Certain mechanical components of a computer produce noise, such as speakers, fans, harddrives and disk readers.
Can electronic components of a computer (transistors, resistors, capacitors, ICs, screens, power supplies, etc.) also produce noise, or is noise limited to the realm of mechanics?
Best Answer
Aside from the obvious components (speakers, motors, fans, relays, etc.) it is quite common for inductors, transformers, and capacitors to make noise.
Inductors and transformers work by converting electricity into magnetic fields. Sometimes these fields are moving/vibrating/whatever in just the right way to make parts of the inductor or transformer to mechanically vibrate and make audible noise.
Capacitors are just two metal plates separated by a non-conducting material (a.k.a. dielectric) so it seems like there is nothing to vibrate. But, it can! Some materials are piezo-electric. Meaning that when they are exposed to an electric charge they change their physical shape. This is how piezo-buzzers work. Some capacitors use a piezo-electric material as the dielectric. As the caps charge and discharge they change shape. If this happens at the right frequency and power you can hear it.
There are probably other components that can cause audible noise, but these are the most common.