I would think that the CPU could not make any noise. If it was loose, it 
would most likely cause operational problems. However, that said, you 
can check to see that the little handle that holds the CPU in place is 
down all the way and hooked into place. Hard to describe but self 
explanatory when you examine it and feel it.

More likely, the CPU fan is the source of the noises. First try cleaning 
the fan and heat sink in place using some canned air. Use a toothpick or 
pencil to hold the fan blades rather than letting them spin too fast 
during cleaning. If that does not solve the noise issue, the fan likely 
needs to be replaced. There are different hold down devices that are 
FIRMLY in place to hold the heat sink and fan in place and against the 
CPU. You are going to have to try with appropriate force to unsnap the 
hold downs. Again, when you examine and feel the installation, the 
removal procedure should be somewhat obvious.

When you buy a  replacement fan also buy a little thermal paste (may be 
called by a different name depending upon the supplier). When 
reinstalling the heat sink and fan, clean the contact surfaces between 
the CPU and heat sink and apply a dab of the thermal paste.

I hope this helps eliminate the noises. If not, please post a follow up 
for more suggestions.

Tom

g.Computer9f wrote:
> There has been intermittent noise (humming, buzzing, chattery humming) coming from my PC.  I opened it, thinking it was one of the HDDs, but it appears to be the processor.  I can see under the fan that the heat sink is very dusty, but I don't know how to get the fan off of the heat sink to clean the heat sink.  The processor is the only part that was to hard for me to lock in place by myself.
>
> Does anyone know if the dust could be causing it, or if I need to look for a new processor?  (This one is only a year and a half old.)    CPU AMD|A64 3200+ 2.0G 939 512K R (Venice).
>
> Thanks,
> Ann Fennell
>
>                      
>   

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