Hello everyone. I finally tracked down the HDD like noise inside my PC and it is coming from my GPU fans. For some reason once my GPU fan hit 60% speed and above the HDD-like noise begins. Is this something I need to worry about?
GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060Ti
Edit: Just tested manually increasing gpu fan speed and the noise range from 60-75 percent fan speed more or less. When I put it on 80 to 100 percent fan speed there is no noise.
is this an electrical buzzing noise or a grinding like noise? Your card is rather new so I assume there is not a lot of dust build up on it.
it is like the clicking sound from HDD.
and no cables come into contact with the fans?
no cables. for months i actually thought it came from my HDD since I still have one old HDD that I transferred from my old PC to this new setup for storage. But then through time I noticed the noise appears when I play games that makes my GPU heat up a bit hence I saw the connection and started observing the fan speed.
weird that is goes away at faster RPM and does not become louder. The fan itself could be loose or just simply needs to be replaced or re-lubricated, or something else but my guess it’s one of those three but it’s hard to tell without seeing and hearing the GPU itself.
Is it easy to lubricate or tighten the fans? something I could do by myself or better bring to a PC Shop?
Yea. Was surprised and at the same time relieved that the clicking noise disappears at higher RPM. Otherwise if the noise gets louder at higher RPM then it could be bearings which I read in other forums. Basically the noise appears at 60 percent then get a bit louder as I increased speed to 70-78 then disappears at 80+ percent speed and above.
you can do it yourself, delete the space in the link below to see the how to video. You can also get replacement fans off of ali express
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykY642Galys
That’s what I would have thought as well but the fact that it goes away rather than gets louder could simply mean the fan is loose.
Awesome thanks.
Fan could be just slightly bent one way and at that RPM range it impacts on something, like the frame or whatever. And as it goes faster it stops.
My ceiling fan does that 
This, if it’s just grinding a new fan and you’re good I would imagine.
can you replace the blade?
it wasn’t the blade; was something with the motor. We replaced the whole thing a few months ago. Much nicer looking too.
You think I could stretch the use of the current fans or just replace now? I just change the fan curve into the Step version and it basically skips staying in the 60-75 percent RPM speed now and so there is almost no noise now except when it passes those range to go into the 80 percent speed.
Which specific card is it?
Can you take it out and visually inspect for any obstruction/bent angles?
Nvidia RTX 3080Ti. I will try tomorrow when i wake up and the pc is cool. Right now just watching a few episodes of Arrow TV series before bed haha.
Was wondering the specific make; sometimes you can just order replacement fans easily. If you can identify that the fan is not just impacting on the shroud (if this is the case sometimes you can bend it back) then buying replacement fans can be easy.
Example here’s one for a Zotac
UPDATE: So I just removed and inspected my GPU earlier and everything seems fine. I tested the blades like in the video if the bearing is broken or it is lacking lubrication. But both the fans spins smoothly so it seems the bearing and lubrication is not the problem. There is not much dusts as well.
The one thing that maybe caused it is the mounting which seems to not have been properly locked. When I removed the GPU it came off rather quickly so after inspecting I snapped it back firmly and it seems to be locked more tightly now. I think the installers were not able to snap the GPU into the slot properly so that the locking pin did not go up all the way. Just tested the fan speed all the way up and not one clicking sound. Glad the GPU did not shorted or something with the loose mounting. Probably dodged a bullet here.
Btw since you are knowledgeable with PCs. Is it better to set my fan curve using the Step format or the linear curve one?
Linear curve is usually better unless you have predictable temps and know what fan speed you want to be at
Yes that is what I thought. I just read somewhere that Steps is less stressfull to the fans and will make the fans last longer. thanks
Edit: Also do you think the default linear curve of MSI afterburner is good enough?