Noises, crashes, heat.

[Amara]

I'm not sure what the issue is, but I think PSU is a good bet.

 

* OS: Windows XP Home SP3

* Desktop

* Self-built

* 2GB memory

* Video card: ATI Radeon 4850

* PSU: Silverpower 500w

* HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB

 

My computer is a few months old, and sometimes when I play a game for a few hours it reboots itself (but only certain games). I figured that my PSU isn't man enough for my graphics card, but decided to leave it unless it happens more frequently (happened only 3 times in 6 months so far).

 

Recently, my computer has been getting warm above the fan which it never had before, so I opened it and vacuumed all the dust which improved things, but it still gets a little warm where it used to be ice cold. On top of this, there's a noise coming from the box most of the time, which sounds like something rattling as it vibrates. Also, the HDD makes a noise like it's working when the computer is idle.

[Match]

What case is it in,

 

what fans and size, and where they are,

 

is all the cabling tied up neatly and out the way.

 

as to the rattling noise can you try and narrow down to which area of the pc case its coming from?

[Amara]

This is the case: Antec 300 Three Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black [0761345-08300-3] Cases Antec

I'm using the fans it comes with. The top one is the one getting warm, I don't know about the one on the side as it's blocked by the side of my desk, but that side of the computer is pretty icy in general. The cables are all tied up inside.

 

Typically it won't make the noise now, but I'll have a listen when it does and edit this post.

[Jelly Bean]

Check all fans are correctly running.

 

The HDD noise may mean a failing hard drive.

 

Open command prompt and type in chkdsk /r and hit enter on your keyboard.You may get a message saying cannot run at this time would you like to schedule,type Y and restart the computer and let chkdsk run.

[Match]

I don't know about the one on the side as it's blocked by the side of my desk,

 

well that's not good, the case's air flow was designed to work and keep the components cool, by blocking or obstructing one of the air vents it could well be causing your problems.

 

judging by the positioning of the side air vent I would say that it's their to supply the CPU and graphics card with a cool clean air flow depending on if you have a fan fitted as an exhaust (out) or as an intake. with the positioning of the other fans I would have it set as an intake to blow straight onto the cpu.

 

1 rear 120 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control.

- 1 top special 140 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control

- 2 front (optional) 120 mm fans to cool the hard drives

- 1 side (Optional) 120 x 25 mm Fan to cool graphic cards

 

ok according to that you should have had 2 fans supplied and the other three are optional, have you checked that the two 3 speed fans are on full, and did you buy and fit any of the optional fans.

 

judging by the positioning of the side air vent I would say that it's their to supply the CPU and graphics card with a cool clean air flow depending on if you have a fan fitted as an exhaust (out) or as an intake.

[Amara]

There isn't actually a fan on the side, just a vent. I pulled the tower out of my desk and on to the carpet, we'll see if it makes a difference. I'm only using the case fans it came with, and they're set to "medium", as I didn't think any more was necessary and didn't want them wearing out too fast.

 

I took the side off while it was running to look at the fans, and they all seem to be running fine. It also doesn't feel particularly hot inside (despite the freezing air in my room), although obviously I didn't actually touch anything to be sure.

 

I looked at the BIOS and left it open for about 20 minutes to let things warm up; the CPU temp started at 26c and seemed to peak at 36, and the system started at 9 and went to 16.

 

According to chkdsk, my drive is clean.

[Dalo Harkin]

I agree that you need to try and find out where the noise is coming from the PSU you are using is fine for that GPU.

There isnt much that could be making a noise (HDD, Optical drive, PSU)

have you looked at the fan in the PSU and checked its not wobbly or not moving properly (a bearing in one of the fans could be getting stuck)

do yourself a favour and buy some compressed air and stop using a hoover (hoovers produce static which kill PC components)