Solved: Weird pulsing sound

ianpwilliams · 10-14-2009

Hi everyone

For a while I've had a problem with my PC making a strange pulsing sound, around every second or so, and it's hard to describe. It sounds like the fan gets louder during each pulse, as if a person was turning the volume up and down. The thing is I can feel the pulsing through the PC desk, and on the PC itself. However, when I remove the side section of the PC case, the pulsing sound goes and there is just a constant fan noise. I don't really want to leave the case off because it will get dust in it, and it doesn't look like anything is pushing against it or anything. Any ideas?

driver_ian · 10-14-2009

Hi ianpwilliams,
Are all the vent holes in the case clear of dust?
I'll also mark this as Open to encourage others to add their input
Thanks for your patience.

Wolfeymole · 10-14-2009

Mmmm very peculiar.

Make sure the psu screws are not loose, likewise check all case fan screws, check the cpu heatsink fan is secure also.

georgeks · 10-14-2009

How many fans have you inside your case?
What direction is the airflow from the fans?

It can be that one is placed so that the airflow "pushes" against the airflow from another, hence the rythmic sound.

ianpwilliams · 10-15-2009

All the fans seem fine to me, all properly screwed in and in the right place. I've noticed that when I take the side panel off the pulsing is actually still there, only it's a lot less prominent.

Wolfeymole · 10-15-2009

Well the only things that can be making whatever sound that you hear are the fans or the hard drive.

You don't have any obscure neon lights parked up in it do you?

ianpwilliams · 10-17-2009

Can't see anything wrong. And it's hard to tell where the sound is coming from, without putting a microphone in there to see where it's coming from. I installed a second hard drive months ago, which eventually died on me. Then I installed a second one more recently, which is fine so far. The only thing that I can think might be causing it is these new hard drives.

10-14-2009	#1
ianpwilliams Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK Posts: 145 PC Experience: Some Experience	Weird pulsing sound Hi everyone For a while I've had a problem with my PC making a strange pulsing sound, around every second or so, and it's hard to describe. It sounds like the fan gets louder during each pulse, as if a person was turning the volume up and down. The thing is I can feel the pulsing through the PC desk, and on the PC itself. However, when I remove the side section of the PC case, the pulsing sound goes and there is just a constant fan noise. I don't really want to leave the case off because it will get dust in it, and it doesn't look like anything is pushing against it or anything. Any ideas?

10-14-2009	#2
driver_ian Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Plymouth.England Posts: 2,234 PC Experience: to learn a little, I messed up a lot	Re: Weird pulsing sound Hi ianpwilliams, Are all the vent holes in the case clear of dust? I'll also mark this as Open to encourage others to add their input Thanks for your patience. __________________ There's teamwork in Moderation.......I will always do my best to help. Prework

10-14-2009	#3
Wolfeymole Tech Support Team Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the Slaughtered Lamb having a pint. Posts: 6,498 PC Experience: Smarter than the average Bear	Re: Weird pulsing sound Mmmm very peculiar. Make sure the psu screws are not loose, likewise check all case fan screws, check the cpu heatsink fan is secure also. __________________ If PCHF has helped you please consider a donation by clicking this link Donate

10-14-2009	#4
georgeks Tech Support Team Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,613 PC Experience: Some...	Re: Weird pulsing sound How many fans have you inside your case? What direction is the airflow from the fans? It can be that one is placed so that the airflow "pushes" against the airflow from another, hence the rythmic sound. __________________ You are, What you do, When it Counts

10-15-2009	#5
ianpwilliams Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK Posts: 145 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Weird pulsing sound All the fans seem fine to me, all properly screwed in and in the right place. I've noticed that when I take the side panel off the pulsing is actually still there, only it's a lot less prominent.

10-15-2009	#6
Wolfeymole Tech Support Team Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the Slaughtered Lamb having a pint. Posts: 6,498 PC Experience: Smarter than the average Bear	Re: Weird pulsing sound Well the only things that can be making whatever sound that you hear are the fans or the hard drive. You don't have any obscure neon lights parked up in it do you? __________________ If PCHF has helped you please consider a donation by clicking this link Donate

10-17-2009	#7
ianpwilliams Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK Posts: 145 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Weird pulsing sound Can't see anything wrong. And it's hard to tell where the sound is coming from, without putting a microphone in there to see where it's coming from. I installed a second hard drive months ago, which eventually died on me. Then I installed a second one more recently, which is fine so far. The only thing that I can think might be causing it is these new hard drives.

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