I recently moved my PC just a few centimeters across the floor to clean my desk, and now the PSU fan is much louder than before. There's no grinding or whirring, just a normal sound that seems to get louder and sounds a bit labored. The PSU is a Corsair Gold 750W. I tried gaming, and there don't seem to be any issues, but the noise is concerning. Could I have stirred up dust during the move, or is it possible I'm experiencing coil whine?
2 Answers
Even moving just a couple of centimeters can affect airflow, especially if your PC was close to a wall or curtain. Most fans adjust based on temperature, and if yours is getting louder without a rise in internal temps, it could be due to worn bearings or maybe even a lot of dust buildup.
It might help to check your CPU and GPU temperatures before and after the move to see if anything has changed. Sometimes moving the computer can slightly shift the CPU cooler, especially if the thermal paste is older and not doing its best. Air gaps could lead to overheating and more fan noise.
I get that, but it’s my PSU fan making the noise, not the CPU cooler.
So, is it more likely dust causing this or could it be coil whine instead?