Annoying buzzing noise coming from tower only while playing games.

[Gnomestone]

I've had this computer since June of last year and just recently in the past 2 weeks it has been making a very annoying buzzing sound (the tower not the speakers) while playing games. It is a physical buzzing noise. Not a "alert beeping buzzing noise". It's physical and annoying. It only happens when I'm playing games. When I tab out of the game I'm playing the sound is gone. All I have to do to make the sound go away is minimize the game. But it's really annoying having to deal with this while I'm playing games.

Can you help? What are the main causes of this and how can I fix this in a simple way?

[rooskie94]

so its coming from the computer?

[JJ 3000]

When was the last time you cleaned the dust out of your computer using a can of compressed air?

[Gnomestone]

so its coming from the computer?

It is coming from the tower I said. AKA the motherboard or whatever you would like to refer to it as.

When was the last time you cleaned the dust out of your computer using a can of compressed air?

I've never cleaned it out yet. It isn't even a year old yet, you think cleaning it out could solve the problem? Also could I just use a fan instead of compressed air?

[JJ 3000]

I've never cleaned it out yet. It isn't even a year old yet, you think cleaning it out could solve the problem?

Yes. However, opening the case will, most likely, void your warranty. Is it still under warranty?

could I just use a fan instead of compressed air?

No. You want to really get in there and clean it thoroughly. Also, You want to take care to ground yourself before touching any internal components. Static electricity can fry your motherboard!

[hejlik]

Sounds to me like it could be the fan on the GPU, although I would think there would be at least a little delay from when you start the game and the noise starts. Same when you minimize the game. If it is the fan, the noise should continue for at least a couple seconds.

[Gnomestone]

What exactly is a can of compressed air? Is it something I get at a store?

Sounds to me like it could be the fan on the GPU, although I would think there would be at least a little delay from when you start the game and the noise starts. Same when you minimize the game. If it is the fan, the noise should continue for at least a couple seconds.

Well, when I start a game it takes about a minute for the sound to start. But exactly the second I minimize it's gone. There is no delay once I minimize. And when I bring it back it takes about 20 seconds for the sound to start again.

[Spoiler]

you can get the canned air at most computer stores and office supply stores....


staples....office max.....etc.

[Gnomestone]

Ok I'll get some compressed air and clean it out next time I have the chance. I don't think that is going to fix it though. It doesn't seem like dust could cause it to make such strange and loud noises. Any other suggestions if cleaning it out doesn't work?

[Gnomestone]

The main reason why I don't think that dust is the problem is because this only happens when I'm playing a game. Another thing is, if I'm at a loading menu during the game, the sound stops. I think if dust was the problem the sound would be constant. Any other ideas?

[Geek-9pm]

It is coming from the graphics card. 

[Gnomestone]

It is coming from the graphics card. 

Thank you for the input. I agree it's probably the graphics card. What would be your opinion on how to fix the sound?

[Geek-9pm]

The sound is coming from the heat sink and fan. When the graphics chip becomes hot the interface (or mount) between the heat-sink and fan becomes warped. The heatsink and fan can transfer the heat load very quickly. So when you stop playing your game, or even pause, the temperature drops rapidly and the fan mout is no longer under stress. Now if you want to prove this to yourself, open up the case and you'll need the help of a friend and a can of compressed air. Be very careful with the compressed air. If you get too close it can damage the fan. Would you want to do is win you get to the point where this thing is buzzing blow just a little bit of cold air into the fan area and the buzzing should stop. Please be careful not to blow the fan very hard and damage it. Just add a little bit more cool air for a couple of seconds and the thing should stop buzzing almost immediately.
please let me know if my answer is absolutely wrong, absolutely right or maybe close..

[Gnomestone]

Ok thank you. So I should leave the computer on when I open it up right? So I can cool the fan right when it's making the noise. There is no risk getting electrocuted right?

[cruisin702]

Ok thank you. So I should leave the computer on when I open it up right? So I can cool the fan right when it's making the noise. There is no risk getting electrocuted right?

You should first power your computer down and blow out everything. Geek's suggestion does not fix your problem, only verifies it, but I think it's already verified since the sound only starts when you play games and stops immediately when you stop playing. Just blowing the dust out could help.

[Geek-9pm]

Yes, I meant the after you open the case, turn it on and when it starts to buzz blow cool air toward the fan on the Video card.This is only to verity that heat is making the fan twist a little and it starts to rattle.

There is only 12 volts inside the case. But don't be touching things while it is running. You might stick you finger into one of the fans.
 
I just assumed your Graphics card has a fan. Is that right?

The fix is to loosen the crews a bit and snug then up again. This should relieve the stress on the frame of the fan.Not too tight please.

Maybe is is something else and not the fan. But I can not imagine what else could do it.

