TR Forums

Hello all, long time lurker but I'm having desktop issues atm so I've finally found a need to post! Was unsure whether to put this one in Mobos or GPUs so I plumped for here instead.

My computer runs fine when on. (Well as fine as fine can be). However when I go into the bios I normally get about 20 seconds and then a random squealing from my tower and then the video output dies. The processor has been overclocked however the graphics card has not. The sound appears to be coming from my GPU but I'm not 100%. Note that when in windows this never happens however everytime I go into the BIOS I get this error. I don't have another graphics card to test this with, I could take my dad's p.c apart to borrow his but theres a little bit of work involved there so I thought I'd see if there was another solution first.

Mobo:
asus p6x58d-e
Processor:
i7-950
GPU:
HD5870

Any thoughts?

Can you narrow down the source of the noise by going into the BIOS with the side off the case? Squealing noises can be due to a number of different things -- bad fan, bad hard drive, or failing switching regulators. When the video output goes away, is the system completely wedged or can you still reboot it by hitting Ctrl-Alt-Del?

Okay, so i've taken the PSU out of the case and left it as far away from the tower (and GPU) as the leads allow. Got the sam screeching noise but I am 99% sure it is the GPU. I can reboot the machine from BIOS by cntrl alt del however the screen doe not turn back on (i know it rebooted because i get the windows start noise and light flash on mouse/keyboard etc.) I have tried different monitor in each of the different ports and still the same issue.

Best bet forward is to try a different video card?

My guess: The fan bearings on the video card are dying. When you go into the BIOS, the video card is going into a different power state, causing the fan to turn at a speed (faster or slower, no idea which) that aggravates the problem with the bearings. Then, the GPU either overheats, or the card notices the fan isn't working right and shuts down.

Thanks for the reply mate.

That sounds like something it could well possibly be, the sound is definitely of a mechanical nature that could likely be associated with the fans. I've taken the opportunity to take my towers fully apart and give it a clean. When i put it back together I will try and do it with a bare-bones system and see how I go with that video-card and a different video card. If I can isolate to the GPU i guess nits a trip to the system guide for me

Thanks again for your help

Piprudes wrote:

That sounds like something it could well possibly be, the sound is definitely of a mechanical nature that could likely be associated with the fans. I've taken the opportunity to take my towers fully apart and give it a clean. When i put it back together I will try and do it with a bare-bones system and see how I go with that video-card and a different video card. If I can isolate to the GPU i guess nits a trip to the system guide for me

If the GPU fan is accessible enough to turn by hand -- don't push or press on the blades, just try to gently spin them -- do so, and see if the fan is stiff or seems to grind.