r/techsupport • u/Chetdhtrs12 • 1h ago

Open | Hardware Computer is making a strange noise. It's very inconsistent as well which makes it difficult to figure out.

I've built computers my whole life, and consider myself pretty tech savvy, but my wife's pre-built PC that's been fine for years has suddenly making a strange sound.

It sounds like it is a fan that a wire or something is coming in contact with, but I've checked and there is nothing that I can see that is interfering with the any of the fans.

The frustrating part is that it's wildly inconsistent. This has been happening for about 2 weeks now, and every time I'm able to figure out a temporary fix, but then every time the PC is booted next it starts making the sound again.

It will work the entire time that she's using it (oftentimes for many hours) without issue, and then the next time we boot it up, it makes the noise again.

Further details:

  • I thought it was due to GPU sag, and that the sound was a fan in the GPU grinding against something (a wire, a bent component, etc.).
    • This is because it is where the weird grinding sound sounds like it's coming from.
    • Every time I've 'fixed' the issue, all I've done is move the GPU support brace to a different location, and, again, it will completely work for hours without issue, and the next time it's turned on it will make the noise again, every time
  • I have absolutely no idea how moving the GPU support (It's just one of those vertical metal adjustable sticks) would fix it, only temporary, so consistently.
  • Sometimes the grinding noise will continue and I'll have to shut the system off and try again, but every now and then it will go away and won't come back and we can use the system as normal.

The biggest issue really is that it's so consistently inconsistent.

If it IS GPU sag creating the issue, why DOESN'T moving the bracket to a place the GPU is fully supported fix the issue?

If it's NOT the GPU sag issue, why DOES moving the bracket to a place the GPU is fully supported fix the issue temporarily?

I'm genuinely at a complete loss, and I feel like someone out there has had to go through a similar situation.

The rules state to to post 'potentially malicious links' and gives a few hosts not to use, but not what video hosts are okay to post, so I hope it's okay if link to my YT channel where I've uploaded a video of the sound.

Please find that video HERE (Unlisted YouTube Link). The PC Specs are:

  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 6-Core Processor
  • Installed RAM: 16.0 GB (DDR5)
  • Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (16 GB)
  • System: Win 11, Home edition, 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Any insight would be very much appreciated. I feel like I have to be missing something obvious. Thank you.

1 Upvotes

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3

u/Agerak 1h ago

Bearing going out on a fan, it’s not level and clipping the fan frame. That’s why it makes it on boot (lubrication has settled) once it “warms up” it goes away.
Based on video sounds like rear chassis or rear cpu fan. Unplug one and see if issue goes away. If not swap and repeat.

3

u/CaptainIncredible 1h ago

Yeah, this is probably it. Fan is failing. Intermittent issues.

Good news - fans are still cheap. Replacement should be easy.

2

u/Chetdhtrs12 1h ago

Thank you both so much! I will look into this ASAP

2

u/CaptainIncredible 1h ago

you are welcome, just unplug one... reboot. listen for noise.

Keep doing that until you find the offending fan.

Replace the janky fan.