PC making odd chirping/ticking sounds..only when I boot up a game?

[Maximum Sloth]

Issue just started about a week or two ago..It's a loud chirping/ticking sound and it occurs only when I start up a game. I've been having issues with my computer restarting itself on games like Dragon Age Inquisition(It did it twice, then stopped), Rift (stopped after two times..jsut updated Rift, and it's happening again) and Total War II(when I reach the overworld map). I played Total War II just fine for hours on end a few months back before emperor edition, but now..It's causing my computer to restart at the aforementioned point.

I checked inside to see if anything was blocking the fans and nothing is (that I can see); however, the sound is almost like what would happen if you stuck something in a fan and turned it on.

I've read that it could also be the hard drive - though what I read suggested that the noise occurs when the system boots up (if it's the hard drive)..and my PC doesn't make any suspicious noises upon booting up.

I haven't cleaned it out in a bit, ordering air cans today...could it just be an issue with dust?

Maybe the chirping is wholly unrelated to the restarts..as I don't remember said chirping when I had the issue with Dragon Age or Rift..

I thought it may also be a problem with the new Nvidia drivers, but not sure.

Specs:
Win 7 64bit
GTX 780 3gb
i73770 3.5ghz
8gb ram


Would really love some help with either the chirping or the restarts, and it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, apologies if this is the wrong forum, wasn't sure which to post it on.

[rotNdude]

Run some tests on your hard drive.

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by rotNdude:

Run some tests on your hard drive.

I'm still a bit new to PCs and stuff, so how would I do that :c ?

[rotNdude]

http://www.w7forums.com/threads/how-to-use-chkdsk-check-disk.448/

There are also utilities you can download, but I would start there.

[TeKraken]

Drive manufacturers usually have a utility on there websites. Read the instructions carefully as I dont want to be responsible for data loss.

[Azza ☠]

Its probably your HDD, when accessing data.

Make sure it's secure, but has rubber padding or flexable movement, enough to prevent vibrations from traveling up the metal case.

Do a CHKDSK on the drive to scan for any errors. As mentioned above.

Worst case, it's a bad PSU (Power Supply Unit). If that's the case, replace that thing quick as it will start to damage other components. A bad PSU isn't something a computer can live with for very long. Return the dang thing as faulty, if it sounds like it's coming from there.

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by rotNdude:

http://www.w7forums.com/threads/how-to-use-chkdsk-check-disk.448/

There are also utilities you can download, but I would start there.

Tried using the built-in windows Error Checker and came up with no results. Any suggested utilities?

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Its probably your HDD, when accessing data.

Make sure it's secure, but has rubber padding or flexable movement, enough to prevent vibrations from traveling up the metal case.

Do a CHKDSK on the drive to scan for any errors. As mentioned above.

What would cause the HDD problem suddenly?

[Azza ☠]

Originally posted by Robot Kitty:

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Its probably your HDD, when accessing data.

Make sure it's secure, but has rubber padding or flexable movement, enough to prevent vibrations from traveling up the metal case.

Do a CHKDSK on the drive to scan for any errors. As mentioned above.

What would cause the HDD problem suddenly?

Some HDDs even brand new will vibrate a little, however depending how they have been mounted inside the case, this could be vibration up the sides. That inturn makes it sound a lot louder. Depending on how fragmented the drive data is, this can even increase it more (you can run a defrag on the drive to help with that if the case).

Make sure it's not the PSU firstly.

[TeKraken]

Originally posted by Robot Kitty:

What would cause the HDD problem suddenly?

Could be a number of things. Age, temperature, a knock to the case...

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Originally posted by Robot Kitty:

What would cause the HDD problem suddenly?

Some HDDs even brand new will vibrate a little, however depending how they have been mounted inside the case, this could be vibration up the sides. That inturn makes it sound a lot louder. Depending on how fragmented the drive data is, this can even increase it more (you can run a defrag on the drive to help with that if the case).

Make sure it's not the PSU firstly.

Edit: Sounds like the sound is coming from my PSU..good thing it has a 5 year warranty..I'll try blowing it out...but yeah..

Weird thing is that Rift now opened up perfectly fine..but earlier it restarted my PC..

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it

[Azza ☠]

Originally posted by Robot Kitty:

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Some HDDs even brand new will vibrate a little, however depending how they have been mounted inside the case, this could be vibration up the sides. That inturn makes it sound a lot louder. Depending on how fragmented the drive data is, this can even increase it more (you can run a defrag on the drive to help with that if the case).

Make sure it's not the PSU firstly.

Edit: Sounds like the sound is coming from my PSU..good thing it has a 5 year warranty..I'll try blowing it out...but yeah..

Weird thing is that Rift now opened up perfectly fine..but earlier it restarted my PC..

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it

If it's from the PSU, stop using the PC. Remove the PSU, claim warranty on it, and get it replaced right away. It's a bad / damaged rail. Rarely some brand new even get that, manufactoring defect. However, DON'T keep running your system on it, or holding off it's replacement. It is a early sign of it dying, but before it gives up completely it might take some others with it. It will not end well and damage your other component, even to the point of frying them. One day your PC will just refuse to boot at all.

The other issue it could be is just from the PSU fan spinning up. If the blade or ball bearing is rubbing against the metal edges. If it's just that, make sure the PSU isn't screwed in too tightly that it's squishing the rubber washers.

