PSU making a clicking sound

Mime Victim · 11-13-2009

Hello everyone. First off, I don't know much about the guts of a PC, so bear with me.

I'm having a problem with my PSU making a clicking sound. I'm 99% positive it's the PSU.

When the problem first started, it would click for about 2 minutes when I first turned my PC on and eventually stop. Then I cleaned out my PC (I have to admit I smoke near my PC and don't take good care of them.. so it was ugly) and the clicking stopped for a few days.

Then earlier today it started clicking while I was in the middle of playing a game. So I started messing around seeing what I could do to fix it.

Right now I have my PC leaning up against a wall, almost laying flat on the ground (probably bad for the PC, eh?) and the clicking is gone.

I'm thinking the fans in my PSU need to be cleaned. Is it alright if I open it, or should I leave that to someone that knows wtf they're doing?

Or could it be an entirely different problem?

Xeno1 · 11-13-2009

The only thing I can think of that can click in a psu is the fan if there's something stuck in it. If that's the case, just blow some compressed air in it to clean it out and make sure there are no wires getting caught in it from the inside of the computer.

Usually when clicking starts though it's the hard drive which means that it might be on it's way out and is time to start backing things up.

The best way to tell where it's coming from is to take the side of the case off and listen for where it comes from when it starts. It's safe to leave the side off long enough for you to do that.

TechnoHippy · 11-13-2009

If your PSU only has 1 fan located at the back of the unit then 'tapping' on the back of the PC/PSU while running should tell you if it is at fault by a change/pause in sound.
In my experience opening a power supply to clean/replace the fan should not be a problem providing you disconnect the power lead and do not remove the inner workings and as such expose the soldered connections. Some capacitors can pack a painfull shock and could damage other parts if shorted (sweaty fingers, screwdriver, etc).
At the end of the day, without knowing you I cannot advise you to open your PSU. The only thing I can say for certain is if you are unsure or nervous then do not do it.

If YOU choose to open it.
The fan should be held in place by 4 screws and connected to the main cicuit board by a 2 or 3-pin adapter.
If the fan itself is 'ticking' then cleaning will only give a short term fix as it is likely the bearings have gone and a replacement should be fitted.
It is possible that a wire has moved within the PSU and this is knocking against the fan as it spins.

Mime Victim · 11-13-2009

The sound is coming from the back of the PC, not the front where my hard drive is so that's definitely safe. I just checked again and it's definitely the PSU unless my PC is playing tricks on me.

I don't have any compressed air right now, I'll pick some up tomorrow and see if that helps.

It should be safe for me to use my PC tonight, right?

Mime Victim · 11-13-2009

Alright thanks for the help guys. It seems like worst case scenario I'll have to buy a new PSU, I can live with that.

I'll try cleaning the fans tomorrow and go from there.

TechnoHippy · 11-20-2009

Hi Mime

How did it go? Did you find the cause in the end?

11-13-2009	#1
Mime Victim Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: PC Illiterate	PSU making a clicking sound Hello everyone. First off, I don't know much about the guts of a PC, so bear with me. I'm having a problem with my PSU making a clicking sound. I'm 99% positive it's the PSU. When the problem first started, it would click for about 2 minutes when I first turned my PC on and eventually stop. Then I cleaned out my PC (I have to admit I smoke near my PC and don't take good care of them.. so it was ugly) and the clicking stopped for a few days. Then earlier today it started clicking while I was in the middle of playing a game. So I started messing around seeing what I could do to fix it. Right now I have my PC leaning up against a wall, almost laying flat on the ground (probably bad for the PC, eh?) and the clicking is gone. I'm thinking the fans in my PSU need to be cleaned. Is it alright if I open it, or should I leave that to someone that knows wtf they're doing? Or could it be an entirely different problem?

11-13-2009	#2
Xeno1 Tech Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In the middle of a corn field somewhere Posts: 1,201 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Re: PSU making a clicking sound The only thing I can think of that can click in a psu is the fan if there's something stuck in it. If that's the case, just blow some compressed air in it to clean it out and make sure there are no wires getting caught in it from the inside of the computer. Usually when clicking starts though it's the hard drive which means that it might be on it's way out and is time to start backing things up. The best way to tell where it's coming from is to take the side of the case off and listen for where it comes from when it starts. It's safe to leave the side off long enough for you to do that.

11-13-2009	#3
TechnoHippy Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cornwall, England Posts: 374 PC Experience: Always learning something new	Re: PSU making a clicking sound If your PSU only has 1 fan located at the back of the unit then 'tapping' on the back of the PC/PSU while running should tell you if it is at fault by a change/pause in sound. In my experience opening a power supply to clean/replace the fan should not be a problem providing you disconnect the power lead and do not remove the inner workings and as such expose the soldered connections. Some capacitors can pack a painfull shock and could damage other parts if shorted (sweaty fingers, screwdriver, etc). At the end of the day, without knowing you I cannot advise you to open your PSU. The only thing I can say for certain is if you are unsure or nervous then do not do it. If YOU choose to open it. The fan should be held in place by 4 screws and connected to the main cicuit board by a 2 or 3-pin adapter. If the fan itself is 'ticking' then cleaning will only give a short term fix as it is likely the bearings have gone and a replacement should be fitted. It is possible that a wire has moved within the PSU and this is knocking against the fan as it spins.

11-13-2009	#4
Mime Victim Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: PC Illiterate	Re: PSU making a clicking sound The sound is coming from the back of the PC, not the front where my hard drive is so that's definitely safe. I just checked again and it's definitely the PSU unless my PC is playing tricks on me. I don't have any compressed air right now, I'll pick some up tomorrow and see if that helps. It should be safe for me to use my PC tonight, right?

11-13-2009	#5
Mime Victim Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: PC Illiterate	Re: PSU making a clicking sound Alright thanks for the help guys. It seems like worst case scenario I'll have to buy a new PSU, I can live with that. I'll try cleaning the fans tomorrow and go from there.

11-20-2009	#6
TechnoHippy Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cornwall, England Posts: 374 PC Experience: Always learning something new	Re: PSU making a clicking sound Hi Mime How did it go? Did you find the cause in the end?

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