My M28U monitor makes cracking sounds randomly and when I move it

[Segundoh]

Cracking sounds occasionally come from my Gigabyte M28U. These primarily happen when I turn my monitor on or off, but they also happen sporadically too. From what I read, this is apparently thermal expansion and is completely normal, especially in the winter, but how Ioud or frequent does the cracking sound have to be to be abnormal? Also, most people describe it more as popping while the sounds I’m hearing are more like ceackingIt’s hard to record it since it happens randomly, but I’ll try to record it.

It sounds like this video: https://youtube.com/shorts/QqTISvCkNSM?feature=share


I was moving my monitor in this video which explains the cracking sounds. It sounds like this except it only happens for a second. Is it normal for my monitor to make cracking sounds when I try to tilt it up or down or try to move it up or down? I thought it was normal, but maybe it isn't.

I took off all of the plastic, removed the foam behind my monitor so that my monitor doesn’t damage my wall, and tried to unscrew and rescrew. It seems to be less frequent, but it still happens. Is this an issue?

This video is of popping sounds which sound different from the cracking sounds:

Samsung Odyssey G9 popping sounds...

I heard these sounds are normal to an extent, but I don't know if cracking sounds are normal.

 

[Bill_Bright]

but how Ioud or frequent does the cracking sound have to be to be abnormal?

When it wakes the neighbors, it is too loud.

There is no way any of us can answer that. There is no established norm that says if the sound exceeds this dB level, it is too loud.

The problem issue is there are many dissimilar materials used to make a monitor. There are several types of metals, resins, and plastics all bolted, glued, screwed and snapped together. These all expand and contract at different rates. So snapping and cracking sounds during the heat up and cool down cycles are normal, even expected.

I guess you could visually inspect the back and edges of the monitor case and look at the seams. If the gaps are uneven, maybe give them a little squeeze to make sure the case parts have "snapped" securely together. You might also check to make sure any screws you can easily access are not loose. But if you find any loose screws, do NOT overtighten them.

Beyond that, unless you actually see sparks or disruptions in the video display, or smell something burning, I say, "don't worry about it!"

 

[Solaris17]

Hi. I can actually answer this.

I have these exact monitors (3) and yes it’s normal. It can happen pretty frequently especially if it’s cold. They are not gentle sounds, no little clicks or pats here. They are loud cracks like another object was dropped on them.

Made me really uncomfortable when I bought them a year ago, but I’m accustomed to it now. It’s pretty normal.

 

[Segundoh]

When it wakes the neighbors, it is too loud.

There is no way any of us can answer that. There is no established norm that says if the sound exceeds this dB level, it is too loud.

The problem issue is there are many dissimilar materials used to make a monitor. There are several types of metals, resins, and plastics all bolted, glued, screwed and snapped together. These all expand and contract at different rates. So snapping and cracking sounds during the heat up and cool down cycles are normal, even expected.

I guess you could visually inspect the back and edges of the monitor case and look at the seams. If the gaps are uneven, maybe give them a little squeeze to make sure the case parts have "snapped" securely together. You might also check to make sure any screws you can easily access are not loose. But if you find any loose screws, do NOT overtighten them.

Beyond that, unless you actually see sparks or disruptions in the video display, or smell something burning, I say, "don't worry about it!"

That makes sense. It’s definitely not loud enough to wake the neighbors and all lol. And I see, so it’s hard to really tell for sure. And oh okay that makes sense since there are so many dissimilar materials and all. It’s good to hear that those snapping and cracking sounds are normal then. I will take a look at the seams though to see if there are any gaps. The only screw I saw was something that connects the stand base to the stand. I may have overtightened that, but I don’t think that would affect the monitor itself. Maybe it would though. I’ll tty to loosen that a bit.

I don’t see any sparks or disruptions and I certainly don’t see smoke. I was just concerned since I heard I might get hairline fractures, but it seems okay if it’s normal. Thanks!

Hi. I can actually answer this.

I have these exact monitors (3) and yes it’s normal. It can happen pretty frequently especially if it’s cold. They are not gentle sounds, no little clicks or pats here. They are loud cracks like another object was dropped on them.

Made me really uncomfortable when I bought them a year ago, but I’m accustomed to it now. It’s pretty normal.

Oh okay, I just saw this now too. That’s good to hear then if that happens across all 4 of our M28U monitors. It is very cold right about now, so it’s good that it’s normal when it’s cold. Yeah, for me, it definitely sounds like loud cracks and not little clicks or pats.

I was worried since I heard that might cause hairline fractures if any of the parts were tightened too much. It’s good to hear that it’s normal and that you haven’t had any issues over the past year. Thanks for the help!

