Odd Sound Coming From PC

[captain]

This is going to be a very vague description because this sound is literally impossible to record. It's not loud enough to be heard over the sound of my PC's fans, so stick with me.

Yesterday my desktop computer started making really odd clicking/cricket noises. They're very high pitched(but very quiet!) and occur in this odd pattern. The sounds occur in the pattern about every half a second in groups of 6's or 7's before pausing for about a second and starting another group. I'm 100% positive they're coming from my PC because they don't occur when it's off.

As someone with misphonia, these sounds are not ignorable and genuinally makes it impossible to be in the same room with my computer when they occur. I've tried cleaning out my entire computer of dust and this did not yield any results.

I'm almost positive it isn't an issue with a fan. My case fan and GPU fans do not work in the first place, and I've thoroughly inspected my Cooler's fan and there are no loose wires sticking into it or are even near it. It's as lonely as a fan can possibly be in a case.

I've done some extensive research online and have listened to many of the examples of sounds people have found with their PC. HDD Failure, CD Drive failure, etc, nothing even comes CLOSE to matching this sound. It's extremely obscure. I can probably compare it to someone scratching a piece of chalk up against a blackboard.

I'm also unsure of where in my PC it's coming from. It's honestly impossible to tell.

Computer Specs:
Case: Cooler Master Scout 2
GPU: ASUS GeForce GTX 960 2GB
PSU: Cooler Master V750
RAM: 8GB of Corsair RAM. Two sticks of 4GB.
HDD: 3TB Seagate
CPU: AMD 8350
Cooler: Cooler Master EVO
Motherboard: ASUS M5A99FX AM3+ AMD

I built this computer in August of 2015. I wasn't expecting to have obnoxious issues like this for sometime.

If I really need to find a way to record it I will, but I honestly think it'll be REALLY difficult to considering how quiet it is and the fact I dont know where it's coming from.

[76561198135154379]

Misophonia, I'm sorry to hear you have that.

Can you post pictures of the inside of your PC thoroughly for us to see? It's usually moving parts that cause noise.

If you're really intense about reducing sound, you can do a passive build. No moving parts. Passive heatsinks, SSD's, etc. Check out silentPCreview for more info.

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

Most likely still something to do with fans, either case, CPU, GPU or PSU fan.
And the GTX 960 fans switch themselves on under load after certain temperature is reached.
Observe your PC without sidepanel while it's working (including under load in games) to try determine where it comes from, just dont electrocute yourself while doing that.
Make sure that everything is screwed in tight to avoid possible vibration noises.

[Beardface31]

Failing HDDs can make a lot of different sounds, I think it could be the problem. Could you disconnect everything not nessasary for your PC to function in an attempt to narrow down source of the noise? A paper towel/ toilet paper tube is a fine way to help isolate the sound.

How old is your Seagate by the way? And have you checked if the noises coincide with the HHD activity light?

[JohnnSy]

Originally posted by captain:

I'm almost positive it isn't an issue with a fan. My case fan and GPU fans do not work in the first place, and I've thoroughly inspected my Cooler's fan and there are no loose wires sticking into it or are even near it. It's as lonely as a fan can possibly be in a case.

Are your case and gpu fans disconnected or don't work because they are broken. If they are broken and still connected maybe they trying to run and making that noise. And your gpu fans maybe starting spinning when gpu load increases and maybe they are making noises...

[Arya]

Alright, firstly that sounds like a broken fan bearing.

That's not a bad problem - just replace the case fans, you should be OK. They're very cheap, a couple of dollars each and available from any PC parts store. You may want to rip out the old ones and actually take them to the store, and ask for a replacement set. Expect to pay about $30-40

You may also want to try AIO Water Cooling. You can Water Cool your CPU, often this reduces noise and should help you feel more comfortable. Good AIO kits are really easy to install(about six screws) and cost about $100 US

[Birdy.J]

It is just ESD=Electrostatic discharge, Monitor or phone place near the PC will cause this high pitch sounds. A failing peripheral will make beeping sounds not a high pitch one And btw it's coming from your motherboard it's nothing serious don't worry.

[captain]

Originally posted by Riley ♡♡♡:

Misophonia, I'm sorry to hear you have that.

Can you post pictures of the inside of your PC thoroughly for us to see? It's usually moving parts that cause noise.

If you're really intense about reducing sound, you can do a passive build. No moving parts. Passive heatsinks, SSD's, etc. Check out silentPCreview for more info.

http://i.imgur.com/ypsXxxp.jpg

That's taken with the PC on, mind you. You can see the case fan doesn't work, and yes, it's plugged into the motherboard. When I built this PC I shrugged and said I'd fix it if I really needed the fan.

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

Most likely still something to do with fans, either case, CPU, GPU or PSU fan.
And the GTX 960 fans switch themselves on under load after certain temperature is reached.
Observe your PC without sidepanel while it's working (including under load in games) to try determine where it comes from, just dont electrocute yourself while doing that.
Make sure that everything is screwed in tight to avoid possible vibration noises.

