Clicking sound from PSU

[nova notch]

This is my first time building a PC. I just finished building it and rechecked all the wires. I turn it on but the PSU keeps making a clicking noise with the RGB inside the PC flashing. Please help.

[indigo terrace]

That does not sound or look good.
Sounds like a relay is flipping over and over, possible over current/short circuit protecion?

[nova notch]

Additional Info: if i wait for about 30s after turning the psu and then turn the motherboard on, the sound does and the rgb lights work but I get no video output

[nova notch]

Let me try using a step down transformer and let uk, my country runs on 220V, the PSU i bought was rated for it, but ill test it out

Just tried it, doesnt work, still the same issue

[indigo terrace]

I suspected as much. Have you tried booting without the GPU installed?
Even if you don't have integrated graphics, just to make sure it's not the cause

Also the other common "PC will not boot" troubleshooting steps should be tested here such as only one ram module, tested in all 4 slots, reseating the CPU, disconnecting all non essentials, etc.

[nova notch]

Clicking sound continues

[nova notch]

What all should i remove for the non essentials?

[indigo terrace]

Before you try that, though one simple test would be to jump your power supply to test it by itself

[indigo terrace]

monitor, kb & mouse, all audio device, any usb devices
Really should only be CPU and RAM installed to test

https://youtu.be/Ea1dcJ0QyAE But try this first with nothing connected to the PSU

[nova notch]

The only things currently connected are the cpu, case fans, the wires coming from the case (pwr switch, reset switch, usb) and the aio

[indigo terrace]

Case fans could be causing a short, and I doubt the case wires could but those should go too for 100% test results
But that PSU jump start should tell you if its the psu

[nova notch]

Doing this does not turn on the aio

[indigo terrace]

It shouldn't turn on the AIO
With everything disconnected from the PSU (including the 8 pin aux cpu power, GPU, and any SATA devices you may have) jump the PSU for about a minute or so and see if it does that clicking

[nova notch]

Its been running for about a minute

Do I replug it into the motherboard and check?

[indigo terrace]

No clicking?
I suspect if you plug it back into the motherboard it will resume clicking.

[nova notch]

No clicking

[indigo terrace]

If you only plug the 24 pin into the motherboard, it still clicks?

[nova notch]

It still clicks

I have removed the case fans, still clicks

[indigo terrace]

Okay.
One thing I also should have asked is does this clicking prevent you from booting?

[nova notch]

Yea, i don't get a video output

[indigo terrace]

okay, have you heard of breadboarding a pc?

[nova notch]

No

Sorry, this is my first time

[indigo terrace]

No worries mate, just wanted to ask before explaining it

So essentially you remove the motherboard from the case and put it on a non-conductive surface like your motherboard box, and connect one component at a time to see where the issue lies.

There is a possibility that something in your computer case it shorting against the back of the motherboard, so building it on the box should help with that.
If the PSU still clicks after you breadboard it, it's probably an issue with the motherboard itself or the CPU.

[nova notch]

Alright, ill test it out, thx

[indigo terrace]

First test should be only the motherboard and CPU.
I wouldn't worry about putting a cooler on the CPU as long as you test very quickly.
Turn it on, wait until you would normally hear the clicks and then turn it off.
I have also placed my finger on the CPU to make sure it doesn't get too hot in the past. If it is too hot for your finger, better shut it off quickly.

[nova notch]

While removing the parts, i found out that one of the RAM sticks wasnt seated correctly, could that be the issue?

[indigo terrace]

It definitely could be, have you removed the motherboard entirely yet?

[nova notch]

Only the screws that are connected with the case is left

[indigo terrace]

Up to you if you want to test booting it again with the ram properly seated before completely removing the motherboard

I personally would remove the motherboard just to be sure, but not removing it is less work obviously.

[nova notch]

@indigo terrace do i need to connect the switch from the case when doing the breadboard test? Seating the RAM stick correctly did not help

[indigo terrace]

No you do not, generally you just short the power button pins together as shown here
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5R-VDC5hkO0?t=13&feature=share

[nova notch]

Alright, thx

[nova notch]

No clicking noise without the case

[indigo terrace]

That is a good sign!
Have you tried installing the ram with the motherboard out of the case yet?

[nova notch]

Currently the cpu, ram and aio are installed

[indigo terrace]

Very good signs indeed!
Do you have an M.2 SSD?
You can now attempt connecting that and see if you can boot into your OS

[nova notch]

I do have an ssd installed, but it doesnt have an os on it

[indigo terrace]

Can you connect a keyboard and get into bios?

[nova notch]

I just connected the gpu and the clicking noise started again

Trying without it once

Clicking noise started again

[indigo terrace]

Ugh.
The only thing you changed was the GPU being added, and then the GPU being removed and it clicked both times?

[nova notch]

Yea

The clicking noise doesnt happen if i let the psu run for about 20s before turning on the motherboard

[indigo terrace]

But you still can't get it to post if you wait those 20 seconds?

[nova notch]

Nope

[indigo terrace]

My gut says this is a PSU issue though I don't know of any way to test that without you using a different one to see if that works.

[nova notch]

Alright, ill see what i can do

[indigo terrace]

You could alternatively test another motherboard/cpu with that same PSU if you have them and see if it still clicks. If it does, it's likely the PSU

[nova notch]

Unfortunately this is the only motherboard and psu i own.