ever since the move i've been noticing sporadic creaking/cracking sounds coming from my computer that have been driving me fucking insane. it sounded like a cable getting nicked by a fan or something and getting flung into the side of the case, but i quintuple-checked all the cables and nothing was remotely loose anywhere near any moving parts. i experimented with all different combinations of the side panels being on or off and every time i thought i had it figured out i would once again hear my computer make a big thwack sooner or later. it even still happened once i took off both side panels, which made me feel like i was going completely insane and made me detour for several days pursuing my desk as the source of the noise instead
at this point i'm pretty sure i've figured it out - the plastic front and top panels attach to the metal case by way of plastic nubs that fit through holes in the case, and thermal expansion makes them creak when there's a temperature change. but that's also kind of a horrible answer to arrive at because i can't fucking do anything about it!!! i tried lubricating the nubs with some silicone spray but that didn't do shit, so i guess i'm just fucking. stuck with a computer that randomly jumpscares you with loud and incredibly obnoxious cracking noises. thanks phanteks!!
i don't know if something somehow got jostled or slightly bent during the move that has caused this to be a thing, or if the computer just undergoes a lot more thermal changes a lot faster since it's stuck in one of two small bedrooms, compared to before when all my shit was in one big room that had a lot of air to to circulate. so maybe whenever i finally get a door in front of my little section of the house and can leave the bedroom doors open so that i have Any Air Circulation Whatsoever, it'll ease the problem. it's just that i've been waiting on that door for 4 months now and every time i ask about it it's just "oh yeah i'm working on it" "oh yeah i'm waiting to hear back from a guy" "trust me it's at the top of my priority list" etc 🙃