Computer operating too loudly...

[jackhammer_bob]

I do not know if something is malfunctioning or if an old part needs a replacement. I built the computer and it was working perfectly and quietly. However, in the past few months, it has grown louder and louder. I first suspected the fans, so I replaced the fans with new ball bearing fans and the problem persists. Just yesterday, I cleaned out the guts of my computer with several tissues, removing an unbelieveable amount of dustbunnies. I managed to get almost all of the dust particles in between the metallic gaps of the heatsink.

Has anyone has issues like this before? Should I try replacing the heatsink or the power supply? Are they any other parts that are likely to produce alot of noise? How would I go about testing it (I did not restart my computer without a heatsink or power supply, that's just stupid/impossible)? I doubt this would matter but, the computer was built the summer of 2003 2.4 GHz, 1024 DDR RAM, ASUS p4800.

Any input would be much appreciated.

 

[lynx6200]

I would think taht first you would need to detrermine what Is causing the noise, most likely the fans or psu. Your HD could also be causing noise when it spins, but thats usualy not a problem. Try disconecting the fan (not the heat sink) and see what happens. There is no way to boot the computer if you disconect the psu, so thats not an option. By the way, if your cleaning your omputer, i wouldnt use tissues, use one of those compresses air cans.

 

[jackhammer_bob]

I've found the problem, the video card. I never knew such a small fan can cause such a loud and constant noise. It's a NVidia 128 MB 8x. Something that cost around 200 when I bought it :-(. No more warranty period. Any suggestions? I've cleaned it, blew all the dust and little dustbunnies off of it.

 

[lynx6200]

How old is the card? My guess would just be the fan maybe went bad or may have loose pieces. On most video cards you can remove the fan and buy a new one to put on it, which is what I would look into, otherwise you could just go buy a new video card. Let me know if you need anything else.

 

[Praetor]

Any suggestions? I've cleaned it, blew all the dust and little dustbunnies off of it.

Why is it making the noise? My Ti46 fan made some noise have a few years and i just popped off the one of the retention plates and noise was gone (i.e., it was a metal-metal grinding noise)