One of the most important components of the computer is the power supply unit or the PSU. The main function of a power supply unit is to supply electricity to the various components of the PC for the proper functioning of the system. Hence, it is very important thing to ensure that a unified power supply is being received by every component of the computer. On the other hand, a PSU having a poor supply can be very harmful to the machine and it can hamper the productivity of the computer a lot. Apart from causing incompatibility, it can also even burn the pc components. Let us see how to solve when PSU making clicking noise in this article.
PSU Making Clicking Noise
Mechanical malfunctioning can lead to a weird noise caused by the PSU. The fan inside the power supply unit (PSU) is the mechanical component that is responsible for making clicking noise. If the PSU is getting noisier day by day then it might indicate that it needs an immediate replacement. You can hear noises at short intervals and mostly you will hear sounds as if the blades are hitting something. Other noise-causing agents are broken fans, loose screws, or tangled wires in the fans.
Causes For PSU Making Clicking Noise
Broken or dusty PSU fan
PSUs come with built-in fans that help to manage the gathered heat inside the PSU. But these are dust magnets too. They gather a lot of dust and dirt which you will need to clean every week. You can keep your computer in an area that is less prone to dirt and dust i.e in an enclosed space. If you see a lot of dust gathering in the PSU fans then brush them once a week. In case you find broken fans then you will only have one option left with you i.e replacing them.
Check the Mounting Screws
Usually, PSU screws become loose with continuous usage of the computer and in very rare cases, it might have not been tightened since the first day of the purchase. As a result, the PSU starts to rattle thus producing the clicking sound. What you need to do is take a screwdriver and tighten the screws to find the PSU unit. If you notice that some screws are missing then you need to replace them with new ones.
Check the Wires
The wires connecting to your power supply unit can get loose over time as a process of regular wear and tear. They might get tangled around the fan of the PSU and when the wind hits those wires, it can produce a clicking sound which can be very noisy and irritating. What you need to do is open the PSU case and detect the wire. After that, secure it properly so that it does not interfere with the fan.
Improper PSU installation
In case the power supply installation was done by you then it can be very much possible that the PSU was not installed properly. It is a general habit of people to install the power supply unit in the wrong way. If this becomes your case too then it can lead to overheating of the PSU. In the worst cases, this situation may even lead to the burning out of the PSU. So you need to be aware that every motherboard has a particular orientation for installing the power supply. If you have made a similar mistake, just turn around the PSU and your problem will be resolved.
Loosened Screws
If your PSU is making clicking noises then another reason for this is loosened screws in the PSU. So as soon you turn on the power the loose screws will start vibrating. This can get annoying if when using the PC for a longer period of time. If you work in a quiet environment then it can get very noisy. If your PC has a top-mounted PSU then this can be very harmful to your computer as the falling screws can harm the components below it. You can fix this by tightening the screws
Overclocking of the computer
There are a lot of gamers who have a habit of overpowering their computers which leads to overconsumption of electricity from the PSU. This further leads for producing clicking noise in the computer PSU that can get irritating. If you are a person who likes to play heavy games like Call of Duty or use extensive graphics software like Adobe After Effects, your computer can get heated up very quickly. The PSU will feel difficult to keep the fans running properly and things will start creaking. What you need to do at this moment is bring the PC back to the original state and everything will become normal with the noise gone too.
Check The Input and Output Ports
Usually, computers have a lot of input and output components that accumulate a lot of dust. If you have a similar computer with you then this dust can affect the performance of the fans badly as they might find it difficult to rotate properly producing a clicking noise. To fix this you need to clean the PSU fan properly and regularly. You can use compressed air to clean the fans. Another thing that you can do is keep the CPU case far from desks as well as walls to prevent dust accumulation.
Check PSU Connections
At times, you might experience a situation where the PC shuts down randomly after a loud click. If this has ever happened to you then the power must have shortened. All the new-age PSUs come with a fail-safe technology that automatically shuts down the power supply if it encounters a difference in the voltage. To fix this you need to remove the power cord by turning your PC off and then check whether every component is connected properly or not. Normally you need to make sure the SATA cables, HDD cables, cables of the graphics driver, etc are tight and snug.
Faulty Voltage Regulators
We have been using a UPS for our computer to protect our data as a result of power failure. But there is an in-built stabilizer inside the power supply that takes care of all the voltage fluctuations maintaining a constant voltage throughout the components of the computer. Good quality PSUs tend to regulate the voltage quite efficiently compared to the cheaper ones. But with time, even good power supply units seem to get damaged as a result of prolonged usage. This leads to abnormal electricity flow in the computer that can be very harmful to the components of the PC as high voltage can fry them. A voltage regulator is undoubtedly an essential component of a power supply unit. So, if you think that the PSU is malfunctioning or is damaged then it is high time that you replace it with a new one. You cannot risk the whole system just for the sake of saving a few bugs.
Faulty PSU
A faulty PSU can be the last reason why your PC is producing clicking noises. If you have already tried all the above-proposed fixes then there is a high possibility that something is wrong with the power supply unit itself. There is no fix for this but you need to think about replacing the existing PSU with a new one. Even if you succeed in repairing a power supply unit then it is still recommended that you should get a new one rather than using the repaired one for the safety of your PC. A PSU is an essential component of the computer as it provides a power supply to every component of the computer. So you need to ensure that the PSU is in a good condition. And always remember to get a good quality PSU without compromising the price. You can always consider your budget while buying other PC components but you should be ready to spend a high price if you are getting a high-quality PSU.
Conclusion
If you want to ensure that your PSU is working properly without any issues then you need to check the power supply. You can use various methods to do this like doing a paperclip test or even using a PSU testing kit or a multimeter test. But if your PSU is still producing the clicking sound and you are not able to get rid of this issue then there is a high chance that your PSU is dying and it is very important to get it replaced. You need to bear in mind that your PC has a lot of costly components inside and the PSU provides the juice to each one of them for their proper functioning. So it is advisable to change the PSU on time rather than regretting later by damaging your PC. Always go for expensive and high-end PSUs that are from reputed brands. A good PSU is durable and will provide you with more efficiency.