They will sound different, but it's hard to explain.

Fan issue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9RLln5g2VI

Rail issue or Coil whine (12V rail - highest usage is the graphics cards PCI-e, which will affect when more power is drawn from it, this is why you are hearing it in some games using more graphics):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_IeKQZQm54

Fans or damaged/dying capacitors within the power supply can create these sounds. One is a lot more major than the other, but both should still be addressed.

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Originally posted by Robot Kitty:

Edit: Sounds like the sound is coming from my PSU..good thing it has a 5 year warranty..I'll try blowing it out...but yeah..

Weird thing is that Rift now opened up perfectly fine..but earlier it restarted my PC..

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it

If it's from the PSU, stop using the PC. Remove the PSU, claim warranty on it, and get it replaced right away. It's a bad / damaged rail. Rarely some brand new even get that, manufactoring defect. However, DON'T keep running your system on it, or holding off it's replacement. It is a early sign of it dying, but before it gives up completely it might take some others with it. It will not end well and damage your other component, even to the point of frying them. One day your PC will just refuse to boot at all.

The other issue it could be is just from the PSU fan spinning up. If the blade or ball bearing is rubbing against the metal edges. If it's just that, make sure the PSU isn't screwed in too tightly that it's squishing the rubber washers.

They will sound different, but it's hard to explain.

Fan issue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9RLln5g2VI

Rail issue or Coil whine (12V rail - highest usage is the graphics cards PCI-e, which will affect when more power is drawn from it, this is why you are hearing it in some games using more graphics):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_IeKQZQm54

Fans or damaged/dying capacitors within the power supply can create these sounds. One is a lot more major than the other, but both should still be addressed.

Yup, immediately stopped running it as soon as you said this and checked to see if it was the PSU - It was(not too tight..apparently damaged). So got it replaced, now my Pc is happy again :D

thanks again for all the information and help..I'd have never thought it was the PSU O_O

[Azza ☠]

Gratz for getting onto it so quick, many don't realise/notice till it's too late. PSU issues are sometimes the hardest and most confusing to find, also the most deadly. Glad you got it sorted.

Happy gaming!

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Gratz for getting onto it so quick, many don't realise/notice till it's too late. PSU issues are sometimes the hardest and most confusing to find. Glad you got it sorted.

Happy gaming!

Thanks, you too! Got a RAM upgrade to 24gb too while I was at it haha.

[Eucliwood Hellscythe]

Originally posted by Robot Kitty:

Issue just started about a week or two ago..It's a loud chirping/ticking sound and it occurs only when I start up a game. I've been having issues with my computer restarting itself on games like Dragon Age Inquisition(It did it twice, then stopped), Rift (stopped after two times..jsut updated Rift, and it's happening again) and Total War II(when I reach the overworld map). I played Total War II just fine for hours on end a few months back before emperor edition, but now..It's causing my computer to restart at the aforementioned point.

I checked inside to see if anything was blocking the fans and nothing is (that I can see); however, the sound is almost like what would happen if you stuck something in a fan and turned it on.

I've read that it could also be the hard drive - though what I read suggested that the noise occurs when the system boots up (if it's the hard drive)..and my PC doesn't make any suspicious noises upon booting up.

I haven't cleaned it out in a bit, ordering air cans today...could it just be an issue with dust?

Maybe the chirping is wholly unrelated to the restarts..as I don't remember said chirping when I had the issue with Dragon Age or Rift..

I thought it may also be a problem with the new Nvidia drivers, but not sure.

Specs:
Win 7 64bit
GTX 780 3gb
i73770 3.5ghz
8gb ram


Would really love some help with either the chirping or the restarts, and it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, apologies if this is the wrong forum, wasn't sure which to post it on.

is any hardware Overheating

[Maximum Sloth]

Originally posted by Eucliwood Hellscythe:

Originally posted by Robot Kitty:

Issue just started about a week or two ago..It's a loud chirping/ticking sound and it occurs only when I start up a game. I've been having issues with my computer restarting itself on games like Dragon Age Inquisition(It did it twice, then stopped), Rift (stopped after two times..jsut updated Rift, and it's happening again) and Total War II(when I reach the overworld map). I played Total War II just fine for hours on end a few months back before emperor edition, but now..It's causing my computer to restart at the aforementioned point.

I checked inside to see if anything was blocking the fans and nothing is (that I can see); however, the sound is almost like what would happen if you stuck something in a fan and turned it on.

I've read that it could also be the hard drive - though what I read suggested that the noise occurs when the system boots up (if it's the hard drive)..and my PC doesn't make any suspicious noises upon booting up.

I haven't cleaned it out in a bit, ordering air cans today...could it just be an issue with dust?

Maybe the chirping is wholly unrelated to the restarts..as I don't remember said chirping when I had the issue with Dragon Age or Rift..

I thought it may also be a problem with the new Nvidia drivers, but not sure.

Specs:
Win 7 64bit
GTX 780 3gb
i73770 3.5ghz
8gb ram


Would really love some help with either the chirping or the restarts, and it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, apologies if this is the wrong forum, wasn't sure which to post it on.

is any hardware Overheating

Nope, it was the PSU..faulty I guess. Now I am having a new issue :(