phynnboi_23 ([info]phynnboi_23) wrote,
@ 2006-06-27 23:27:00
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Current music:zz zZ ZZ Zz zz zz zZ ZZ Zz zz....

zz zZ ZZ Zz zz zz zZ ZZ Zz zz....
Yesterday when I turned on my computer, it started emitting a vile rattling sound. I was afraid my new CPU fan had gone south already, so I unplugged it and started the computer for a few seconds (not enough to overheat). Nope, the horrible noise was still there, and quite obviously coming from my video card.

Thinking maybe things were just dusty, I took the can o' air to it (and indeed, it was dusty). This didn't really help. Now it's making a droning, unignorable buzzing sound, like zz zZ ZZ Zz zz zz zZ ZZ Zz zz.... I can even look up under the card and see the fan speed oscillating.

So, you were right, void*--looks like it's about to head south.

I mentioned looking at replacement fans, but those start at $20 and tend to be rated about 10 dB higher than my CPU fan, which would defeat the purpose of having gotten a quiet fan. There's a couple of fanless kits in the $40 range, but they look to (and reportedly do) require frustrating and delicate assembly. Plus, we're talking about a GeForce 4 Ti4200 here, which is darn near obsolete. The card probably isn't even worth $40, so spending that much on a cooling solution for it would be ridiculous.

Instead, I opted for a newer card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150107

It's fanless, which was my primary criterion. It's also at least as fast as my current card (according to Tom's Hardware, it's between two and three times as fast), which was my secondary criterion. Finally, it's not much more expensive than a good fanless cooling solution for my old card. Yeah, it's got a mail-in rebate, but I seem to have good luck with those, so that's no biggie. (My monitor, DVD writer, and hard drive all had rebates.)

I considered splurging (by my standards) and getting this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125189

Most of the reviews complained about heat problems, though, so I decided against it.


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(Anonymous)
2006-06-30 10:27 pm UTC (link)
I have/had a PCI slot fan and a PSU that make similar noises. Try flicking the fan with your finger. That usually got rid of it.

If you have a light lubricating oil (no WD40, please!) you could try lubricating it. You'd have to remove the sticker on the bottom, remove a tiny split washer from the shaft, and apply a very thin coat of oil to the shaft and the bearing. Replace washer and sticker. Try to remove and replace the washer without gouging it: if you're careful it should pop by applying force to the shaft, and an old biro with the pen removed is a useful tool for reinstalling it.

Personally, I wouldn't bother and would replace the gfx card. At least the new one will be silent.

- void *

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[info]phynnboi_23
2006-07-01 07:35 am UTC (link)
Well, the new video card got here and installed without a hitch (as expected, since it's also a GeForce). The horrible zz zz zz noise is gone. I've just given it a "casual burn-in" so far, but this weekend I'll fire up Neverwinter Nights and see if the card can survive a couple hours of that. NWN seems optimized to expose any and all hardware weaknesses in a system. :)

Unfortunately, the faint chattering noise remains, meaning it wasn't the video card, and leaving me feeling like quite a moron.

There's three possibilities: the PSU fan, the CPU fan, or the HDD. Those are the only moving parts left. My guess: the PSU. Unfortunately, entry level for fanless PSUs looks to be over $100, and operating on PSUs can supposedly kill you if you don't discharge the caps (which I don't know how to do), so I don't know how much good it'll do me to know it's the PSU. :/

Anyway, I'll have to do some hard experimentation tomorrow and see which it is. Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll just be a loose screw somewhere I can tighten up and be on my merry.

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(Anonymous)
2006-07-01 08:36 am UTC (link)
It'll be a vibration. Watch out for panel fit, and even wires touching the side of the case which can pick up a vibration and buzz annoyingly. A piece of hose can be used as an improvised stethoscope.

Again, try flicking your finger at the PSU fan. See if it makes the chatter go away. I'd gently jam the fan immobile by sticking a pen into it, but only during POST/BIOS setup incase the PSU shuts down because the fan stopped.

- void *

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[info]phynnboi_23
2006-07-01 09:53 pm UTC (link)
I tried the easiest thing first: unplug the CPU fan and power up. The chattering wasn't there. However, the chattering isn't there when I flick the CPU fan with my finger, either. The only way I can get a comparable noise is if I move the CPU fan up and down on its axle. Watching it run, though, I don't notice it moving up and down like that. I tried pushing on various parts of the fan and heatsink, but the chattering persisted. I tried putting my hand between the PSU and CPU (in case there was some weird interplay between their airflows), but the chattering persisted.

So, I'm out of easy ideas. :/

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(Anonymous)
2006-07-02 10:59 pm UTC (link)
I'm confused. You unplugged the CPU fan and the sound went away? Some free play along the fan's shaft is normal.

- void *

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[info]phynnboi_23
2006-07-03 09:12 pm UTC (link)
Yep. To be specific:

I powered down the computer, unplugged the CPU fan, powered up the computer (and went into the BIOS setup), and then listened for a minute or so. There was no chattering noise during that time. (The CPU stayed below 40C, in case you're wondering.)

Next, I powered the machine down and flicked the CPU fan with my finger to spin it. There was no chatter, perhaps because I couldn't flick it hard enough to get the chatter going.

Next, I moved the CPU fan up and down on its axle and it made a kind of scratchy noise, similar to the chattering.

Next, I plugged the CPU fan back in and powered the computer up. The chattering returned. I pushed on the CPU fan in various ways, reasoning that maybe a loose part was rattling and I could dampen it, but nothing I tried had any effect on the chattering.

Just a while ago I looked all around the fan, hoping to find some piece of paper or something flapping around, but found nothing. :/

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(Anonymous)
2006-07-05 11:33 pm UTC (link)
Hmm, maybe it's faulty? A fan meant with low-noise as a feature shouldn't be rattling noticeably. I didn't explain properly that I meant try flicking it while it's running (if you haven't already).

- void *

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[info]phynnboi_23
2006-07-06 12:08 am UTC (link)
The sound is a lot like a hard drive chattering, but fainter (and certainly fainter than my hard drive!).

I've considered returning it, but shipping would probably cost half the price of the unit. I don't know how Newegg shipped it for $5, but it'd be about $15 for me, I think.

I've considered trying to oil the bearing, but figure that'll void the warranty, although I don't know how big a deal that is.

I dunno, I feel all-around screwed by the whole deal. Everything I try to do to improve my computer backfires in some way. Guess next time I'll just order a pre-built. *sigh*

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(Anonymous)
2006-07-10 09:53 pm UTC (link)
Did you oil it? Anything happen?

I'd be more disappointed by the random BSODs. I won't go near a system that doesn't have an Intel or AMD mobo chipset. VIA, etc, always give nothing but grief. There's nothing wrong with AMD CPUs, but I hate the way having an AMD CPU means having a VIA chipset based mobo. They make a good CPU, but they blow it by not making their own chipsets!

- void *

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[info]phynnboi_23
2006-07-12 04:22 am UTC (link)
I haven't oiled it yet. Chances are, if it comes to that, I'll just return it for another.

I haven't had a BSOD in a while. My mobo uses an nForce2 chipset. (It's supposed to have some kind of pseudo-raid thing, the driver for which was causing the file system barfage a while back.)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]phynngrrl_23
2006-07-01 10:19 pm UTC (link)
You will NOT f*** with the power supply. So sayeth Skull Baby.

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