Help with PSU ticking sound

[bearsus]

Hello LinusTechTips users

 

About a month ago I built my first PC, and originally I was using an AMD CPU and GPU (FX-8350 4,0Ghz and Radeon R9 290). but then I got a very nice deal for a GeForce GTX 780, grabbed it and sold the R9 290. A little bit later I also decided to go with Intel's i5 4670k as it suited my needs more, and with it I got the Asus Z87-A motherboard.

 

Somewhere along the road my PSU has started to make a ticking sound. Chances also are that it's always been there but I hadn't noticed it because I had a really loud chassis fan which I have now removed. I took a sample of the suond and put it on YouTube:

 

 

Everything works 100% fine, I haven't had any random crashes and generally the computer has been performing like a dream. That sound just not only worries me, but also annoys me.

 

I first had a Corsair VS650w but when I first noticed that sound, I instantly switched the PSU to a ThermalTake 630w Smart SE. Both produce that same sound, yet I'm 100% sure it's coming from the PSU. So to me this is all very weird.

 

Has anyone ever had a similar issue?

[SeanBond]

I used to have it on and off. But it was such a rare occurrence I never worried about it. I haven't heard it in months. It seems to be a thing in psu's

[nj4ck]

Sounds like a fan issue, but it does seem weird that both PSUs you tried make that noise. Try sticking a plastic (NOT metal) object through the fan grill and gently bring the fan to a complete stop. If the noise stops, you're having fan issues. Most PSU manufacturers use cheap Ong-Hua-style fans in their PSUs, which tend to produce bearing issues in some cases. I had to fully replace the fan in my Corsair CS650M.

On a side note, why did you sell your R9 290 for a 780? Both cards are almost exactly equal with the 290 even being a slight bit more powerful...

[WolfDeville]

This exact thing happened to two of my friends PSU's, they both popped and produced a really bad burning smell after a while so if I were you I'd try to find the source of the problem before it gets any worse. Are you using any 8pin ATX or 24pin extension cables?

 

Edit: Don't panic though, could just be coil wind or something in your case. Do what nj4ck suggested and bring the fan to a complete stop to see if the sound continues.

 

Cheers.

[bearsus]

On a side note, why did you sell your R9 290 for a 780? Both cards are almost exactly equal with the 290 even being a slight bit more powerful...

 

The R9 I had was reference model so it was running too hot for my taste and sounded like a jet engine. I learned a lesson with reference cards that day

 

Thanks for the replies everybody When I get home today I will try to stop the PSU fan to see if the sound stops. i'm not using any extension cables.

 

 

I used to have it on and off. But it was such a rare occurrence I never worried about it. I haven't heard it in months. It seems to be a thing in psu's

 

Hmm... for me the sound however starts second I press the power button to the second it shuts down.

 

edit: someone has also mentioned that neither the Thermaltake 630w or Corsair VS650w are good enough for my system. I actually dont know of the thermaltake's quality, but I know the Corsair's VS mode is kinda bad.. Could this be also making the sound? im not experiencing any crashes or anything, though.

[bearsus]

Sorry for the double post guys and girls! But I have good news, I think and frankly I feel a bit like a moron haha.

 

I stopped the fan with a piece of plastic and the ticking would instantly stop. Soon as I pulled the plastic bit out that was blocking the fan's movement, the ticking started again.

 

So it looks like the sound has something to do with the fan's bearings? I bought the ThermalTake PSU from a computer shop that is about an hour's drive away from here. As long as temps and everything stay normal (or the fan doesn't down right stop moving) I should be alright until the weekend or so? Going to phone the guy today though and ask if I can just get an instant replacement (since it hasnt been even a week since I bought it).

[SeanBond]

Sorry for the double post guys and girls! But I have good news, I think and frankly I feel a bit like a moron haha.

 

I stopped the fan with a piece of plastic and the ticking would instantly stop. Soon as I pulled the plastic bit out that was blocking the fan's movement, the ticking started again.

 

So it looks like the sound has something to do with the fan's bearings? I bought the ThermalTake PSU from a computer shop that is about an hour's drive away from here. As long as temps and everything stay normal (or the fan doesn't down right stop moving) I should be alright until the weekend or so? Going to phone the guy today though and ask if I can just get an instant replacement (since it hasnt been even a week since I bought it).

Glad you found the issue, I would contact thermaltake support to see what could be done as long as you hear the ticking them means it's running and it's fine, if it stops you should be worried. But I doubt it will anytime soon. I am replacing a fan that has been ticking in my system for 4 months. I have to ask what is you system? Most people have no clue how much wattage you need for your system. In fact I can pretty much tell you if you are running a system with a single gpus there is no possible configuration where you could be using 650Watts The only thing that would come close is a 290x 9590 system....And you have a 780 now?

[bearsus]

Glad you found the issue, I would contact thermaltake support to see what could be done as long as you hear the ticking them means it's running and it's fine, if it stops you should be worried. But I doubt it will anytime soon. I am replacing a fan that has been ticking in my system for 4 months. I have to ask what is you system? Most people have no clue how much wattage you need for your system. In fact I can pretty much tell you if you are running a system with a single gpus there is no possible configuration where you could be using 650Watts The only thing that would come close is a 290x 9590 system....And you have a 780 now?

I will contact ThermalTake too, thanks for the tip.

 

My system with its main components is:

 

Intel core i5 4670k

GeForce GTX 780

8 GB 1333Mhz ram

2 TB hard drive

Asus Z87-A Motherboard

 

And the PSU I'm using right now is the ThermalTake 630w Smart SE (I had never heard of the brand before, it says 87% efficiency on it, instead of the 80+ bronze that I have heard of). when I first heard that tick I had the Corsair VS650w. According to some google results the ThermalTake one is better than the Corsair VS so I'm using that.

 

Edit: added motherboard to component list as I forgot it lol. whops.

[SeanBond]

I will contact ThermalTake too, thanks for the tip.

 

My system with its main components is:

 

Intel core i5 4670k

GeForce GTX 780

8 GB 1333Mhz ram

2 TB hard drive

Asus Z87-A Motherboard

 

And the PSU I'm using right now is the ThermalTake 630w Smart SE (I had never heard of the brand before, it says 87% efficiency on it, instead of the 80+ bronze that I have heard of). when I first heard that tick I had the Corsair VS650w. According to some google results the ThermalTake one is better than the Corsair VS so I'm using that.

 

Edit: added motherboard to component list as I forgot it lol. whops.

You have more than enough juice. Excpect you system to only be using 400Watts while you are gaming. Your psu is fine. 

[bearsus]

You have more than enough juice. Excpect you system to only be using 400Watts while you are gaming. Your psu is fine. 

I'm happy to hear that! Thanks so much for the help.

[SeanBond]

I'm happy to hear that! Thanks so much for the help.

No problem. This is pretty much allt he proof you need. It's a long video but you will get the point after 6 or 7 minutes. You wont even pull 400 watts. That actually going to be when you are benchmarking. 780 pulls a tad less power.