Computer is Whining at Me?

I'd actually think it's the PSU. Thankfully, they're easier (and cheaper) to replace than a video card/hard drive fan.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

NO.

Opening the side panel does NOT give more cool air than you'd think. It can actually make your computer HOTTER, because the airflow is wrecked. Unless he's got a box fan blowing into the computer, it won't make much of a difference.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Metal Sphere

If his airflow is terrible, just opening the case would help. I should've made that clear when I first mentioned it, but eh. Again, it sounds like his airflow is pretty shitty inside the case, and it's causing something to happen to the PSU. Like others said before, that's probably the source of the instability.

No, what I was saying is that OPENING the side panel wrecks the airflow. Look at it this way: you have a 120mm fan (at best) moving... about 1 to 1 1/2 cubic feet of air (from a general guesstimate) when the case is closed. When you open the side panel, not only are you removing any fans that may have been on it, you're also making the other fans go from moving that relatively small amount of air to moving the ENTIRE room's air. Opening the side panel can only make the computer hotter, since what may have been sufficient for cooling the entire computer before may now only be moving air over half the parts at best.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.