I built my PC less than two years ago, and recently the computer has started making an extremely loud washing-machine-like noise that causes my desk to vibrate after about two hours of use. I traced the noise to the power supply fan. The PSU normally runs in Eco mode, so the fan stays off until the unit reaches a certain temperature, which seems to explain why the problem only appears after extended use. When I manually set the fan to maximum speed, the same noise and vibration happened immediately. The power supply is a Super Flower Leadex III GL ATX 3.1. Is there anything safe I should check first, such as dust, mounting, or loose parts, before sending it in for warranty service?
2 Answers
Since the noise can be reproduced by increasing the PSU fan speed, the fan itself is the most likely culprit. It could be dust, a loose grille, or more commonly a failing bearing, but I wouldn’t flick the fan or open the PSU to try to fix it. Opening the unit can be dangerous and may affect the warranty. Contact Super Flower or the seller for an RMA, and include the video as evidence.
Before starting the warranty process, shut the PC down and disconnect the PSU from power. Check that the PSU mounting screws aren’t loose or overtightened, and make sure the case’s PSU bracket, padding, and grille aren’t vibrating against the unit. Also look for anything obstructing or touching the fan grille. If the mounting is secure and the vibration still follows the fan speed, the fan likely has an alignment or bearing problem and replacement is the sensible option.
I was wondering whether lightly flicking the fan or cleaning out some dust might solve it, but I’ll avoid opening the PSU and will probably use the warranty if the basic checks don’t help.