Unfortunately I've already done that. My side panels are off 80% of the time so I've had plently of time to try that. The only thing that's hanging lose are PSU cables.

Originally posted by Beardface:

Failing HDDs can make a lot of different sounds, I think it could be the problem. Could you disconnect everything not nessasary for your PC to function in an attempt to narrow down source of the noise? A paper towel/ toilet paper tube is a fine way to help isolate the sound.

How old is your Seagate by the way? And have you checked if the noises coincide with the HHD activity light?

A year old. Like I said, I built this PC just in August of last year and bought everything around the same time frame(Excpet for my GPU, which I bought in January of this year).

I REALLY doubt it's the HDD failing. It would be making actual sounds, these sound less mechanical.

And I pretty much have done that, not helped. The sound is seemingly everywhere

Originally posted by Not Lucien:

Alright, firstly that sounds like a broken fan bearing.

That's not a bad problem - just replace the case fans, you should be OK. They're very cheap, a couple of dollars each and available from any PC parts store. You may want to rip out the old ones and actually take them to the store, and ask for a replacement set. Expect to pay about $30-40

You may also want to try AIO Water Cooling. You can Water Cool your CPU, often this reduces noise and should help you feel more comfortable. Good AIO kits are really easy to install(about six screws) and cost about $100 US

Are case fans pretty standardized? I'm not even sure what's wrong with these ones, to be honest. They're plugged in all fine, but they just do not budge.

If water cooling reduces sound I will definitely invest into that. Though at this point I'm debating whether to get an SSD or a water cooler. Mind you, I've never done overclocking so heat has never been a problem for me.

Originally posted by Xp3nDaBirD:

It is just ESD=Electrostatic discharge, Monitor or phone place near the PC will cause this high pitch sounds. A failing peripheral will make beeping sounds not a high pitch one And btw it's coming from your motherboard it's nothing serious don't worry.

That is reassuring, atleast I don't have to worry about a broken part! Is there anywhere to reduce this from happening or is it a "deal with it" situation?

[Beardface31]

Hmm, sorry I couldn't help.

I was also thinking it could be the case rattling. Could you put pressure on different parts of the case to see if the noise changes or stops? If this is the problem you could put foam tape/ double sided tape in spots to act as buffer. I've had cases with loose rattly plastic trim on the outside, and the HDD cages inside the case.

[captain]

Originally posted by Beardface:

Hmm, sorry I couldn't help.

I was also thinking it could be the case rattling. Could you put pressure on different parts of the case to see if the noise changes or stops? If this is the problem you could put foam tape/ double sided tape in spots to act as buffer. I've had cases with loose rattly plastic trim on the outside, and the HDD cages inside the case.

Not the case, unless my case is secretly a cricket! It's completely still and touching/manuvering the case in any way does not affect the sound. Unlikely it's the HDD due to the fact that it's locked into the case and nothing is vibrating or moving.

There IS a loose case part, the top dust filter, but I've removed it and placed it back several times while the sound is occuring and it does not do anything. Ugh!

[Birdy.J]

i don't think it's EMI=electromagnectic interference if it makes the clicking sounds sorry it's not ESD

[Birdy.J]

the find the source of the sounds you will need to test the parts one by one on another pc or any other way you can test it individually

[Birdy.J]

Btw HDD also make that annoying clicking/cricket sounds too I suggest you remove the cable from the HDD first and turn on your PC hear if it still makes the sound. Installing the CPU cooler in a vertical manner is better then horizontal because this in your image you are sucking hot air from your GPU unless you want your GPU to have better cooling and I don't think your PSU fan can suck in any air at all because the carpet is blocking the airflow try to place it higher

[captain]

Originally posted by Xp3nDaBirD:

Btw HDD also make that annoying clicking/cricket sounds too I suggest you remove the cable from the HDD first and turn on your PC hear if it still makes the sound. Installing the CPU cooler in a vertical manner is better then horizontal because this in your image you are sucking hot air from your GPU unless you want your GPU to have better cooling and I don't think your PSU fan can suck in any air at all because the carpet is blocking the airflow try to place it higher

My tower is on the floor because it was taking up a lot of space on my desk. Even though I live in California and its very hot, I've never had heating issues.

The sound is very quite, it doesn't sound like an error noise like an HDD would make.

Also, my cooler is placed like that because it was nearly impossible to install the other way. This cooler for some reason was EXTREMELY difficult to install. Cooler Master EVO 212: Would not reconmend it.

[Activated Rumble]

have you tried laying it on its side?

[AussieBobby]

First,Id get the PC of the carpet.Your PSU intake is blocked by the carpet.

Disconnect your HDD then start the PC and enter the BIOS and see if the sound starts.
And then optical drive, fans etc