Curse

Sergio Leone · Nov 12, 2006, 08:55 PM // 20:55

Hey all. I'm having some issues with my PC and Guild Wars may be the problem. I purchased NF about a week ago and it's run fine for about 5-6 days then yesterday my Tower started making a TREMENDOUSLY loud noise. I cannot remember if I was in GW then or not, I know I was today when it did it.

Basically what happened today was I was on the net looking at some Hero builds and then went in-game to try and play with my heroes and about 2 minutes into my PC just starts making this loud chainsaw-like sound. Yesterday when it did it I had to shutdown my computer entirely and that was the only solution, so I quickly went to do that again today. I closed GW and went to hit shutdown when the chainsaw sound changed into a loud pulsing sound which was similar but instead of a constant noise it was loud, soft, loud, soft.

I initially thought, "Oh GW just must be catching up to my crappy PC" but I thought, "no that can't be it because I would have had troubles from the initial start of playing NF." I've played NF and run the internet at the same time and I've done other stuff, it's usually just very slow. I am currently running a virus scan and at 1/3 the way through it's found nothing. I am just wondering if there is something wrong with my computer hardware or if it's something like an adware or virus that is hurting it. I use McAfee Security Center, will this be enough to detect anything harmful? If not I also have Windows Defender Beta 2 I can try a scan with.

Let me know what you think I need to do and if you need some more PC information I'm glad to give it.

BFG · Nov 12, 2006, 11:32 PM // 23:32

You will have to identify exactly where the sound is coming from. It could be a fan beginning to fail, or worse, a component failure other than fans.

Malice Black · Nov 13, 2006, 12:07 AM // 00:07

Open up the case and have a look around.

Sergio Leone · Nov 13, 2006, 12:13 AM // 00:13

Well it seems to be fixed. I did a virus scan, deleted some temporary internet files and that's really about it. I did close some programs (AIM, Daemon tools, etc.) before loading GW but I loaded with the internet up just fine. I do appreciate the replies, I was afraid of something like that. I'm always afraid to operate with my computer mechanically because I know less than nothing as far as that part of computing goes. Hope it stays fixed!

Omega X · Nov 13, 2006, 01:33 AM // 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sergio Leone

Well it seems to be fixed. I did a virus scan, deleted some temporary internet files and that's really about it. I did close some programs (AIM, Daemon tools, etc.) before loading GW but I loaded with the internet up just fine. I do appreciate the replies, I was afraid of something like that. I'm always afraid to operate with my computer mechanically because I know less than nothing as far as that part of computing goes. Hope it stays fixed!

I don't think that you are out of the woods yet.

I would start backing up valuable files if I was you just in case. That noise could be your Hard Drive starting to fail.

Sergio Leone · Nov 13, 2006, 01:46 AM // 01:46

Oh that makes me cry. Alright I'll start that soon. Thanks for the tip.

Ziil · Nov 13, 2006, 10:33 AM // 10:33

It could actually be the northbridge fan I had the same thing at some random day when i turned on my PC i got this freekish loud sound and it wouldn't just go away i had to do a restart then it was all OK for the rest of the day. One day the restarting didn't make the noise go away so i opened my case to see what could be the problem and i found out that one of my lil' fans had died on me

so just pulled it out and the noise is gone.

Travisimoo · Nov 14, 2006, 05:57 AM // 05:57

Software would NOT cause sounds like that. Its a hardware issue...could be a wire grinding on a fan, or your HDD going out.

Mushroom · Nov 14, 2006, 04:03 PM // 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travisimoo

Software would NOT cause sounds like that. Its a hardware issue...could be a wire grinding on a fan, or your HDD going out.

But it can be a hardware issue caused by software.

Quite a lot of systems (and components) use "Smart Fans". When these fans (or systems) are used normally, the fans turn at a low speed. During normal operation, nothing ever gets hot enough for the fans tokcik into high speed.

But when an intensive application is run (like Guild Wars), they suddenly increase the fan speeds, to try and keep the system cool. Originally these were only found in laptops, but they have seen increased use in desktop units, especially the small form factor models.

I would try to do the same thing with the side of the case open, and try to find the source of the noise. It may well be a fan (as was previously suggested). When it is in low RPM mode, nothing is heard. But under the increased demands of the game, it suddenly revs up, making the noise you are talking about.

And these "smart fans" could be on almost any component. CPU, chipset, case, power supply, even some video cards come with "smart fans". Blowing the system out with compressed air may help, but if it is a fan, you should replace it as soon as possible.

MegaMouse · Nov 14, 2006, 04:30 PM // 16:30

One thing that I didn't see mentioned by the others is there may be a wire that when one of your fans is going slow stays out of its way. But when the fan ramps up it may pull the wire into it enough to contact the blades. Make sure that all your wires are tied off away from any moving part of your computer, that may be the solution as this can cause the sound that you describe.

Mega Mouse

Kuldebar Valiturus · Nov 14, 2006, 04:48 PM // 16:48

Ya, possible noise makers:

-speaker/sound system: interference noise/hum/static, etc.

-hard drive: thrashing/grinding (could be sign of imminent failure or just more disk swapping)

-system fan: bearings going out/ribbon cables/wires rubbing/object in fan

-video card fan: <see above>

Edit:

BTW Mushroom is dead on right. Software can be the catalyst for the noise.

Variable fans that are software controlled and Hard Drive spin ups, HDD thrashing etc.

These things generally happen normally but also serve to make potential hard ware problems more noticeable to the user.