Power Supply making loud noise.

[Kasaioni]

OK, so for a few months now, my one year old computer's power supply box has been making a very loud noise after I start up my computer. It lasts anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes. And lately the sound comes up even when my computer has been on for any amount of time after I turned it on.

I recorded the sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9-s7mUXfH8

It's pretty loud if you're there in the same room, or even outside the room.

Now, I opened up my computer because I naturally thought that it was dusty, which it was. So with my computer off, switched to 0 and unplugged, I dusted it inside and out. I made sure to hold each fan still (one on the mother board, one on my graphics card and the one in the power supply) while I cleaned the dust using a pressurized can of air. (FALCON Dust-Off Professional)

I did open up my power supply and dusted everything in there to, very carefully. I then made sure that nothing was hitting the fan in the power supply while it spun, there were no obstructions, everything seemed that it'd be running smoothly. I then put everything back together and made sure everything was in place. Turned on my computer and it still made that noise.

So I'm still not sure why it makes that noise. I checked to see if my computer was overheating, but it wasn't hot at all, and it's definitely in a ventilated place, all sides of it (vents) have nothing in their path. So I'm still not sure why that sound it happening or what is making it. The only thing I know for sure it that it's coming from the power supply box.

[Computer_Commando]

Sounds like a wire or the fan grille scraping against the fan blades.

[Mulreay]

Sounds like a wire or the fan grille scraping against the fan blades.

What a useless reply if you read the original message properly.

Kasaioni it sounds like one of your fan motors is going. My laptop fan is doing the same thing it's not catching on anything as you stated. Time for a new fan. If you need help getting a new fan let us know..

[Geek-9pm]

The only thing I know for sure it that it's coming from the power supply box.

Do you know how to splice the fan wires and bring them out of the PSU case?
Be careful is you try this.
While the machine is running, wait until ht sound is very bad, switch off the fan. Does the noise stop?Turn it back on.
If it indeed is the fan, I think it is, replace the fan.

Once a fan has ate a lot of dust...

            It bites the dust!         

[Karnac]

If you're certain the noise is from the power supply, then swap in another power supply of equal or greater wattage to eliminate it as a cause....Place a pencil on the power supply and place your ear to the pencil to confirm the noise is from the power supply........You can also check the fan blades to determine if there is excess play vertically on the spindle.....The fact it does stop leads me to wonder if it improves as it heats up, pointing to the supply perhaps.....And on a safety note, don't go poking around in a power supply, for that matter you shouldn't even open one.....You could be seriously injured or worse.

[patio]

I would just simply replace the PSU...do yourself a favor and stay away from the $25 specials...

If it's older than 3-4 years it's a good idea anyway...