Hey everyone! I recently put together a budget gaming PC using some older spare parts, but I'm troubled by a louder-than-usual buzzing noise. It sounds like a consistent whir, and it's really noticeable due to its annoying frequency. Interestingly, when I'm gaming, the noise doesn't seem to get any louder, but once I exit the game, the pitch drops slightly. I recorded two videos to demonstrate the noise: in the first, you can hear it, and in the second, I'm flipping the PSU power switch (ignore the loud thump in the background).
I've ruled out the chassis fan and graphics card fans as the sources because when I listen near the back of the PSU, the sound is overpowered by the quieter hum of its fans. Therefore, it seems like the CPU cooler might be the culprit. When I press down on the center hub of the CPU fan, the noise gets noticeably quieter.
Could this mean I need to replace the CPU cooler, or is there something else I should check or adjust? I'm still learning about all this, so I appreciate any help!
1 Answer
It might be a good idea to either get a new CPU cooler or adjust your fan curves. Also, check your CPU temperatures to ensure the cooler is doing its job. If it’s not effectively cooling the CPU, the fans could be running at maximum RPM trying to compensate. Did you apply thermal paste? What are the specs of your PC? You can monitor CPU temperatures easily using HWInfo. It provides a lot of info, but the CPU temp is pretty straightforward to find.
Thanks! I’ll definitely look into adjusting the fan curves and check the CPU temperature with HWInfo. I suspect the temp is okay, but I want to confirm. I was running Cyberpunk 2077, and while it runs fine, the noise just slightly alters in frequency. Specs-wise, I’ve got an i5 8400 with a stock cooler on an H310m motherboard, 16GB DDR4, and a 1660 Super, along with a 600W Cooler Master PSU from about ten years ago. The cooler's been attached for a while, so maybe it’s time for a change. The noise is annoying, but wearing headphones helps a lot. If all else fails, I’ll consider getting a different CPU cooler later.