pls help me localize the noise

[ThePug]

hey all! a few days ago i noticed some cracking almost like an old engine running when i boot up my PC. it will then disappear after a minute. now i can hear a continues noise comparable to that of an old electric fan. i thinking it may be the hard drive but even if i am not running any tasks it is still there and when i do run my task i can hear the HD's noise separate from the background noise. i think its the CPU fan although im not sure. im using the stock fan. im not int OCing you see.
also there was a moment when a cracking noise was up then disappeared when i clicked on a nother program.
could this be a cpu fan and HD problem combo?
pls help!

 

[mainegeek]

Its probably one of your fans. The bearings wear out after a while.

 

[ThePug]

thanks for the reply mainegeek i think i got it. its the video card. i removed the HD, then card, then attached one by one listening where the noise will reappear. the video card's (MSI geforce4 Ti 4800SE) fan was dusty. i cleaned it then reattached. the noise was less but its still there. you think i better RMA it? its about 3 months old.

 

[mainegeek]

It's cheaper now then later.

 

[ThePug]

mainegeek, what if i just replace the fan with like thermaltake? im gonna replace the video card early next anyway. i hate the process of RMA's with newegg. you'recharged 15% outright, you pay for the mail, then you wait for about a week(if you're lucky). nice idea?

 

[paparazi]

Yes fans do wear out but at 3 months old I dought this is the case, usually the phosphur bronze bushes just
"dry out" and it's a simple 5 minute job to peel off the sticker on the reverse of the fan, remove the rubber bung to excess the bearing (not all fans have a bung)
Apply 1 or 2 drops of light oil (sewing machine or general 3in1) to the bearing and reassemble (don't get oil on the sticker surface or it won't re-stick.
We generally strip and lube between 3-10 fans a week with a 95% success rate. Martin

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