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My computer is "squeaking"....

CytosineR Posted messages 136 Status Member -  
antipolis a Posted messages 17152 Status Member -
Hello,
Since yesterday, my computer has been worrying me.
It emits a high-pitched electronic sound, resembling a squeak.
At first, I thought it might be my antivirus or some other software of that kind, which makes a similar squeak when it finds a suspicious program.
However, that's not the case; my antivirus isn't showing any notifications, and, most importantly, I turned off my speakers, which means that it can't be a "natural" sound from the computer, at least it doesn't come from the OS interface.
According to my Google searches, it might be a dust problem..... But my computer was cleaned recently and serviced by a professional, so I doubt that's the issue..... (I would check, but it took us an entire day to successfully disassemble and reassemble it, so.... since I don’t think that’s the problem.....)
So, here’s my question:
Why is my CPU emitting this sound? What is the problem and how can I resolve it?

Configuration: Windows Vista / Safari 537.1
(if you need more details about my computer's configuration, let me know, but for now I don’t know where to find that information....)

6 answers

Answer 1 / 6
antipolis a Posted messages 17152 Status Member 2 917
 
Hello.

An intermittent whistling sound, with a variable frequency, can come from the PC's power supply.

These power supplies work by switching:
http://www.sen-av.net/article.php3?id_article=16

Depending on the models, the switching frequency can fall within the audible spectrum.

And some poorly secured components (inductors, transformers) can start vibrating at the switching frequency and thus produce an audible high-pitched whistle.

This is a phenomenon I have already observed.
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CytosineR Posted messages 136 Status Member 40
 
Thank you for your response. So we need to reattach a component?
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Answer 2 / 6
poupougne13 Posted messages 43203 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   11 050
 
Hello...

You don’t say if the noise is constant or not…?!
Maybe it’s a fan… try to slow them down one by one, just with a soft brush inserted between the blades, BUT WITHOUT STOPPING THEM… just to see if the fan in question slows down, if the noise slows down too…

Best regards,
See you later

--
"Who wants to climb a mountain starts from the bottom!"
Signed: "Gillette" aka "nobody"! ;) (°!°)
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CytosineR Posted messages 136 Status Member 40
 
The noise is not constant, but quite frequent.
I will still try to take apart my CPU.
Thank you for your response.
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Answer 3 / 6
poupougne13 Posted messages 43203 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   11 050
 
Well... start by slowing down the power supply fan, you can access it through the rear grille... be careful... don't block it, what we're interested in is just a change of speed... to see if there's a change in noise... otherwise, it could be the one from the graphics card, possibly, or the one from the processor...
Do you think it could come from some "thing" that's running or not?
--
"He who wants to climb a mountain starts from the bottom!"
Signed: "Gillette" a.k.a. "nobody"! ;) (°!°)
0
CytosineR Posted messages 136 Status Member 40
 
Knowing that the noise is not constant, I'm not sure I could really notice a difference.... Sometimes it calms down for several minutes, then resumes....
The noise still sounds like an electronic sound.... But still, there doesn't seem to be a speaker in there....
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Answer 4 / 6
poupougne13 Posted messages 43203 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   11 050
 
On the other hand, I don't see how you managed to spend an entire day taking apart and putting back together the CPU... you just need to remove, usually, the right side when looking from the back to access everything....?!
--
"He who wants to climb a mountain begins from the bottom!"
Signed: "Gillette" a.k.a. "nobody"! ;) (°!°)
0
CytosineR Posted messages 136 Status Member 40
 
Simply because this unit is closed in such a way that an individual cannot easily open it in order to promote the business of professional IT specialists?
To be honest, it's because I was afraid of breaking something.... It wouldn't open easily, in any case, even after unscrewing everything, no panel wanted to come off, it almost had to be yanked off.... And I hate forcing things like that, always worried about damaging something, which is why it took us a fair amount of time.... Especially the time spent going all around to find the entrance without tearing everything apart.
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Answer 5 / 6
poupougne13 Posted messages 43203 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   11 050
 
;)....but now that you know how to approach it, it should be fine, right?! ;)
As for the sound, there is a mini speaker on the machine for "system" sounds, like the startup beep....
The point, obviously, is to slow down the fans WHEN there is noise...
Otherwise, it could be a worn capacitor, but that's less straightforward to see: when you have the motherboard in front of you, check ALL the capacitors, if you see any bulging or even leaking...
--
"He who wants to climb a mountain starts from the bottom!"
Signed: "Gillette" aka "nobody"! ;) (°!°)
0
CytosineR Posted messages 136 Status Member 40
 
.....capacitor? What does that look like?
The squeaking problem is that it's very brief..... But I'll try anyway.
0
poupougne13 Posted messages 43203 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   11 050
 
http://www.sonelec-musique.com/electronique_theorie_condensateur.html
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Answer 6 / 6
Ollivander Posted messages 167 Status Member 123
 
I had the same problem; it's the overheating alarm of your processor, your computer is overheating too much.
-1
CytosineR Posted messages 136 Status Member 40
 
Thank you for your response.
Is it overheating too much...? But I just turned it on..... And I have nothing else open but my web browser..... Where is this overheating problem coming from?
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