[t_blake07]

Have you even looked inside to see if you have a graphics card? I mean, it certainly sounds logical that the sound is coming from something getting hot, but that don't neccesarily mean it's a graphics card. Playing a game could put a lot of stress on the CPU and its heatsink/fan also.

[Geek-9pm]

t_blake07,
You  got a point.
We don't know what kind of computer he has.
He did call it  computer.
But maybe it's an X-Box.
Or an iPod.

[t_blake07]

Exactly. I mean, the last thing we want is for someone to get electrocuted or lose a finger, right?

No but seriously, i'm glad someone pointed out what a can of compressed air is, and where I could purchase some. 

[JJ 3000]

It is coming from the tower I said.

[Gnomestone]

Have you even looked inside to see if you have a graphics card? I mean, it certainly sounds logical that the sound is coming from something getting hot, but that don't neccesarily mean it's a graphics card. Playing a game could put a lot of stress on the CPU and its heatsink/fan also.

How could I even play games if I didn't have a graphics card? Assuming video card is the same thing as a graphics card, I ran a test and it told me I had a ATI Radeon HD 4350. Probably not high end, but it shouldn't be buzzing when playing games. That is assuming video card and graphics card are the same thing.

[rthompson80819]

How could I even play games if I didn't have a graphics card?

A lot of motherboards have built in graphic circuitry and do not have separate video cards.  It's usually limited in memory but still capable of playing many games, just not always the latest and the greatest.

You do however have a separate graphics card and it's got a fan on it.

[t_blake07]

How could I even play games if I didn't have a graphics card? Assuming video card is the same thing as a graphics card, I ran a test and it told me I had a ATI Radeon HD 4350. Probably not high end, but it shouldn't be buzzing when playing games. That is assuming video card and graphics card are the same thing.

Ok so you ran the test and it told you there was a graphics card indeed. I was just trying to make sure you had one, because like rthompson stated, not all PC's come equiped with a graphics card. So have you determined whether or not the noise is coming from the card?

[rthompson80819]

BTW, your graphics card is above average, not top of the line, but above average and should be able to handle almost any game out there.

[t_blake07]

It seems to me that it's the fan on the GPU. He said that it takes about 20 seconds to start, then stops once he minimizes the game window. And the same thing happens when the game is at a loading screen. Sounds very reasonable that it's taking a little time to heat up and distort things, then when the load is lightened, it stops. There probably wouldn't be much of a delay considering it would cool quite rapidly. He should check the card and its fan to make sure nothing is loose. If things seem to be snug then it's probably heat related. Meaning it will probably happen again at some point, even after doing what Geek-9pm said to do earlier.

[Geek-9pm]

Hello.
My early remark about the fan space on the idea that fan could be under stress and make the unusual sound. If that's the case, it could be possible to loosen the fan without re moving it. Then you could simply RE tightened the screws and that should relieve the stress on the frame of FAN. This is what we might call "RE SEATING"  the fan.  To illustrate the idea, say you sit down on a chair hard and fast and you feel pain and you have to get up and sit down again gently. Men have this problem, not women.  A thing like that happened to the fan when it was put on at the factory.  Anyway, that card has a very sophisticated power managed design which runs the FAN up and down quite a bit.  That's considered to be high tech.  So when you have your friends over you can show off your computer graphics card.  Buzzing noise is a special feature you can brag about. Here is a customer review quotation from a major vendor:

noisy fan
    white Reviewed By: NCMusicGuy on 12/13/2009
    Rating + 2
    Tech Level Tech Level: high - Ownership: 1 month to 1 year
    This user purchased this item from Newegg

    Pros: worked when I could stand it. Was able to get 4 monitors working when added to primary 4850.
    Cons: Noisy. Fan *always* runs. Fine in a server box, but was easily the loudest part of my system. BIOS/Catalyst don't seem to affect changes.

    Tried surgery with new fan, voiding warranty , to quiet but card just makes fan run too fast. All the time.

    Sounds like a toy hair dryer running in the PC. Did I mention it was noisy?
    Other Thoughts: Fine for a loud server, I guess.

    Also tried in another desktop system or two as primary (since I couldn't use it as desired), but machines (D*lls) wouldn't boot with this as primary card.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Manufacturer Response:Dear Customer,

    Thank you for your purchase and your valuable feedback.

    If you’re having trouble with your HIS product, please submit a technical enquiry ticket through the newly launched HIS Support Center. Our engineers will help to walk through troubleshooting.

    HIS Kingdom of Gamer
    http://www.hisdigital.com/member

    Besides, we don't recommend user to replace cooler as ASIC and PCB are vulnerable to damage. Your satisfaction is very important to us, and once again we apologize for the inconvenience you have been caused.

    Best regards,
    HIS Customer Support

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161280

Look and see if your card is the one with the fan on it. Some have real big a heat sink instead.

[t_blake07]

I love the part about sitting down too hard Geek-9pm.

I'm gonna laugh if his card doesn't even have a fan on it.