Clicking noise from MB

I have a rather old motherboard, an MSI KT3 Ultra2 about 4-5 years old,
but have never had any big problems. Except recently it has developed
this thing where it goes into a "clicking" mode, where the clicking
lasts 10-20 seconds sometimes. When it happens, it just does it once
and then stops, which happens once every few weeks or so. I have no
idea what is happening or why. Does anyone know what this might be? I
believe the CPU freezes while it is clicking as well, but then once it
stops it's OK.

TIA!

In news: Brianm wrote:

> I have a rather old motherboard, an MSI KT3 Ultra2 about 4-5 years
> old, but have never had any big problems. Except recently it has
> developed this thing where it goes into a "clicking" mode, where the
> clicking lasts 10-20 seconds sometimes. When it happens, it just
> does it once and then stops, which happens once every few weeks or
> so. I have no idea what is happening or why. Does anyone know what
> this might be? I believe the CPU freezes while it is clicking as
> well, but then once it stops it's OK.

No TIA (what about a true name)!?
Nicknames here in a NG look like TROLLS.

That clicking has nothing to do with hardware but with applications!
So recheck your applications (even as backround tasks)!

Do you have "MSI Alert" installed and active?
Horst

Brianm wrote:
> I have a rather old motherboard, an MSI KT3 Ultra2 about 4-5 years old,
> but have never had any big problems. Except recently it has developed
> this thing where it goes into a "clicking" mode, where the clicking
> lasts 10-20 seconds sometimes. When it happens, it just does it once
> and then stops, which happens once every few weeks or so. I have no
> idea what is happening or why. Does anyone know what this might be? I
> believe the CPU freezes while it is clicking as well, but then once it
> stops it's OK.
>
> TIA!

One problem with computer noises, is locating the general area in the
computer making the noise. Sometimes, the noise will seem to be coming
from one area, when it is coming from something entirely different.

A failing hard drive will "click" or "clunk" when recalibrating.
The noise is fairly distinctive.

The fans in your computer can make noise as they wear out. Some
of those noises are worst, just as the motherboard starts.

Motherboards don't normally have relays, so the clicking won't be coming
from something like that.

The most "energetic" part of the motherboard, is around the processor
socket. The switching power conversion, consists of MOSFETs (for switching
power), coils (for storing energy magnetically), and capacitors. It is possible
to get noise from a coil, and sometimes in power circuits, they place some
"goop" on the coil, to suppress noise from it. The noise there, might give
a tone type of noise, as opposed to a clicking. On some of my motherboards
here, I get "coil noise" while running Prime95 stress tester.

Capacitors can also make noise. The dielectric changes dimensions, depending
on the state of charge. Some capacitor types are worse than others for
making noise.

Capacitors also have different noises they make, when they're failing.
For example, my Antec power supply which recently failed, had leaking
and bulging capacitors on the output side. When the power supply would
first turn on, I could hear a muffled "arcing" sound coming from
the capacitors. Eventually the arcing stopped after 30 seconds or so.

I would start with a visual inspection of the motherboard. Check that
the problem is not related to the Northbridge fan, or one of the many
other fans in the computer. Then check the condition of the capacitors.

You can see some leaking capacitors in this photo. The capacitors are
cylinders, with a plastic insulating sleeve on the outside. The top of
the capacitor, has pressure relief lines stamped into the
top, in the form of the letter "K" or something similar. The
top of the capacitor should remain flat. When it starts to bulge, it
is getting ripe. Soon, it will start to leak electrolyte. Before
the pressure becomes too great, the pressure relief in the top will
open. Capacitors also have a "rubber bung" near the bottom, and
sometimes the bottom of the capacitor starts to push out of its
housing. (So instead of pressure relief at the top, it pushes
out of the cylinder, near the bottom.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PSU_Caps.jpg

In that picture, you can see the bigger blue capacitor in the
center of the picture, has a convex top on it, and that means
it is ripe. Four other capacitors, have already started leaking
orange-brown stuff on the top.

When the capacitor fails, the noises you hear will be what happens
when the power conversion circuit starts to malfunction, caused
by the shorting inside the failing capacitor. If you stop using
the product, before the failed capacitors get too bad, you
can actually replace all the capacitors and get a few more
years from the product. But the key there, is the price the
repair person will charge to do it. One guy used to "re-cap" a
motherboard for about $50, but I think those days are over.
If anyone is still offering that service, they'll want more
than $50 to do it. (You can get lead poisoning, if you're not
careful setting up your repair environment - at work, the
staff doing that kind of work, were given a blood test to
detect poisoning, every three months. While that might not
stop you from injuring yourself at work, it does give the
company better feedback on workplace safety, and what
constitutes good enough tools and techniques to avoid poisoning.
For example, eating a sandwich with one hand, and soldering
with the other, would not be considered good practice.
Breathing the solder smoke is also bad for you, and the
work area should have proper ventilation.)

Paul