My computer keeps making a buzzing/humming sound...

Thoughts_Arrive

When I turn it on, it's been like this for 7 years (since I got it) and then the sound stops after a few mins.
But time and time again it starts out of nowhere and when I smack the top of my computer it stops temporarily.

Any idea why it does this, I've heard it's dust, it's the ball bearings in the fans.
It is annoying.

I'll be getting a new computer in time but for now I want to stop it.

Travelar

If you've had that computer for 7 years, it's time to upgrade.

Probably dust. You can take the case apart and blow it with some canned air. That may help temporarily.

Pegasus

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

When I turn it on, it's been like this for 7 years (since I got it) and then the sound stops after a few mins.
But time and time again it starts out of nowhere and when I smack the top of my computer it stops temporarily.

Any idea why it does this, I've heard it's dust, it's the ball bearings in the fans.
It is annoying.

I'll be getting a new computer in time but for now I want to stop it.

fans are dirt cheap and easy to change.. get a quiet one.

Thunderclap

Travelar wrote:

Probably dust. You can take the case apart and blow it with some canned air. That may help temporarily.

This sounds like the problem. Next time you turn it on, get as close to the case as you can and listen to find out where exactly it's coming from. More than likely it is a fan, but it could either be a case fan, a processor fan or a power supply fan. The case fan is inside a small, square, plastic frame that's screwed into the back of the case and has a couple of wires that plug into the motherboard. If it's the fan for the processor that should be somewhat easy to replace too, as that just screws into the heat sink that's on top of the processor. The power supply fan is inside the PS and the only way to replace it is to replace the whole power supply. All three are easy to replace but the PS is going to be more expensive and a little more involved. You may not even have a case fan, you may have just a power supply fan and a fan for the processor. Or you could even not have a power supply fan and just have a fan for the processor.

First thing's first, open 'er up and clean that bad boy out. And if this is the first time, chances are, you're going to take it apart and find out there's enough hair in there to assemble a small cat

If you're going to be replacing it soon like you said, then cleaning it out should be good enough until then.

Hopefully my post didn't confuse you with too much info. That's just how I roll

Thoughts_Arrive

Thunderclap wrote:

Travelar wrote:

Probably dust. You can take the case apart and blow it with some canned air. That may help temporarily.

This sounds like the problem. Next time you turn it on, get as close to the case as you can and listen to find out where exactly it's coming from. More than likely it is a fan, but it could either be a case fan, a processor fan or a power supply fan. The case fan is inside a small, square, plastic frame that's screwed into the back of the case and has a couple of wires that plug into the motherboard. If it's the fan for the processor that should be somewhat easy to replace too, as that just screws into the heat sink that's on top of the processor. The power supply fan is inside the PS and the only way to replace it is to replace the whole power supply. All three are easy to replace but the PS is going to be more expensive and a little more involved. You may not even have a case fan, you may have just a power supply fan and a fan for the processor. Or you could even not have a power supply fan and just have a fan for the processor.

First thing's first, open 'er up and clean that bad boy out. And if this is the first time, chances are, you're going to take it apart and find out there's enough hair in there to assemble a small cat

If you're going to be replacing it soon like you said, then cleaning it out should be good enough until then.

Hopefully my post didn't confuse you with too much info. That's just how I roll

Last time I cleaned it I opened it up, took a few parts out and dusted it lightly with a small brush then set the vacuum to gentle and sucked any loose dust.
I also tried listening, could not pin point it, it sounds to me as if it is the graphics card fan.

Thanks to all for your help.

Travelar

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

I also tried listening, could not pin point it, it sounds to me as if it is the graphics card fan.

You could gently depress your finger on the graphics card fan until it stops spinning. If the noise stops, that's it. It won't hurt the card stopping the fan for a short period of time.

AmherstJammer

If none of the above is the problem then it may be your backlight is beginning to fail. Do you have a laptop or desktop? I've had a backlight fail on 2 laptops and it starts as a annoying buzzing/humming sound. If it is your backlight you will begin to notice your screen start to dim as well...

Thoughts_Arrive

I've got a desktop.
I will try the stopping of the fan on the graphics card.

Cheers.

spat

this is so funny. i'm just seeing this now. i have the SAME problem and do the SAME thing as you to stop the buzzing! i assumed it was the fan but i'm always too lazy to take the damn cover off, so i figures as long as a good smack every now and then fixes her, thats good enough

Thunderclap

spat wrote:

this is so funny. i'm just seeing this now. i have the SAME problem and do the SAME thing as you to stop the buzzing! i assumed it was the fan but i'm always too lazy to take the damn cover off, so i figures as long as a good smack every now and then fixes her, thats good enough

If you smack 'er hard enough while the hard drive is working you could crash it :shock: