PSU Noise(?) Maybe

[Coxey]

Recently my PSU died and I had to get a replacement, by which I followed up with buying a Corsair TX650M brand new.

Item is definitely brand new, however 1-2 weeks later (now) I think it may be generating a noise that I'm not to sure whether to be concerned about...

The best I could describe it is like... a generator.... but obviously a quite one. However the noise is distinct enough at times to be heard within a sealed case beyond fans.

I do believe the noise is inconsistent, as when I went to reboot, it went away and after 5 minutes or less at desktop after boot, it returned.

Let me just clear up that the noise is not-Whining, Buzzing

However, I can't be 100% sure it is the PSU, my graphics card is starting to get nosier and nosier, with that in mind, what's the simplest way to diagnose the noise? (It's definately the PSU or GPU)

As silly as it sounds, I never attempted to boot a PC without a graphics card in, and such I do not know of the consequences. (PS I don't have any spare GPUs at hand at all)

What's your advise and what plan of action should I take? Self diagnostics? Or pay money for returns on a delivery that may not even be the problem at all?

Thanks in advance.

Upon closer inspection I'm 98% sure it's the PSU fan making a grinding / ticking noise.

 

[Josh Weston]

Have you opened your case up to try and pinpoint where the noise is coming from? If you are as certain as you say you are that it IS coming from the PSU, phone up Corsair/the shop in which you bought the PSU and see what you can do about getting it RMAd?

 

[Pr3d4t0r]

i honestly doubt its your psu, probably gpu.

ive used corsairs all my life none were louder than my cpu fan, and especially over my gpu

taek the side off and see what exactly is causing the problem, you can(i don recommend though) stop the spinning fan with a finger putting some pressure on the middle of the fan (disc thing) and see if the noise goes away but it can damage the fan bearings(crappy quality ones atleast)

 

[SPS]

Are you running a power surge protector. A mate of mine has a Corsair PSU and a surge caused it to start making some odd noises. If you could video it so we could hear the noise, it would be easier to help.

 

[Rastalovich]

Hmmm. Grinding, buzzing, ticking noise.. sometimes after 5 mins.

Take the computer to a mains socket outside of the room it's in now and try it there. Still noisey ? Take the case panel off and be 100% that it's the psu - if it is, return it.

Some people use an empty toilet roll to their ear to pin-point noises in cases. If someone sees you, we need photos !

 

[Coxey]

Ok some brilliant advice, I'll get around to checking a few of those things off.

I did take off the side of my case and had my head within 10-15 inches.

I did stop my GPU fan for just 2 - 3 seconds, and one noise went away (buzzing) but not nessecarily the grinding / ticking.

Now I'm usually a safety-scared cat, worried about every hum, buzz and click. However this possible one, if it is the PSU, doesn't concern me hugely.

I'll see if I can get a hold of a camera to record.

Edit: Video inbound tonight.

 

[Coxey]

Apologies for double post, didn't want to cram everything into a wall of text.

Here's a video of the PSU, it's the best I can get I'm afraid. But once again if anyone could confirm that I can boot my PC without a GPU in, that'd be great, as listening to the PSU is tricky with the GPU buzzing.

Warning: Initallity the video is quiet.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJJFjCRp-bc[/media]

Precisely between 58 and 1:01 is the exact noise I'm hearing.

 

[SPS]

Does it do that noise all the time, but we can only hear it at :58 due to the GPU being louder?

If so try booting the PSU by itself using the paperclip test and too see if it definitely is that, or remove the unplug the gpu and hdd and boot it up.