 

[Kodehawa]

Hi. I can actually answer this.

I have these exact monitors (3) and yes it’s normal. It can happen pretty frequently especially if it’s cold. They are not gentle sounds, no little clicks or pats here. They are loud cracks like another object was dropped on them.

Made me really uncomfortable when I bought them a year ago, but I’m accustomed to it now. It’s pretty normal.

Happens here with a different monitor. Guess its just the hot -> cold transitions making something expand/contract and causing the material to budge. It happened with my old monitor too and that lasted 7 years.

Should be fine.

 

[Segundoh]

Happens here with a different monitor. Guess its just the hot -> cold transitions making something expand/contract and causing the material to budge. It happened with my old monitor too and that lasted 7 years.

Should be fine.

That’s good to hear. I’m glad that’s normal then and that it seems to happen to most if not all monitors out there. Hopefully mine will last 7 years too! That’d be a dream for sure. Thanks!

 

[Segundoh]

Hi. I can actually answer this.

I have these exact monitors (3) and yes it’s normal. It can happen pretty frequently especially if it’s cold. They are not gentle sounds, no little clicks or pats here. They are loud cracks like another object was dropped on them.

Made me really uncomfortable when I bought them a year ago, but I’m accustomed to it now. It’s pretty normal.

I realized that I forgot to ask about whether it’s normal for these cracking sounds are normal when I move my monitor too. They happen every time I tilt my monitor or move it up or down. Does this happen with your monitor as well?

 

[Kodehawa]

I realized that I forgot to ask about whether it’s normal for these cracking sounds are normal when I move my monitor too. They happen every time I tilt my monitor or move it up or down. Does this happen with your monitor as well?

Plastic is plastic. You're putting pressure on the small mounting points and if the monitor build quality is bad or meh, it'll crackle.

Should be fine, mines does too.

 

[Solaris17]

I realized that I forgot to ask about whether it’s normal for these cracking sounds are normal when I move my monitor too. They happen every time I tilt my monitor or move it up or down. Does this happen with your monitor as well?

yup. they just exist and make noise sorry, it seems your looking for something deeper, a problem maybe. but they are just noisy.

 

[Segundoh]

Plastic is plastic. You're putting pressure on the small mounting points and if the monitor build quality is bad or meh, it'll crackle.

Should be fine, mines does too.

That’s good to hear, and that definitely makes sense. I suppose the monitor build quality is bad or meh then, but it seems like it’s good enough to last a while. Thanks!

yup. they just exist and make noise sorry, it seems your looking for something deeper, a problem maybe. but they are just noisy.

That’s fine then if it’s all normal. Yeah, I’m definitely too paranoid and looking for a problem here lol. I thought my mojito was going to beaks or something, but it being noisy is fine if that’s not the case. Thanks!

 

[Bill_Bright]

Lots of things that touch each other for long periods of time end up getting stuck to each other a little bit. This could be due to friction between the actual contact surfaces, or because dust and other crud floating around in the air gets packed in and around where the pieces meet - like caulk around a window - forming a seal. When you move the items, you first have to break loose that seal.

I have no doubt the thickness and robustness/flexibility of the plastics involved make a big difference too.

it seems your looking for something deeper, a problem maybe.

I had that thought too - only maybe looking for an excuse to buy a new monitor?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Curved monitor yeah not surprised really
Feel luck the power/ dvi/ hdmi connections don't cause other issues if slightly moving the monitor happens.

 

[P4-630]

So it's a feature...

 

[Segundoh]

Lots of things that touch each other for long periods of time end up getting stuck to each other a little bit. This could be due to friction between the actual contact surfaces, or because dust and other crud floating around in the air gets packed in and around where the pieces meet - like caulk around a window - forming a seal. When you move the items, you first have to break loose that seal.

That definitely makes sense now. I just thought it was abnormal, so it’s good that it’s all good. I don’t know about the manufacturing quality of the plastics and all, but I’m sure Gigabyte had to cut some corners since they packed so many features into a relatively cheap package. That’s a fair assumption too, but I just got this 3 months ago; i was worried it’s breaking already, but it’s good that it’s all normal then.

Hi,
Curved monitor yeah not surprised really
Feel luck the power/ dvi/ hdmi connections don't cause other issues if slightly moving the monitor happens.

I see, that definitely makes sense too. Although this is normal and all, I suppose I can try to remove all those and see if it still makes any sounds.

So it's a feature...

It seems it’s a bug not a feature then lol.

So it's a feature...

I meant to say it’s a feature not a bug but you get my point lol.