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Crackling sound coming from back of PC near power supply

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Lukepersi45

PCHF Member
Feb 13, 2021
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#1
For awhile now my PC will make a crackling sound at random. It does it usually when I’m running a more high end game. It lasts for a few minutes then stops. I haven’t had any sort of performance drop or anything along those lines since the crackling started. I am fairly new to PCs so I don’t have the skill or know how to take it apart and figure it out myself. I took my pc to a local store and they said they could not find anything wrong with it, they said they heard no crackling while they were checking it. Since like I mentioned it happens at random.

I wish I could post a video on here of the sound and where it’s coming from but it doesn’t seem like this site allows you.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#2
Lets start here and other may have more information.

What was the error and or issue that you had posting the video?

When you took the system to the local store did you take the power cord?
Try a different power cord.

Could be a fan hitting something?
Try using a wooden tooth pick to stop each fan and see if the noise stops.

HDD failure
 
#3
Rustys said:
Lets start here and other may have more information.

What was the error and or issue that you had posting the video?

When you took the system to the local store did you take the power cord?
Try a different power cord.

Could be a fan hitting something?
Try using a wooden tooth pick to stop each fan and see if the noise stops.

HDD failure
Click to expand...
Hey Rusty thanks for the reply! As for the video I think this website only allows pictures to be uploaded not videos.
The power cord is a good suggestion, when I brought it I had my power cord still plugged in so most likely they just used mine. I'll try it out.
HDD failure was what I was thinking. However, other then the noise nothing else seems to happen. No blue screens no crashes or anything like that.
I may just post a video of the sound on YouTube and send the link here.
I'll list my specs, I forgot to do that

Processor- Intel Core i5-9600k
Graphics Card- GTX 1660ti
Solid State Drive- Samsung 970 EVO M.2
Cooling System- Corsair Hydro Series H60 Liquid CPU cooler
Hard Disk Drive - WD Blue 4TB desktop-5400 RPM, 64MB Cache
Power Supply - Thermaltake Smart Pro 650W bronze
Motherboard - MSI MPG Z390

Some other info,
Fan - Deepcool DC fan wind blade 120 Blue Led
Case - Antec Twelve Hundred V3 Steel ATX full tower

​

 
#5
I do hear the clicking sound could be one of two things that come to mind fan and or the HDD. If you do not feel comfortable checking these do you have a trusted friend/family that could assist.

Always remember to discharge yourself and the computer prior to working on it.

Rustys said:
Could be a fan hitting something?
Try using a wooden tooth pick to stop each fan and see if the noise stops.
Click to expand...
What was the out cone of this?
Lukepersi45 said:
Hard Disk Drive - WD Blue 4TB desktop-5400 RPM, 64MB Cache
Click to expand...
you could disconnect the power and data cable and boot the system and see if the noise happens.
Lukepersi45 said:
Solid State Drive- Samsung 970 EVO M.2
Click to expand...
Is this the drive that has the operating system on?
 
#6
Rustys said:
Lets start here and other may have more information.

What was the error and or issue that you had posting the video?

When you took the system to the local store did you take the power cord?
Try a different power cord.

Could be a fan hitting something?
Try using a wooden tooth pick to stop each fan and see if the noise stops.

HDD failure
Click to expand...
Rustys said:
I do hear the clicking sound could be one of two things that come to mind fan and or the HDD. If you do not feel comfortable checking these do you have a trusted friend/family that could assist.

Always remember to discharge yourself and the computer prior to working on it.


What was the out cone of this?

you could disconnect the power and data cable and boot the system and see if the noise happens.

Is this the drive that has the operating system on?
Click to expand...
I’ve yet to try the toothpick yet, I’m just sort of confused, do I stick it into the fans when I hear the noise to check? Wouldn’t the toothpick break?
I do have a friend who’s good with PCs and he said he would look at it. But I’m quite far away from him at the moment so it wouldn’t be till at least May when I see him next.
And yes the Samsung SSD is the drive the operating system is using.
thanks again!
 
#7
No you could also use a soft bristle brush and gently press on the fans to slow them and see if that stops the noise.

First thing I would try is disconnecting the HDD and see if the sound stops.
or
One other thing you can try is Crystal Disk Info download the ZIP version that way you do not need to install anything.
crystalmark.info

Download

[2024/03/31] CrystalMark Retro 1.0.0 – Manual / History Standard Edition 2 themes / 27MB ZIP (XP-) INSTALLER (Vista-) Source Code Aoi Edition 2 themes / 27MB ZIP (XP-) INSTALLER (Vista-) [2024/02/16] CrystalDiskInfo 9.2.3 – Manual / History Aoi Edition 2 themes / 27MB ZIP (XP-) INSTALLER...
crystalmark.info

This will tell us if there maybe an issue with the HDD .
 
#8
Rustys said:
No you could also use a soft bristle brush and gently press on the fans to slow them and see if that stops the noise.

First thing I would try is disconnecting the HDD and see if the sound stops.
or
One other thing you can try is Crystal Disk Info download the ZIP version that way you do not need to install anything.
crystalmark.info

Download

[2024/03/31] CrystalMark Retro 1.0.0 – Manual / History Standard Edition 2 themes / 27MB ZIP (XP-) INSTALLER (Vista-) Source Code Aoi Edition 2 themes / 27MB ZIP (XP-) INSTALLER (Vista-) [2024/02/16] CrystalDiskInfo 9.2.3 – Manual / History Aoi Edition 2 themes / 27MB ZIP (XP-) INSTALLER...
crystalmark.info

This will tell us if there maybe an issue with the HDD .
Click to expand...
 

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#9
Ok I just posted screenshots of what Crystal Disk said, for both the HDD and SDD. It said both were in good health and at good temps and RPM. It just needs to be approved by a mod.
How do I disconnect the HDD? Sorry as I said Im a noob at PC internal hardware, I know a fair bit about other aspects of PCs but not the hardware.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#10
Like I said if yo udo not feel comfortable doing this please do not.

From the looks of it the HDD is fine.

Read through this and then only thing that you need to do is disconnect the power and data cable from the HDD.
www.wikihow.com

3 Ways to Install a SATA Drive - wikiHow

SATA is the new standard for connecting components inside of your computer. So chances are, if you're upgrading or building a new computer, you're going to run into SATA drives sooner or later. [sata hard disk] are much easier to connect...
www.wikihow.com www.wikihow.com

What we need to test now is to see if the fans are the issue.
 
#11
Rustys said:
Like I said if yo udo not feel comfortable doing this please do not.

From the looks of it the HDD is fine.

Read through this and then only thing that you need to do is disconnect the power and data cable from the HDD.
www.wikihow.com

3 Ways to Install a SATA Drive - wikiHow

SATA is the new standard for connecting components inside of your computer. So chances are, if you're upgrading or building a new computer, you're going to run into SATA drives sooner or later. [sata hard disk] are much easier to connect...
www.wikihow.com www.wikihow.com

What we need to test now is to see if the fans are the issue.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks again!
Yeah I’m not comfortable taking it apart so I’ll get a friend to do it.
As for the fan I believe it could be the PSU fan. Since where the noise is coming from there’s no other fans located down there.
If hypothetically it is the PSU fan making that noise how serious do you think it is?
 
#13
it could be cutting into wires
thanks f
Rustys said:
you can burn out the power supply
it could be cutting into wires
Click to expand...
ok thanks for all the help Rusty I really appreciate it. Now I have a much better idea on what’s causing it, and can get it looked at. I’ll have my friend look at the HDD and PSU fan.
Take care,
 
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