High-pitch noises coming from computer when different USB peripherals are plugged in
 

This is a long shot, but I thought I'd ask anyway. I built my machine to be quiet and I used to be able to barely hear it except for a light humming sound. However, recently, I've been hearing short high-pitched "blip" sounds coming from the motherboard area of my case (i.e. its not interference with my sound card being heard through my speakers).

I've found out that unplugging USB peripherals stops the noise and that different peripherals cause different patterns of blips. For instance, my USB tv stick makes about 4 blips a second when plugged in and my ipod makes 1 blip every 2 seconds. Suffice to say, it's really really annoying.

Has anyone any idea of what I can try except replacing my motherboard? It's driving me mad!

Motherboard BIOS update ?

Piece of tape over the Piezoelectric speaker on the motherboard that the beeps are most likely coming from. Cheasy fix but can work..
(For best results with the Hillbilly Mute Function, use duct tape ) I say, I say it's a joke son !! [/Foghorn Leghorn]

No, it's almost certainly not any speaker. I have similar problems with my motherboards. It's some sort of electronic coil whine, and it can be quite prominent on a quiet/silent computer.

I've never tried it, but on silentpcreview one suggested fix is to smother those coil-like things on the motherboard within globs of hotglue.

Ahh the ferrite core is chattering inside the Coil. that is a possibility. Without hearing it it's hard to guess :)

I wonder if this is being caused by temperature flux(think floors creeking in winter). Not enough to hurt anything, just enough to be irritating. Maybe blowing across the motherboard with a slow 140mm fan would clear it up?