sounds like the noise is comin from one of the hard drives any idea what this is and how it could be fixed?

[Cobra]

First thing I would reccommend doing is to back everything up! Burn a CD or a DVD with all the vitally-important stuff, then back the whole lot up over a network if you can.

Next, unplug all the hard drives and turn the machine on. If the noise is still there, you know it isn't your hard drives. If it has gone, plug each hard drive in by itself to identify which drive is making the noise. Once you find it, run a diagnostic. You can often find these utilities on the manufacturer support website for that brand.

Remember to take anti-static precautions when working with your PC.

Good luck,

Cobra

[rallynavvie]

I know the low-profile fans on my heatsinks on my last workstation made a bit of a high-pitched whistling noise. If you've got slim fans (10-25mm width) I would almost guarantee that's where the noise is coming from. Remember to check your PSU fans as well.

High RPM hard drives (10k and up) make an interesting high-pitched buzzing sound when they spool up but you normally don't notice it anytime else. If it is indeed a hard drive you may want to get ready to RMA it.

[Squid_uk]

Any advise on what sort of things i should back up?

Also i know it is not the Processor fan as i checked this by stopping it and also i know it is not the PSU fan as this does not spin at all!

[Evander]

How about the graphics card fan? I had a noisy ass geforce 4 mx, so I removed the fan many months ago and now my system is so quiet, and absolutely no problems from the graphic hard or overheating
The fan itself wasn't so noisy, but it caused the metal of the card to vibrate and that's what pissed me off

[greymalkin]

also, if your PS fan is not spinning at all you may have much bigger problems than a single hard drive going out on you!

get that fixed quick! (i.e. replace your power supply or ghetto-fab a exhaust fan on the outside of it).

[rallynavvie]

Not really, the PSU fan on my Antec Neo480 (120mm fan) doesn't even start up until the system starts draining on it.

The GPU HSF is another source of noise to check out, that's a slim fan like I had mentioned. Some of the aftermarket HSFs for video cards can make a big difference in noise output.

If you are backing up stuff from your hard drive and it's you boot drive I'd only waste time backing up personal files you don't have stored anywhere else and probably your email address book, links, etc.

[greymalkin]

there is a difference between spinning up when needed and not spinning at all!

you might want to take your chances and hope it doesn't blow up but i'd rather know the heat my power supply is generating (which is a good portion of the heat in the computer) is being exhausted.

[Squid_uk]

ok i have decided to invest in some fans etc, can you guys recommend what i should get and where i could get them from?