Can anyone assist?
My power input has started making a tapping sound after being on for about five minutes and seems to be getting quite warm. It sounds like someone tapping on the metal fan cover.
Does anyone know why this could be and what problems I am expecting to face if I continue to use the PC without dealing with it.
Thanks for your help

Chris

If you're talking about the system power supply, it sounds as though there may be an accumulation of dust impeding the fans air flow. This will eventually cause the power supply to burn out from overheating. It could also be the fan blade hub starting to loosen/come off from the motor shaft, hitting the fan blade guard. In either case, it's prudent to get this corrected.

Power supply fans are fairly simple to replace. Just make sure it's unplugged and don't touch major components inside the power supply. The new fan will have the blade rotation direction, and the air flow direction stamped onto the side. Just make sure the air flow is to the outside of the power supply. Some fans plug in, some must be "wire spliced". Most times the color coding of the wires will be self explanatory. If the colors differ, make sure the blade rotation when running matches what is stamped on the fan housing. A quick "ON/OFF" prior to reassembly will verify this. It's best to take the old fan with you when you go for a new one. Blow off as much dust as you can inside the power supply.

Originally Posted by Dan Penny

If you're talking about the system power supply, it sounds as though there may be an accumulation of dust impeding the fans air flow. This will eventually cause the power supply to burn out from overheating. It could also be the fan blade hub starting to loosen/come off from the motor shaft, hitting the fan blade guard. In either case, it's prudent to get this corrected.

Power supply fans are fairly simple to replace. Just make sure it's unplugged and don't touch major components inside the power supply. The new fan will have the blade rotation direction, and the air flow direction stamped onto the side. Just make sure the air flow is to the outside of the power supply. Some fans plug in, some must be "wire spliced". Most times the color coding of the wires will be self explanatory. If the colors differ, make sure the blade rotation when running matches what is stamped on the fan housing. A quick "ON/OFF" prior to reassembly will verify this. It's best to take the old fan with you when you go for a new one. Blow off as much dust as you can inside the power supply.

NOTE
Opening Power Supplys Units (PSU's) is very dangerous!! The capacitors within them store large voltages at high current!!

i.e. 240Volts AC with 1amp of current = 240 Watts of Power (Volts x Amps = Power!!!)

Therefore 450 Watt Power Supply will have 2amps of current!!!

Even though the value of the ampage maybe low, rest assured that most static or general shocks are in the low milli amps (i.e. 0.002amps) and even 0.5amps is enough to cause MAJOR DAMAGE!!!

Also it voids the warrenty

Which is why I said; "Just make sure it's unplugged and don't touch major components inside the power supply." Also if the power supply is starting to make noise it's ~probably~ out of warranty anyway. Most of the shock potential is at the solder side of the PS board which is inaccessable unless you dismantle the entire supply from the housing. Granted there exists exceptions if you start poking your fingers down in between components, but I've opened many just for this purpose (fan service/replacement) and never been shocked.