odd noise from PSU

[Pancake106]

ok so i just build a new pc a few weeks ago...specs as follows:

gigabyte p35 ds3l
e2140 @ 2.93ghz vid: 1.26
8800gt
2gig gskill
corsair vx450 psu
antec solo

i get a odd noise i first heard with my headphones on. minimizing windows, dragging windows, moving mouse all make odd beeps or static type noises. so without my headphones on i can clearly hear noises during similar situations coming from what seems like the psu. i even get little clicking type noises while my pc is idle. my pc has also been rock solid while gaming and stress testing. any info or help at all would be great

 

[Yellowbeard]

I realize it is a pain but, can you test the system outside the case? It sounds like you may have a shorting or grounding issue. However, if the noise is coming from the PSU we will happily replace it. Let me know how the testing goes. Be sure to place the MOBO on a non-conductive surface for the testing. The box it came in is always good.

 

[jonnyGURU]

I've head this a few times before and have usually found it to be the motherboard.

The clicking comes from a choke coil located all of the way at the top of the board so it sounds like the PSU.

Best way to isolate is another PSU or to spread everything out outside of the case so you can better isolate the noise.

Mechanic's Stehascopes are good to have in the ol' tool box.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
I've head this a few times before and have usually found it to be the motherboard.

The clicking comes from a choke coil located all of the way at the top of the board so it sounds like the PSU.

Best way to isolate is another PSU or to spread everything out outside of the case so you can better isolate the noise.

Mechanic's Stehascopes are good to have in the ol' tool box.

Thanks JG! Is it a coil on the CPU regulation or the memory in the cases you are seeing?

 

[jonnyGURU]

I dunno. It's those coils between the CPU's VR's and the socket so I guess it's the CPU regulation. The coil used in memory VR is located right by the memory slots typically, right?

 

[Yellowbeard]

On most it seems to be over in the general area of the memory slot and ATX 24 or 20 pin plug, depending on the MOBO. If it was viewed as a clock, I'd say from the 1-3 range.

 

[Pancake106]

thanks guys! ill set everything up outside the case to figure out exactly where the noise is coming from. just a note...the noise isnt very loud at all outside the case. in fact i never even payed attention to it until i kept hearing the noises through my headphones and found it similar to the sound from the case, which had me concerned. alright ill get back with the results. thanks again

 

[Pancake106]

ok so i have pretty much everything laying out and thank goodness everything booted up fine(im paranoid about that stuff hehe). moving the mouse around is a good symptom inducer so i leaned over while wiggling the mouse and the noise was clear....coming from inside the psu. that darn scratchy/wispy/chirping type noise. if this is normal and can cause no harm than i can deal with it...although hearin noises through the headphones is annoying. maybe throwing in a old sound card may cure that.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Hmm... Interesting.

I'm seeing that this board has the USB on +5VSB with no option to switch it to +5V.

Your mouse is USB?

Do you have a powered USB hub (a USB hub with it's own power adapter)?

 

[Pancake106]

my mouse is usb and connected via the back of the case (usb on motherboard). i do have a set of connections on the front of my case including two usb ports but nothing from that is connected to anything. reset, power, and led power are only case related things connected to anything. again noise is not isolated to mouse use....i disconnected mouse and nothing changed.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Pancake106
my mouse is usb and connected via the back of the case (usb on motherboard). i do have a set of connections on the front of my case including two usb ports but nothing from that is connected to anything.

I was asking if you had a powered USB hub so you could try the mouse on it instead of being plugged into the motherboard.

Think about it: What's the parallel between the mouse and the PSU? USB power. In your case, +5VSB power.

Originally posted by: Pancake106
again noise is not isolated to mouse use....i disconnected mouse and nothing changed.

Ok. You had said you could move the mouse around to make the noise change. I realize you also said that you didn't have to move the mouse to still get a noise, but the mouse was still plugged in.

If you disconnect the mouse and still get the noise, let's also do this.... you have two front USB ports. Disconnect them from the motherboard. Could be a bad ground on the ports on the case.

 

[Pancake106]

ok sorry for the newb question but what does the sb in 5vsb stand for??

also i meant the 2 usb and other connections on the front of case were not connected to anything *internally*. the cables are just coiled up at the bottom of my case.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: Pancake106
ok sorry for the newb question but what does the sb in 5vsb stand for??

also i meant the 2 usb and other connections on the front of case were not connected to anything *internally*. the cables are just coiled up at the bottom of my case.

Stand By...if your PSU is plugged in and the switch on the PSU is on...then the +5VSB is powered. Allows some power to mouse or keyboard even in sleep mode so if you move the mouse it tells the PC to power back on.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Right. But also a very easy rail to overload.

So other than the mouse, there is nothing plugged into any USB ports on your motherboard? Not even the front USB ports is plugged in?

Very strange indeed.

 

[Pancake106]

correct, only usb port used is the mouse on my motherboard. now that i have everything apart, i also notice psu making the noises as well as headphones during program loading and such.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Right... but the noise is definitely coming FROM the PSU, right? Sounds like something's wrong in the PSU.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Originally posted by: Pancake106
correct, only usb port used is the mouse on my motherboard. now that i have everything apart, i also notice psu making the noises as well as headphones during program loading and such.

You can RMA with your retailer or with us directly. Very sorry you had the issue.

RMA Link: http://www.corsair.com/helpdesk/default.aspx

Customer Service: 888-222-4346

 

[Pancake106]

what is the typical time to recieve a replacement in return? and does the fact that i sent in a rebate have any effect on rma?? i may just order a new psu and sell this one to a friend if it takes a while. thanks again for everyones help!

edit: sell the swapped one...not the noisy one.