Hardware: PSU making a buzzing noise? Should I replace it or...?

So, I tried upgrading my PC recently. I picked up some new RAM, a motherboard, and a processor, plus I swapped out my old GPU for my dad's. I put the whole thing together myself about 2 or 3 days ago, and honestly, it works—the graphics look amazing and nothing lags at all. But there's a catch. As soon as I launch anything demanding, like League of Legends or The Witcher on max settings, the fans go absolutely ballistic. On top of that, there’s this buzzing sound coming from the power supply. It only happens when a game is running, though; once I close the game, the noise stops. I’ve searched online, but I haven't found anything helpful. Maybe I just need a new PSU? I don't know. I even tried vacuuming the power supply fans to clear out any dust, but... yeah, no luck. This buzzing—it's somewhere between a crackling and a hum, and it isn't constant; it actually gets louder and more frequent the longer the game stays open. Now I'm actually scared to play anything because my case sounds like a literal beast. You can hear the fans ramping up, plus that weird crackling/buzzing sound, which I'm pretty sure is coming from the PSU since it's loudest right where the power supply sits if I lean in close.

I'm running Windows 10, and here's the breakdown of my parts:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card
MSI B450M Mortar motherboard
Intel Core i7-4770K processor, 4.0 GHz, 16.0 MB
Kingston 8GB RAM
Power supply is just some basic 550W unit (MS PRO 550W ATX P4)
Hard drive is just some random one, doesn't really matter I guess, and I have two large fans, one in the front and one in the back of the case.

My CPU temp peaked at 55 degrees, and the GPU hit 58. My brother says those numbers are fine.

So, does anyone know why my computer gets so loud, specifically the power supply? Should I just bite the bullet and buy a new PSU? Is 550W maybe not enough wattage?

If you're really running an MS power supply—and you mentioned earlier that you are—I’d strongly suggest swapping it out. Those units don't actually deliver the wattage they claim to have on the label.

This would be a solid upgrade for you 👍 provided that the price of $167 isn't breaking the bank..

1. When you’re dealing with a processor like this, you really need to invest in an aftermarket cooler. The stock cooler is far too inadequate for a 125W chip; it runs hot and gets incredibly loud. You should be looking at at least this
.
2. That power supply is bottom-of-the-barrel quality. The only thing actually hitting 550W is the label on the sticker. You absolutely have to swap that out immediately before it fries your entire system. Grab at least this.

3. You could have saved about $60 by opting for the FX 8300 and put that extra cash toward a better motherboard and cooler, but there's no use crying over spilled milk. Just fix that power supply first.

thanks for the help, I guess I'll just go ahead and pick up a new power supply and a CPU_FAN 🙂

If you happen to have a bit more room in your budget, I can certainly suggest some higher-end options. Those initial picks were really just the bare minimums worth considering for value.
For instance, if you want a beefier, quieter cooler, you might look at something like a Standard PC Component

If you're rocking an older case, it might be time to swap out those stock fans. Check your setup—you’ve probably got one 80mm to 120mm fan tucked at the bottom of the front panel and another one acting as an exhaust on the back. You want them oriented so the front one pulls air in and the rear one pushes it out. This creates the airflow needed to keep things from overheating, helping out your GPU and CPU coolers while also keeping the chipset, RAM, and drives from cooking. They aren't exactly expensive; you can grab decent ones for about $40-$17. Honestly, they start making this annoying whistling noise after a few years, so it's worth replacing them. It's a simple DIY job anyone can handle. Just make sure to check if your motherboard uses 2-pin or 3-pin connectors before you buy anything.

I've got those fans too. That front one is basically an ancient relic at this point, but I guess it still works fine; it isn't even hooked up to the motherboard, just plugged straight into the power supply. As for the one in the back, it's connected to a CPU_FAN, but it has 4 pins while my motherboard only has 3 >.< I think I bought that rear fan right when I picked up the power supply about two years ago.

as long as they're spinning and not making a racket, it's fine...

So, what's the verdict on this CPU_FAN?
http://www.thermaltake.com/products-...?id=C_00001823

That's fair. If you aren't planning on overclocking, there's really no need to drop cash on such an expensive cooler. You could easily manage an OC with a Standard PC Component (a solid budget pick)

If you're looking to get serious about overclocking, instead of wasting money on that Contact cooler, I'd suggest looking at the Corsair DS (though it looks like they're sold out everywhere), or maybe this. Just double-check your clearance; a 161mm cooler might not fit if you have a standard mid-tower case.



EDIT

Honestly, don't even bother trying to push that motherboard. Your best bet would be to just undervolt

My case width is about 18.5 cm. Honestly, I don't really care about much else—as long as there aren't any vibrations, the fan stays quiet, and my CPU doesn't overheat, I'm good. 🙂

Maybe this one right here? Might actually be enough for my processor since it says "up to 130W" http://www.deepcool.com/product/cpuc...12/7_481.shtml

It’s compact—it'll definitely fit a 135mm