Power Supply Making Noise? Clicking, Buzzing or Grinding Explained

In this guide (8 sections)

• First, make sure it’s the power supply
• 1. A single click when turning on or off
• 2. Ticking from the fan
• 3. Repeated clicking when the load changes
• 4. A high-pitched whine or buzz
• 5. Grinding, rattling or crackling
• 6. A loud whoosh all the time
• Real cases: what other users ran into

The power supplyPSU (power supply): The power supply: the box that takes power from the wall and feeds every part through cables. More in our PC basics glossary →Close ✕ has only two things that make noise: its fan, and the electrical parts inside. Listening carefully for when the noise happens tells you which one it is, and whether you can ignore it, fix it in a minute, or should replace the unit.

First, make sure it’s the power supply

Graphics cards, case fans and liquid cooler pumps make similar noises. With the case side open, listen near each part while the noise happens. Our guide to a PC whose fans are loud all the time shows how to find the source.

What you hear	When	Most likely cause	Where to look
You hear one click.	Turning on or off	A switch inside, normal	Noise 1
You hear ticking that comes and goes with the fan.	Desktop, after games	The power supply fan	Noise 2
You hear repeated clicks.	When games start, close or change scenes	Load changes or wall power	Noise 3
You hear a high-pitched whine or buzz.	In games or menus, changes with frame rate	Coil whineCoil whine: A high-pitched buzz from the electronics (not the fans) that changes with the frame rate. More in our Cooling & noise glossary →Close ✕	Noise 4
You hear grinding, rattling or crackling.	Any time	Worn fan or failing parts	Noise 5
You hear a loud whoosh all the time.	Even on the desktop	The power supply is hot	Noise 6

1. A single click when turning on or off

Many power supplies click once when you switch on, or turn off the PC. It’s a small switch inside (a relay) doing its job at startup. It’s completely normal.

2. Ticking from the fan

Many power supplies stop their fan when they’re cool, like many graphics cards do (zero-RPM modeZero-RPM mode: A feature that stops the fans completely when the part is cool, to stay silent. It's normal, not a fault. More in our Cooling & noise glossary →Close ✕), and start it when they warm up. The fan starting and stopping, or a cable touching it, can make a ticking sound.

How to check: the ticking follows the fan: it changes when the power supply heats up after a game, or stops when the fan speeds up.

Fix:

• Make sure no cable is touching the power supply’s fan or its grille.
• Check the power supply is mounted the right way: in most cases with a vent at the bottom, the fan faces down onto the dust filter.
• Clean the dust filter under the power supply.
• If the fan’s bearing is worn, the ticking gets worse over time: see noise 5.

3. Repeated clicking when the load changes

Clicks every time a game starts, closes or changes scene can come from switches inside the power supply reacting to sudden changes in power, or from unstable power at the wall.

How to check and fix:

1. Plug the PC straight into a wall socket, without power strips or extension cords, especially chained ones. Test again.
2. If you use a small UPS (battery backup), test without it.
3. If the clicking continues and the power supply is under warranty, contact its maker: repeated clicking isn’t how most units should behave.

4. A high-pitched whine or buzz

A thin, electronic whine or buzz that changes pitch with what’s on screen, often loudest in game menus with very high frame rates, is coil whine. It comes from tiny parts vibrating, either in the power supply or the graphics card.

It’s usually harmless. Our guide on coil whine shows how to tell which part it comes from and how to make it quieter, often just by capping the frame rate.

5. Grinding, rattling or crackling

• Grinding or rattling that gets worse over time is usually the fan’s bearing wearing out.
• Crackling, popping or hissing, especially with a burning smell, means an electrical part is failing.

What to do: don’t open the power supply to fix the fan. Its parts can hold a dangerous charge even when unplugged. Replace the power supply, or use its warranty. With crackling or a smell, stop using the PC until it’s replaced. Our guide on signs your PSU is failing explains what to look for.

6. A loud whoosh all the time

If the power supply fan roars even on the desktop, the unit is running hot.

• Dust: clean the filter under the power supply and blow out its grille from outside with the PC unplugged.
• Airflow: make sure its intake isn’t blocked, for example by carpet under the PC.
• Size: a power supply working near its limit runs hot and loud. If you’ve upgraded the graphics card, check how many watts you need.

Real cases: what other users ran into

These are real reports from PC forums, summarized in our own words, with a link to each original thread.

Real casebe quiet! Straight Power 12 1600 WSolvedTicking that turned out to be the power stripsRead what happened

The power supply ticked whenever the owner returned to a game menu or launched a game, and it was getting worse each day. A reply suggested it was a switch inside reacting to load changes, which is normal for some units, and warned never to chain power strips together. The owner replaced two old chained strips with a single new one plugged straight into the wall, and said the problem now seemed fixed, with the fans running smoother too.

Takeaway: test with the PC plugged straight into the wall. See noise 3.

Source: Tom's Hardware Forum

Real caseSeasonic Focus GX-750 · GTX 1060SolvedClicking that only happened while the fan spunRead what happened

An 11-month-old power supply clicked only while its fan was spinning. A reply said the fan was the only moving part and the most likely cause, and suggested checking for anything touching the fan blades. Nothing was touching, but the clicking was quieter with the power supply outside the case. After reinstalling it with the fan facing the vent below, the owner said it seemed fixed, at least for now.

Takeaway: check the fan’s orientation and clearance. See noise 2.

Source: Tom's Hardware Forum

Real caseThermaltake 1000 W · RTX 3090 Founders EditionSolution not confirmed by the userClicking at idle that stopped during gamesRead what happened

The power supply clicked soon after starting the PC, went quiet during games and started again after closing them. The accepted answer was that the fan was responsible: it spins faster when the power supply warms up in games, which hides or stops the click. The owner found that convincing but didn’t report back after testing.

Takeaway: a noise that follows the fan’s speed is the fan. See noise 2.

Source: Tom's Hardware Forum

Real caseCorsair HX1000i (2022) · RTX 3070Solved by replacing hardwareRepeated relay clicks, and the unit went backRead what happened

A new power supply clicked when stress tests started and, for other users, every few seconds at low load. The forum’s power supply reviewer said the unit should click only once at startup, so repeated clicks weren’t normal. The owner returned it; another user returned two units for the same reason.

Takeaway: one click at startup is fine; constant clicking is worth a warranty claim. See noise 1 and noise 3.

Source: Hardware Busters Forum

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for a power supply to click?

One click when turning on or off is normal. Repeated clicking during use isn’t typical: check the fan and your wall power first, then contact the maker if it continues.

Why does my power supply fan not spin?

Many power supplies stop their fan at low load to stay silent. It starts when the unit warms up. If it never spins, even in long games, contact the maker.

Can I oil or replace the fan in my power supply?

No. Opening a power supply is dangerous because of the charge stored inside, and it voids the warranty. Replace the unit instead.

Is a buzzing power supply dangerous?

A faint coil whine that changes with the game isn’t. A loud buzz, crackling or any burning smell is: switch off and replace it.

My power supply is loud only in games. Is that normal?

Yes, up to a point: its fan speeds up as the load rises. If it’s much louder than before, clean the dust and check it isn’t too small for your parts.