Soft creaking sounds coming from inside computer

Intermittently, there will be a sound coming from inside the computer that sounds like a slight creak, not high pitched but sort of like when you step on a wooden floorboard. This usually happens as the system is coming out of load or going into load. I wouldn't be that worried about it normally, but since it hasn't happened before I'm wondering what could be causing it. Could the motherboard or video cards be "warping" from the heat? Could it be the PSU resettling? Is this normal?

Edit: A more akin comparison might be to a car that has just turned off, and the engine makes kind of sporadic ticking noises as it cools off. Just wondering if computers could make this noise as well (but not as loud).

 

could be the hard drive? try opening the case and stick ya head in to try and find the location of the noise

 

That's just the hamster wheel in the psu as the rodent jumps on and off...pay it no mind. He must be getting fat.

 

It's around the mobo area, only happens very intermittently and I don't think I want to stick my head in my PC case for up to an hour lol. It's definitely not the hard drive.

 

Might be the case itself. Metal, etc likes to warp and pop/tick.

 

its the ghosts of computer overclockers saying oc me oc me. but seriously Rad ED is probably right. otherwise it could be a choke squeeling etc

 

Yeah, it might be the case. I'm guessing it's not harmful then? But why hadn't it shown up before? It only started after about a year of use.

 

It's normal and not harmful. The seasons affect how much your PC 'creaks'. I've noticed it since I was a kid.
In winter you PC should creak more, in summer it should creak less. You should hear a few creaks after you turn your PC off, while it's cooling down. If not, chuck it on a testbench (cardboard box) and see if it happens then.

As seasons have recently changed, it makes sense you're only just noticing it.