ANNOYING NOISE FROM PCV-RX202!

[jimhaddon]

For some reason on my computer. recently, it has started making this strange sort of clicking sound. Before, you could move the computer a bit, and the sound would go off, but now its continually clicking. its REALLY annoying. it sorta sounds like something rattling. Can anyone help?
James....

[kee-lo_]

James,

Try locating the sound, as its very hard to give you advice if we don't know with what we are dealing with.

[intradinkq]

The main moving parts in a machine are either the fan or the hard disk. Sounds like one of them has either come a little loose or is dying. Only other thing I can think of is a loose cable interferring with the fan.

If you take the cover off (this may invalidate your warranty), you might be able to see the problem.

[iainjturner]

It's most probably the hard drive. My RX1 emits a strange, barely audible 'squealing' noise whenever there is heavy hard disk activity. It's been doing this for a while now, so I've learnt to put up with it.

Unless, of course, there is something stuck in the system fan. I'd open the case with the computer running and see if there's anything immediately obvious going on. If the computer starts to overheat, it's most likely the fan.

[stevep-4]

If the RX202 is anything like the RX405, you will find that various parts such as the hard drive and power supply, are very easily removeable. Possibly one of these has come loose. (It may be ratling with natural harmonics with the fan.
Check if any cables are loose and that there are no ty-wraps poking into the fans. The ribbon cables are generally rather long, so maybe won of te spare plugs is baning on something.h

[Stephanius]

With very hight probablity this is neither the CPU fan, nor the Harddisk, but the fan of the graphics card.

You can test this two ways:

1) open the side panel of the housing (release is on the top of the units back)
stop the graphics card fan by touching it gently with your finger in the flat middle.

2) while the unit is running and you hear the noise, assuming you have it upright, tilt the unit by 90 degrees, so it is resting on its side.

If the noise is gone, you have your culprit.

[VAIOspecialist]

To my experience in 9 out 10 cases its the CPU-fan that causes this kind of sound. Follow Stephanius advice and stop the CPU-fan the same way. (Of course only quite short, huh?)
If you can pinpoint it to that fan, normally cleaning it gently with a cloth etc. will do the job. Otherwise replacement might be neccesary. It's one of the parts that needs replacements or at least caretaking once every other year.

David

[stevep-4]

Try using a volunteer to stick his finger in the fan to stop it......while you are busy listening......

[kee-lo_]

Hehe, I don't see any voulanteers.....
If you like bloody fingers too............

[stevep-4]

As an apprentice engineer, i was advised about what sort of holes to put my fingers in (no need to explain!!).


SteveP, all fingers intact.


Another idea would be to just unplug the fan and let it wind down itself, or unplug the fan before turning the computer on (even better and safer idea). If it is the fan that is causing the noise, it would most likely be a combination of out of balance (fan blades covered in dust or bogeys) or natural harmonics, so the noise may stop when the fan is running at a different speed.

Check if there are any obstacles in the way of the air flow, causing a side load on the fan bearings (e.g. ribbon cables).
in any case, new fans are pretty cheap these days.