New computer cpu is noisy?

bowler484 · 02-22-2007, 05:31 PM

This is really weird to me so let me explain.

Here's my new computer system.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...0084282&catid=

Here's my problem.

I do a lot of work and browsing on the computer with no other source of noise present. When scrolling up or down on a webpage, there is a slight but very high pitched noise than comes from inside the tower as soon as you stop scrolling.

I thought it was my monitor at first as it sounds like when you turn the brightness on high. Unplugged the monitor and still had the sound.

So with the monitor off, I could use the scroll button on the mouse and make the noise. It's a usb cordless so I unplugged that and used the oem mouse. No luck.

So I'm figuring maybe the video card is having troubling running 1440x900 so I downgrade the resolution and switch to less colors. No luck.

Here's where it gets interesting. Vista has three power modes. Energy star, Power Saver and Performance. I was using Energy star. So I switched to Performance and the noise got louder and stays in sync with the blinking orange light on the front of the computer and is there regardless of what the computer is doing. I switch to power saver and the noise is gone.

Power saver mode is useless to me. Everything runs slow. In the other two modes, the noise drives me nuts.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Thanks in advance for any help.

**Deleted090308** · 02-22-2007, 05:59 PM

Hi!
Sounds like you've got a faulty HDD. See if you can download HDD tool from the manufacturer and test the drive.

Nicholas

bowler484 · 02-22-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eneles

Hi!
Sounds like you've got a faulty HDD. See if you can download HDD tool from the manufacturer and test the drive.

Nicholas

I tried that when I was on the phone with HP support but testing the HDD did not replicate the noise.

**Deleted090308** · 02-22-2007, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowler484

Here's where it gets interesting. Vista has three power modes. Energy star, Power Saver and Performance. I was using Energy star. So I switched to Performance and the noise got louder and stays in sync with the blinking orange light on the front of the computer and is there regardless of what the computer is doing. I switch to power saver and the noise is gone.

The blinking orange light that's in sync with the noise is most probably the HDD LED indicating hard drive activity. Do you get that noise when you, for example, move a file?

dai · 02-23-2007, 12:46 AM

check your fans have someone move mouse and scroll while you check

bowler484 · 02-23-2007, 05:56 AM

I took the case off and listened closely. It seems to be the processor making this noise. If not the processor then something on the motherboard close to the processor area.

kendallt · 02-23-2007, 05:38 PM

sounds like a cap or faulty transistor, use a paper towel tube as a stethescope and listen to the area the noise is coming from to pinpoint it, most hospital supplies have disposable stethescopes (everything is disposable now!) that can often be picked up for near nothing.
I have a couple I use for almost everything.

loose connectors will sometimes produce a peizo effect and vibrate with the current passing through them, if there are connectors around that area try reseating them.

used to be heavy into radio and had quite a few odd noises like that pop up.

Ken.

dai · 02-23-2007, 07:08 PM

the cpu is silent,but the fan on top maybe causing the noise make sure it is clean of dust,if you disturb the h/sink you will have to redo the paste
a straw is very effective in channelling noise to your ear

**Deleted090308** · 02-23-2007, 11:58 PM

Since it's a new computer - I think you should RMA it to keep the warranty.

02-22-2007, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
bowler484 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 17 OS: XP	New computer cpu is noisy? This is really weird to me so let me explain. Here's my new computer system. http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...0084282&catid= Here's my problem. I do a lot of work and browsing on the computer with no other source of noise present. When scrolling up or down on a webpage, there is a slight but very high pitched noise than comes from inside the tower as soon as you stop scrolling. I thought it was my monitor at first as it sounds like when you turn the brightness on high. Unplugged the monitor and still had the sound. So with the monitor off, I could use the scroll button on the mouse and make the noise. It's a usb cordless so I unplugged that and used the oem mouse. No luck. So I'm figuring maybe the video card is having troubling running 1440x900 so I downgrade the resolution and switch to less colors. No luck. Here's where it gets interesting. Vista has three power modes. Energy star, Power Saver and Performance. I was using Energy star. So I switched to Performance and the noise got louder and stays in sync with the blinking orange light on the front of the computer and is there regardless of what the computer is doing. I switch to power saver and the noise is gone. Power saver mode is useless to me. Everything runs slow. In the other two modes, the noise drives me nuts. Is there something I'm missing here? Thanks in advance for any help.

02-23-2007, 12:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,565 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	check your fans have someone move mouse and scroll while you check __________________

02-23-2007, 07:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,565 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	the cpu is silent,but the fan on top maybe causing the noise make sure it is clean of dust,if you disturb the h/sink you will have to redo the paste a straw is very effective in channelling noise to your ear __________________

02-22-2007, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Hi! Sounds like you've got a faulty HDD. See if you can download HDD tool from the manufacturer and test the drive. Nicholas

02-23-2007, 05:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
bowler484 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 17 OS: XP	I took the case off and listened closely. It seems to be the processor making this noise. If not the processor then something on the motherboard close to the processor area.

02-23-2007, 05:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
kendallt Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 66 OS: xp64	sounds like a cap or faulty transistor, use a paper towel tube as a stethescope and listen to the area the noise is coming from to pinpoint it, most hospital supplies have disposable stethescopes (everything is disposable now!) that can often be picked up for near nothing. I have a couple I use for almost everything. loose connectors will sometimes produce a peizo effect and vibrate with the current passing through them, if there are connectors around that area try reseating them. used to be heavy into radio and had quite a few odd noises like that pop up. Ken.

02-23-2007, 11:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Since it's a new computer - I think you should RMA it to keep the warranty.