Hearing a clicking sound... then crash

[M16Grenadier]

I'm trying to pinpoint the problem here.

I hear a clicking and then a sound similar to what my PC sounds like when it boots up (I can't explain it, sounds kind of what a bus sounds like when it accelerates from a full stop) whenever I go into playing a 3dmode game. I've tried two different videocards, thinking it could've been my recently recieved off RMA 9800 Pro, but I don't think it is the case (I'm having other problems with that card, but that is for a later time).

After hearing this noise for about 2 or 3 minutes straight, usually repeating itself in cycle of about 5 seconds, I get a freezup and requires a hard reboot.

Any idea what the problem is?

I was thinking it was a harddrive error but I can still access files on both drives in Windows with no problems.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Does it happen right away when you first boot or does it happen after the rig has been under load for awhile ?

I ask, because that Expire PSU has hard time supporting a real load after to gets warm. They are rated at about 25C and when they get to 35C thier output will fall like a stone. Plus, even at 500 watt it's all on the 3.3&5V lines, not on the 12V IIRC.

If you have a spare PSU, install it and see what happens.


...Galvanized

 

[M16Grenadier]

It never happens when I first boot.

I'll have trouble anytime between 30secs and 30 minutes in 3D Mode for gaming.



Which actually makes me remember, when I first installed the videocard, it was saying there was no power connection to it even though I plugged it in correctly. I rebooted, same problem. Finally, after I reset the power supply, it worked fine and boot up into Windows 2000.


Oh, and the power supplies I have for spares are no good. One has a single 16 Amp 12 Volt Rail, the other has a 12 Amp 12 Volt Rail.

I think this two rails on 12v, 16A and 18A, I don't think I would be taxing it even if it was inefficient, but maybe my PC uses more power than I thought..

 

[M16Grenadier]

So, what should I do?

Should I try to grab a new PSU (I have no viable means of testing my PSU), or what else should I do?

Any recommendations BTW?


Thanks.

 

[Bozo Galora]

I'll take a wild guess at it

There is some sort of fan control system/temp monitor (hardware or software) somewhere in PC that changes speed of fan with load, and it tries to turn on and ramp up to a min RPM (click on and ramp up), but cant and overheats or errors out. Not familiar with Aspire, if it has temp control/multiple fans.

Guess you are going to have to take off cover and put PC on side and put your head close and try and find area its coming from

Edit: just remembered some people have bad luick with the molex to the card making good contact on all pins. you could try someone holding it sideways abit while in 3D. Assuming noise coming from PSU fans, I would get an OCZ perf 520, or (cheaper) a Tagan 480

 

[M16Grenadier]

Hahaha. I think I found the problem.

I believe I was right about this power supply being enough to power my rig, since as soon as I took my soundcard out, the problems went away...

Sound Quality is not as good on the integrated stuff as the Audigy 2 Value (value my ass, I paid 70 bucks at Microcenter for it a year ago).



It seems every single problem I have had since I built this system is now gone... Good enough for me.

I don't know why I was getting clicking sounds coming from my tower earlier, though. That wouldn't have much to do with a soundcard.