high pitched noise

[whootang12]

I just built a new computer, and on occasion i have been getting a high pitched noise that lasts for maybe 5-10 seconds. It happens on random, doesn't affect performance, and goes away as fast as it comes. Any ideas? My best guess would be my hard drive, but i guess i could be wrong......

Configuration:
Antec power supply
2 liteon cd burners
artec dvd drive
80gb western digital 2mb cache hard drive
intel motherboard with p4 2.53 (retailers special deal)
ati video card

ideas? suggestions?

thanks

 

[compudog]

Could be a cooling fan. Try pulling the power from each fan (obviously not the CPU or power supply ) and see if the noise goes away. It may also be a CD in the drive spinning up and down.

 

[bruincal]

Try putting all the PCI cards in a different slot! =)
I had a high-pitched noise problem with my new Gateway system. Gateway tech couldn't figure it out. I also posted here and everyone told me the usual 'check your cpu temps', 'check hard drives' ,etc.

However, I did some research online and found that some USB/FireWire controllers emit loud high pitched noise when at a certain distance near a GPU. Also, Sun had a similar problem with a motherboard it made in the past.

I repositioned my FireWire card into a different PCI slot and the sound never showed up again.

Good luck!

 

[Lord Evermore]

I only see one adapter card in his parts list. And it's a video card.

Probably a case fan or the video card or CPU fan; my roommate's computer started doing that a few months ago, front case fan was locking up. It's not likely to be your hard drive if it's intermittent but you're not losing data or crashing. You could run the manufacturer's diagnostics program if you want to be sure.

 

[redbeard1]

A friend of mine had a motherboard, that when ever the ram was under heavy use, it had a very distinct high pitch whine. When it was booting it was the most obvious, but starting some programs would also make it sing. Changing ram did not change the noise. I've heard other boards do it, just not like his.

 

[whootang12]

well, it can't be pci cards because i don't have any installed. I have front usb ports but those plug into the motherboard as far away from the processor as possible. The only fans i have are the intel fan on the processor and the one that comes with the power supply. System runs really cool so i didn't install any others. There are no cd's in the cd drives when it makes the noise, so i'd guess its not that. The noise comes when i'm not doing anything really requiring processing power. Any ideas on troubleshooting this to pinpoint the problem (short of buying new components) because I don't really think i could unplug anything really. Thanks for the help and the quick responses!