XPS 8930, side panel, need advice

Sorry the new side panel didn't help. 

Were you ever able to put a screw in the rear release handle to secure it?

I think it's going to be trial and error to figure out where to put pads. Seems unlikely the problem will always be in the same place on the side panel, or even the same cause for the bad vibrations.

Have you checked to see if the 4 heat sink captive retention screws are tight? Just don't over-tighten them. And what about the screw that holds the chassis fan bracket, etc?

It seems I don't have a screw that holds the chassis fan bracket, seems there are just clips up there, but that fan does jiggle a bit if I move it. I couldn't find that screw that's mentioned in the documents for the XPS. The CPU fan and heatsink are in there good, nothing seems loose.

I tried three small round kitchen cabinet felt pads, placed apart at the bottom, where the metal touches metal between the chassis and the panel. It is a bit snug of a fit, these are not too thick, but slightly. They fit perfect size wise however, between the places the side panel clips go in at the bottom. I'm sure the pads will flatten over time a bit. I also have some thinner felt pads coming in a role, but I haven't received them yet. I'll see how these do first. I just put the panel back, so we'll see. Thanks for answering and your input is appreciated. I found an earlier article of something similar on here last year about the side panel noise, seems I'm not the only one that had this issue, and someone did resolve it with pads on the bottom I believe. I seen here in the community there were at least three others mentioning this last year in the same subject. It's possible certain configurations are causing the issue. Mine is i5 9400 with gtx 1660 ti.

I tried to find a way to tighten that top fan, but I'm at a loss on that, there appears to be just clips there, as opposed to the one screw the documents mention, very strange. Either they made changes, or I can't see it. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's the panel, two days of having it off and no noise. The 850 watt power supply does get a tad noisy at times, but nothing like when the panel was buzzing/rattling, and it's barely noticeable and infrequent. I guess we'll see. Time will tell if this works. Thanks for your response and suggestions.

Just to add too, I had very bad luck getting that screw in that back latch handle. It fit so poorly, I almost got it wedged in there and couldn't get it out. I must have got sent the wrong screw or the handle is no longer threaded in this model for the screw. I'm wondering if some slight changes have been made to the 8930's recently aka the top fan not having a screw and the back handle not having threading for a screw.

Just for reference, here is the previous post from others about the same issue... 

https://www.dell.com/community/XPS-Desktops/XPS-8930-annoying-buzzing-noise-from-right-side-cover/m-p/7245790

I had a side panel buzz in an old Dell Dimension E510.  Turned out to be the fan in the power supply.  I did some upgrading and replaced the power supply with an upgraded standard ATX (not Dell brand) power supply and the panel buzz was gone.

@SevL 

If you want to try something, swing open the PSU cage to access its left side that closes near the upper PSU latch.  There is a taped seal along that side of the PSU cage and a formed-metal tab just beyond the seal.  This metal tab is not covered and can contact the chassis when closed.  Cover it with a short piece of 3M vinyl electrical tape to keep it from chattering against the mating metalwork.

If you have a GPU card, close the PSU cage gently and be sure to guide the plastic brace that supports the GPU card to mate with the holes in the PSU cage as it closes over the plastic brace.

Maybe this will silence the buzz... maybe not.

GK

Dell630i, I found that screw the other night actually, however... and get this, I couldn't get a screwdriver into it, I believe they put a screw there without the Phillips screwdriver part in it, in other words a ratchet bolt I believe. I would need a small ratchet to tighten it. Maybe I'll try again, maybe I just couldn't get it in there for some reason, but I even felt it with my finger, and there was no grooves for the screwdriver to go in that screw. I'm not sure why they would put a ratchet bolt on that fan plate, but it seems that's what happened with this case. I'll look into it more, maybe I'm just not getting too it properly. Anyway, it seems to be on there tight just by inspection already.

@SevL 

No, not that one.  I said on the left and meant on the left (not the top or bottom).  It doesn't engage with anything... it just touches the chassis when closed.  It looks like a tiny lipped handle.

Tape where you put it won't survive opening and closing.

OE

GK, I found a metal tab at the top of the PSU cage that latches in to another metal piece at the top when you swing the PSU back into the case into place. It's a small narrow tab at the top about a cm think and 4cm long that latches into another metal piece. I have to lift the swing arm up a bit to get it to latch into place. I put a piece of electric tape last night under that tab on the cage and wrapped it around the top of it. The part that contacts underneath with the metal on the case in the latch now has this layer of electric tape on it. So far no issues, it's been a little over 12 hours running. Time will tell however, as I've moved this swing arm out before many times, and put it back in, only for the hum to stop for a day or so, then start up again. It is very possible the issue did ly with the metal contact between the PSU cage and the case however. Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure this is the tab you were referring too, but so far covering the under side of the small tab at the top seems to be working, note SEEMS to be! If the silence lasts more than 48 hours, I think I might have it, and you were on to something. I can see where an 850 watt power supply might cause some vibration, so hopefully this helps. I have a replacement panel I put back on and so far everything is fine.

