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Not updating by Sammacha

Well
Since I usually update my sketchbook and have not been doing so ( and wont be for a little bit ) thought I would throw up this journal

My desktop has just been getting slow
And the wifi signal seems to slowly get worse ( always somewhat a problem *sigh)
Anyways, it also makes that whirring hum sound whenever it does something using the processor ( i think)
Like,opening a program or touching my tablet pen to the tablet
It only started doing it recently so...
I guess i need to open it and look at the fan? Dear god i hope I dont break the thing. Totally not a computer person in that sense...
Or... Please no... My hard drive is going to fail shortly
So, instead of drawing in my spare time I think I best be backing up all my stuff...
Mainly art and my really large reference folder amongst other common items and important documents.

Not updating

Sammacha

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  • Link

    Backups are always good to have, learned from many painful experiences...
    Is the sound like whining/whistles ? Is it different for any kind of actions you do such as moving a window or scrolling ? That is really normal stuff... all computers of mine do it, and not noticably when they were new.
    First thing you can do is just taking the side cover off and inspecting the inners, you only need to remove 2 screws at most, unless it is some really custom case or a big name machine which are often quirky. If you can see blocked fins on the heatsinks then you'll have to take extra action.

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      True, I have a huge back up, just don't do often, every few months or major update. It only started to make that sound recently it never did it before. The sounds are all the same. sometimes when scrolling but only when opening pages with many pics or videos.
      I'm just pretty careful with this stuff since I have had a HD suddenly die on me more then once. It used to do it when left on all day which I can understand but not after sleeping all night, so I just wonder if something isnt right. I will try opening it after my 1 TB finishes backing up, kinda taking a bit of time...

      • Link

        The sound likely comes from the PSU, but can also come from the inductors around the CPU on the motherboard.
        1TB is a pretty nice chunk of data, it will take a while indeed...

        • Link

          really? Gonna try taking it apart tomorrow when I have more time. Is that something I can easily fix? D:

          • Link

            First just take a look, or perhaps show a photo if you don't see anything out of ordinary.
            The stuff cannot be fixed in any easy way nor it is dangerous, if it really is what I think it is. Pouring some epoxy over the inductors on the boad is enough to silence them in most cases. But as far as PSU goes only replacement helps. Pinpointing where the sound comes from exactly can be tricky, I normally use a small tube with one end in my ear and other probing around, kinda like a ghetto stetoscope lol.

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              lol I know what you mean about the tube xD
              I think the sound is actually the fan connected to the large heat sink (does that sound right?)
              So I am not sure if the computer is just getting too hot now that the good weather is here or that the fan/heat sink needs replacing (6 years old). If that souds wrong I will take a pic and point to the object I am talking about xDDD
              my computer is easy to open it has a door panel with a lock that I just need to open up.
              Thansk for the help tiido, I appreciate it, I'll have to scribble something up for ya after I do the moogle pic

              • Link

                Heatsinks themselves do not go bad, and fans don't make really quick changes in sound that last for the duration of a specific activity. Bad fans make more or less constant unpleasant sounds.
                In any case if you see dust on the fins of the heatsink under the fan you should blow some canned air there to get the dust out, but be sure to put a finger between the blades of the fan or you risk wearing out the bearing of the fan with the extra fast rotation canned air can cause. Same deal with video card aswell as PSU fan. A picture can tell more than thousand words, as they say over here.
                And you don't have to scribble anything hahaha.... once a techie, always one LOL

                • Link

                  Cool, thanks so much for the help Tiido. I will post up a pic tomorrow, but it seemed like the noise went away when the fan wasnt there :O
                  it's been on more/longer then normal because I am sure I would have noticed before if its bugging me now. hmm but you are probably right, tiem to spend some money , noooooooooo.... xDD
                  I've cleaned out all the dust (didn't know about the holding the fan part though, opps) Well I used a cloth and a vacuum for the most part, most dust is pretty loose. I sprayed the can in places I wouldn't get too. ( basically dismantled the thing to clean it lol.

                  • Link

                    Hehe, awesome. I guess you managed to do all that was possible.
                    If you could record the noise that would be even better, I can most likely exactly tell what noise is it and if its any indication of something dangerous.

                    • Link

                      I'll try that! tomorrow... had a long and kinda awful day. Just gonna go to bed now :(

                      • Link

                        Hopefully the sleep will be good :)

                        • Link

                          Here it is http://www.sammacha.com/computer/
                          The video has the noises but you might have to turn up your volume :P

                          • Link

                            I heard sound of a worn fan, tiny bit of processing buzz (which is what I have been thinking about) and whole lot of ticking sounds (which I hope are sounds of mouse being operated).

                            • Link

                              I'm pretty sure that was me clicking, its made a click once or twice in the past few years.
                              The fan is what I am thinking, and I think its the one on the heat sink. I guess I just need to replace it, but a back up can't hurt regardless :P
                              Thanks Tiido

                              • Link

                                if its the louder sound that comes in the middle and then fades, yes, its the fan.
                                No problem :)