Weird Buzzing Noise in my PC? :: Hardware and Operating Systems

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Nuggs Aug 16, 2020 @ 11:44pm

Weird Buzzing Noise in my PC?

I've been looking for threads on this elsewhere and i havent found much. Thought i'd come to the steam threads to see if anyone here might know.

Normally my pc is pretty loud. its has 3 intake fans in the front and one verry large fan in the back for out going air. But earlier tonight, i started hearing this buzzing noise, and at first i couldnt figure out where it was coming from. Until i realized it was coming from my computer. I've never heard it make this noise before.

The only way i can describe it is a buzzing noise that comes and goes in regular intervals. At first the PC will sound normal, then i will start to hear the faint sound of a Buzz, almost like an electric tooth brush sounds, that will start to get louder. And then the buzzing noise finally peaks in loudness and will stay that way for maybe a good 3 seconds and then the buzzing will go away for maybe another 5 seonds or so util the buzzing sound gradually starts to come back, and then the process repeats.

I checked my computers temperature, it looks like normal, and when i put my hand behind the vent it feels normal as well. And everything on my PC when im using it seems to work and function as normal. The only thing that happened was yesterday when in the Area I live in had a brown out for a split second because to many people were using their air conditioners and my pc shut off. Then when it came back on by its self about a second later i got a notice uppon my PC starting up that told me a power surge was detected and some mode or another was activated to protect my PC's hardware. And i then was direct to my computers Bios and had to tell my PC where to boot from again.

Other than that everything seems fine with my computer. Just not sure why all of a sudden tonight this persistent coming and going buzzing noise started to happen or whats causing it. Was hoping someone or others here who are more tech savy than myself might have some ideas. Thanks for any replies in advance.

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Showing 1-11 of 11 comments

_I_ Aug 16, 2020 @ 11:55pm

try stopping each fan to see which is making the noise

or it can also be coil whine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP73edpQwgc

Nuggs Aug 17, 2020 @ 12:02am

Originally posted by _I_:
try stopping each fan to see which is making the noise

or it can also be coil whine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP73edpQwgc

Well, that certainly is an annoying noise. But the noise im hearing definitely isnt that. Thankfully its not lol.Would hate to have that noise happening.

This noise just started tonight. Been using this pc for over a year now and this is the first time ive heard it. It started about an hour ago. I turned off my pc, just turned it back on and its still making this low humming/buzzing sound that fades in and out on consistent intervals. I looked at the wires in my pc and they're all in the same place they've always been in so im confused lol

Thanks for the reply tho :D

r.linder Aug 17, 2020 @ 12:06am

Could you record the sound and link it here so we can get a better idea?

Nuggs Aug 17, 2020 @ 12:10am

Originally posted by Escorve:
Could you record the sound and link it here so we can get a better idea?

i tried recording it on my phone to send it to one of my buddies who knows about computers but the audio doesnt pick it up really over the normal noise of my PC's fans. Not sure why. Plus again im not tech savy at all so i wouldnt even know where to start to get an audio clip on my phone to my pc and then link it here. :(

r.linder Aug 17, 2020 @ 12:16am

Originally posted by SIN7 PussNuggets:
Originally posted by Escorve:
Could you record the sound and link it here so we can get a better idea?
i tried recording it on my phone to send it to one of my buddies who knows about computers but the audio doesnt pick it up really over the normal noise of my PC's fans. Not sure why. Plus again im not tech savy at all so i wouldnt even know where to start to get an audio clip on my phone to my pc and then link it here. :(

Okay. Moving on.

If it doesn't sound like coil whine, then it could be that a cable or something is grazing a fan if proper cable management isn't applied in the case. That can easily make a buzzing type noise.

Worst case scenario, if it sounds more like a whistling buzz, it could potentially also be capacitor squealing, which is a sign that a capacitor is about to blow and is a somewhat serious problem as at least one capacitor would have to be replaced (if it were in the PSU, it would be better off thrown out as PSUs are really dangerous to mess with)

Last edited by r.linder; Aug 17, 2020 @ 12:16am

_I_ Aug 17, 2020 @ 12:22am

fan, hdd and coil whine are the only things that can make noise in a pc

low pitched would be a fan

Nuggs Aug 17, 2020 @ 12:28am

Originally posted by Escorve:
Originally posted by SIN7 PussNuggets:
i tried recording it on my phone to send it to one of my buddies who knows about computers but the audio doesnt pick it up really over the normal noise of my PC's fans. Not sure why. Plus again im not tech savy at all so i wouldnt even know where to start to get an audio clip on my phone to my pc and then link it here. :(
Okay. Moving on.

If it doesn't sound like coil whine, then it could be that a cable or something is grazing a fan if proper cable management isn't applied in the case. That can easily make a buzzing type noise.

Worst case scenario, if it sounds more like a whistling buzz, it could potentially also be capacitor squealing, which is a sign that a capacitor is about to blow and is a somewhat serious problem as at least one capacitor would have to be replaced (if it were in the PSU, it would be better off thrown out as PSUs are really dangerous to mess with)

Alright. Thanks for the info. I'll look into those things. Perhaps there is a cord or wire in there that has some how gotten to close to the rear fan that i just cant see through my class casing. Might have to open it up tomorrow and check. From whats visible any way i cant see any out of place wires. But ill definitely open up the casing tomorrow and have a peek. Thanks for the help :)

pasa Aug 17, 2020 @ 4:45am

By description it's mechanical noise. Next time you hear it try to stop each fan one by one. Including those on cpu, gpu and psu. One of them will make it go away. (the one remaining moving thing would be the hdd, but with noise like that you'd sse other problems ;-o )

Once you know which fan, it's easy to see whether it touches something or have problem with bearing.