One of my Pc makes a wierd noise.

One of my pc's that i dont normally use i turned on the other day to get everything networked and clean the pc up. So I im downloading the early release on both 2 pc's incase the other is occupied. So i noticed that my one pc makes this wierd noise to me it sounds like the processor is like winding up or kicking on or possibly one of the hardrives thats the best way i can explain it. While it's making the noise the pc pauses and it makes the noise for about 3-5 seconds at the most. Im listening to it do it while the pc is running it doesent do it at any certain point or during any specific action. For instance it did it like 3 times in like 5 mins but it hasnt done it now for about a hour, so im pretty clueless. Some of the equipment is a old and in the process of being updating but its a decent rig. Ill post the spec of the top of my head in case u would like to know, but i really have no idea as to what it might be and any help is appreciated. It's not a main concern since its not my main pc but its bugging the crap out me.

Its custom built (Sorry dont know exact specs unless i look it up)
windows vista home premium
2gb ram
azeus mb
pentium 4 3.0 ghz
nvidia 6600gt

I am computer illiterate!

But could it be the fan on the CPU?? I know if comps get to hot sometimes they can freeze.

I know the basics im not that great with diagnosing stuff either i was learning toward the processor or one of the HD's but ill take any input as to diagnose it and i fixt it.

Give it a few minutes and I'm sure one of our tech guys/gals will be all over this. They are amazing

Does it sound like a fan speeding up or a disc in a rom drive?

First off the CPU doesn't make any noise but the fan on it does. The hard drive will sometimes make noise when seeking but it doesn't sound anything like a cpu fan. The cd-rom sometimes will access a disc that is in it and spin up. This would sound like a loud disc spinning (whirring) and then settle down after a few seconds or so.

Have you opened the case while this happens to listen more closely and pin point what is making the noise? At least check your fans to make sure they all all running.

If the BIOS is monitoring and adjusting fans in the case then maybe it caused one to kick on? Its hard to say without being there to hear it with my own ears.

It's definitly not a disc in the cd check notihng in there. Im pretty sure it not a fan noise. I will have to sit by it and try and listen to where exactly its comming from. Yea it sucks cause i bet if one of you were here you would have it figuared out in a minute,lol. Ill try to listen as to exactly were and get back to ya.

hard drives usually make a 'clicking' noice or a thrashing noise (like the HDD platters are loose) when they are going bad.

If it sounded like a fan then it most likely is. You only have so many fans in the case;

PSU fan
CPU fan
VGA fan
intake/exhaust fans on the case
and sometimes chipset fans.

Good luck and let us know!

Leonidiz wrote:So i noticed that my one pc makes this wierd noise to me it sounds like the processor is like winding up or kicking on or possibly one of the hardrives thats the best way i can explain it. While it's making the noise the pc pauses and it makes the noise for about 3-5 seconds at the most.

Hmm if the computer slows down then I don't suspect a fan, even tho the noise sounds like it is.

Power supply possiable, but that would typically shut down the computer or reboot it if it was having an issue.
Like it was suggested already, open up case and see if you can hear where its comming from better.
What kind of cards do you have plugged into the Motherboard? Video, Sound, Modem/Fax/Telphone type of card?
Do you have a floppy drive?

Does the sound always go along with the computer slowing down? If so then its something that is interuppting the cpu cycle or adding cycles to it.

I opened up the case and listened to it a few times it sounds like it comming from one of the HD's if its possible. It makes a simlilar sound to it when i reboot the pc but not nearly as loud. All the fans are working correctly in the case. The type of cards plugged in would the graphics card a 6600gt, some cheapo sound card and i have no floppy drive. The pc never reboots from it just pauses the pc for a few seconds like the busy action sign on ur cursor when u open somthing. Yes everytime i hear the noise it always pauses the pc.

I bet you have 1 hard drive or the drive thats making the noise is the one where the OS and or the Swap file is?

If the noise is coming from the hard drive then that could be an early indication of somethings not right with it. It could explain the pauses to the computer also. I have had Western Digitals make sounds like that before and Maxtors before they eventual craped out.

If it is the hard drive then it could just make a noise due to a misaligned part, loose part, vibrations, etc.. It could be just fine for along time, but if it were me.. I would make sure I did not have any real important info on it just in case.

Yea nothing really important on that pc but I'm gonna swap HD's out and see if the does the trick. It sounds about right as to what ur saying with the OS on it that would prolly cause it to pause. Thanks for the help everyone. Ill post back after I swap them out and see if that does the trick.