Clicking/Popping Power supply?

[dguy6789]

Greetings.

I have a Fortron 500W Bluestorm psu. There is a minor annoyance that has me a bit concerned.

Whenever I am at the log in screen for Eve Online, the powersupply makes clicking or popping noises. These noises happen only when I am at this login screen. Once logged in, the clicking stops. For those unfamiliar with Eve Online, the login screen is just a background with stars that get brighter/dimmer. I am wondering what is going on. The clicking does not happen when doing anything else. Playing games, the psu does not click, sitting completely idle, the psu does not click. No matter what load I put on any aspect of the computer, the psu will not click. It only makes the noises at the Eve login screen and nowhere else.

What is the deal here?

 

[dguy6789]

Bump?

 

[NotQuiteAPCGuru]

What "other games" are you playing? Maybe they're less of a burden on the system, therefore consuming less power? That's a bizzarre one. Do you have a spare PSU sitting around you can slap in and see if it goes away?

It might just be a coincidence. I would definitely consider buying a replacement power supply though. Even if this one doesn't go, anyone will tell you that even the remotest "sizzling" type noise is not a good sign. And if you don't have problems...at least you have a backup.

Zipzoomfly.com or Newegg are pretty good and I buy parts from them all the time.

 

[LouPoir]

Clicking and pooping noises from a power supply are not a good thing ----

 

[Bonesdad]

Have you tried asking Fortron? How old is the PSU, still under warranty? Got another PSU around, swap it out and try it...

 

[Missing Ghost]

I think that clicking and poping noises form a PSU are actually quite normal and you shouldn't worry about it.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: Missing Ghost
I think that clicking and poping noises form a PSU are actually quite normal and you shouldn't worry about it.

Are you serious?

I play all kinds of games of various stress levels. Oblivion and Fear do not cause it to make any noises. No game at all does in fact. Just the Eve login screen, nothing else.

Yes, I know clicking and popping noises are bad. That is why I made the thread. But the clicking and popping noises only occur at the eve login screen. They don't occur doing anything else, no matter how intense or easy it is on the system.

I do not have a spare psu to test though.

 

[Bonesdad]

clicking and popping PSU are NOT normal. The only one I ever heard pop was when it caught fire and fried my K7S5A. Figure this out now, before something happens. Not saying it will, but it could be serious.

 

[dguy6789]

I am very concerned about this issue. This is a great power supply that has lasted me through five or six systems. Is it possible that a certain type of software code can do something to a psu? I cannot see any logical explanation for the psu working 100% flawlessly in everything except the Eve login screen. The Eve login screen is by no means system intensive either. The processor sits idle and there is no 3D rendering being done. I am completely stumped.

Edit: I checked and the psu is indeed beyond the acceptable period for RMA. It is no longer under warranty.

 

[ch33zw1z]

maybe its a sound clip on the site?

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z
maybe its a sound clip on the site?

I wish, but it is most certainly not the speakers.

 

[Bonesdad]

me too, at this point, I'd try just unplugging everything from the board and drives and then plugging them back in. If you still get it then, try using different molex leads to the drives. Can you see anything inside the PSU when this is happening? It continues as long as the EVE login is onscreen?

 

[dguy6789]

I looked in the back of the psu for flashes of light and stuff that would signify sparks, but those are either not there at all or too dim to be visible even at night with no lights on. The issue only occurs at the eve login screen and nowhere else. As long as the eve login screen is open, the popping occurs. I have come to find that if I cover up the eve login screen with some other window, the popping stops. If I remove the window and make the eve login screen visible, the popping gradually comes back.

The PC I am using this psu on now was rather hastily put together though. It could be possible that a molex somewhere is loose. I will check it out.

Edit 2: I have completely took the pc apart and rebuilt it carefully and the problem still persists. My old motherboard died on me, so I said screw it and bought a Core 2 Duo and motherboard. I am currently using a pc that was put together from old spare parts until my shipment arrives. I am going to hope that the problem is motherboard related, as this board has always been very flaky with a lot of things.

 

[Zepper]

Clicking/popping are probably bad caps. Go to badcaps.com for pix of how bad capacitors look and peer around inside your PSU to see if you see similar. They use silicone goop to damp parts that might ring so don't mistake that for leakage. Swollen cap tops and ooze out the top are the main signals. Often you can get free repair or replacement for this problem even if the product is out of warranty as it is directly the mfr's fault for using cheap, off-brand caps w/o doing their due diligence. I would be adamant about that as a consumer grade PSU made with good parts should last you at least 5 years and a top tier PSU should give you at least 7 years.

In any case, these clicks/pops are shorts within the caps and pulses due to them can damage other equipment. So stop using that PSU IMMEDIATELY!!!!!

.bh.

 

[Amaroque]

I don't know if you have a phone modem in this system, but the game may be trying to connect online Via POTS.

This what I thought of off the top of my head.

 

[dguy6789]

I will look into the capacitors. Even if the caps are bad, that still doesn't explain why it makes the noises at one specific screen and then works perfectly for everything else.

 

[vhx]

I play Eve Online and I don't get the clicking noise from my PSU or speakers. If it's coming from the power supply, definately replace it, who knows when it will go 'click click BOOM.'

 

[InFeXiOn]

Your computer is about to blow up. Proceed to the nearest exit, and don't turn back. I'll be by to collect the computer for examination shortly. See you soon.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: InFeXiOn
Your computer is about to blow up. Proceed to the nearest exit, and don't turn back. I'll be by to collect the computer for examination shortly. See you soon.

Roger.