@SevL 

I found that screw the other night actually, however... and get this, I couldn't get a screwdriver into it, I believe they put a screw there without the Phillips screwdriver part in it, in other words a ratchet bolt I believe. I would need a small ratchet to tighten it.

It takes a 1/4" nutdriver (or socket) like most PC machine screws.

That screw is likely plenty tight.  The potential for noise with that mounting plate is that it is thin and easily deformed, which can allow room to vibrate... buzz.  The trick is to warp it a tiny bit to put a concavity on the top so that when you tighten the screw, it smashes out its perimeter to make contact all around... no space, no buzz.

GK

The top one in red is the one I put tape around, as it touches another metal latch on the case. For some reason it seems to be working so far. Could you tell me which part below you were referring too, the middle black circle or the bottom one?

@SevL 

Nice pic!

The middle black circle.  The upper 4/5ths of that metal lip closes to the chassis.  I taped it over and a small buzz I've had coming and going has since gone.

As I see it, the problem with that PSU cage is that it is a big mass cantilevered from its hinge points, even when closed.  If it gets vibrating by transmitting through its very solid hinges to its very suspended backend mass, the backend can chatter within the chassis opening, even when closed.  They should have screwed it down, imo.  Its two latches retain it, but they don't secure it/dampen it mechanically.

There could be other such points of contact.

GK

Thanks for the reply, that might explain why when I swing out the PSU, then put it back the buzz goes away for a period of time, then suddenly returns. I'll try a small piece of electric tape at that point and see how it goes. Taping that top one, I thought was helping, but the buzz returned late Sunday. This will be the next thing I try. If this new thing doesn't work, I'm not sure, I might have to look into replacing the PSU. I'm still under warranty, so I could possibly get a replacement, but I want to make sure I've tried other things first. It could be possible the PSU is causing a lot of this too, and the buzz points are just a reaction to the PSU issues.

If the taping doesn't work, I need to ask a question. If I were to request a replacement PSU, can all the cables just be disconnected from the back the old PSU and put into the new one? I seen my 850W has many connectors on the back, something the ones in my old PC didn't have. The last time I replaced a PSU was a few years ago, in my old Dell Inspiron 530, but I had to unplug everything from the mobo and drives and such as the cables were attached to the PSU and couldn't be removed from it. It seems this one is set up differently, which may make it easier. If all I have to do is slide out the old PSU after disconnecting the cables from the back of it, then plug them into the replacement, that shouldn't be too bad of a swap out. I'm not as familiar with these newer systems, my last computer I held on to for a very long time. Once again, I'm just saying in case I decide to try swapping it out, I haven't given up yet on the taping so far anyway.

@SevL 

A Dell replacement PSU should replace what you have.  A modular PSU has connectors on all of the cables so that you can disconnect them at the PSU and only connect the ones you use.  But they cost more, so OEMs generally do not use modular PSUs, but maybe your higher power PSU is modular.

Example issue... the overclocked K-version CPU comes with a heat pipe CPU cooler that blocks a PSU connector on the motherboard, so you have to remove the CPU cooler to replace the PSU... if not modular.

The intermittency of your noise issue and its response to moving the PSU cage suggests that it is a mechanical/vibration issue and not an electrical/PSU issue.  Dell may not be so agreeable to giving you a PSU.

GK

Thanks for the reply, I was thinking the same with a mechanical issue, and I would prefer not to replace the PSU, but at this point I'm not sure where to go with this issue, if the taping you suggested doesn't work. This has been an underlying problem since I received it back on March 7th. We're almost looking at an entire case replacement if it can't be solved, and something is not right with the case. There are probably many of these with the same config as mine that don't do the buzz and vibration, so I'd have to assume if it's not the PSU itself, then the case is messed up in someway, and I may or may not be able to fix it. I'll see how the taping goes with what you advised. So far quiet again, but give it a few days... it comes back always. Hoping this time it doesn't, however.

If it's something with this PSU cage and the case, it may or may not be fixable, and I'm guessing the entire case would then have to be swapped out at the Dell center? It's a very odd problem, I know it was quiet for at least two days before Sunday, and then Sunday night, there it was even louder than before, worse than when I originally had the problem in the beginning. Now I did the taping where you suggested, and it's quiet again, but I'm thinking in a couple days, right back where it was, we'll see though, I hope not.

I'm starting to wonder if it's not the PSU itself, if something is gradually shifting in the case over time with the vibration of the PSU, like the swing-arm is not locking in properly, and is moving gradually so by the second or third day, its not right again. If that is the case, then the entire case would need replaced if it's not latching right. This could get ugly fast, I'm not even sure how long it would take for them to swap all that out or if they would even do it under warranty. I'm just getting a bit frustrated, nothing has worked so far.