Audio output is picking up the coil whine from the GPU.
Audio output is picking up the coil whine from the GPU.
I believe the issue lies in my setup, as I can definitely hear coil whine during gameplay—buzzing and high-pitched sounds that seem to come from the GPU, though the side panel isn’t too affected. It appears the noise is passing through the onboard audio system and reaching my speakers or headphones, which both bothers me a lot. I’ve checked the Gigabyte Z790 UD AX motherboard I own and found reports of similar problems. It seems the problem originates from the GPU itself, but the motherboard might be compromised, allowing the sound to leak into the audio path.
I've adjusted several troubleshooting steps: changed the audio output connections (front to back), used a USB-C to 3.5mm converter, enabled acoustic noise reduction in BIOS, and even tried undervolting the GPU. Despite these attempts, the whine persists. I installed and updated drivers, but nothing helped.
I’m considering returning the motherboard, though the seller isn’t very eager to replace it. I’d rather avoid disassembling my PC and spending hours on a potentially long return process. If this isn’t the right diagnosis, please let me know. I’ve attached a short clip of the noise from Doom Eternal, Cyberpunk 2077, and Deep Rock Galactic—games where the buzzing is most bothersome. Others like Control and Just Cause 3 have quieter or deeper sounds that only show up when muted.
My PC specs are: Intel Core i5-13600K (3.5 GHz, 14 cores), Deepcool AK620 cooler, Gigabyte Z790 UD AX motherboard, Kingston FURY Beast RGB RAM (32GB), Intel 660p SSD, Crucial P5 Plus M.2, Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card, and Corsair RM850 power supply.
check the power, GPU, and board for any issues that could cause the whine. It might be an electrical resonance somewhere, often found by looking at a rolled-up cone shape made from paper or similar material near the GPU or processor. The issue usually appears when scanning the components.
The noise coming from the PC isn't very noticeable on video but becomes more obvious in person. Still, the whine on the PC isn't too bothersome for me. I could handle regular coil whine by keeping the side panel on and placing it under my desk or something, lol. I plan to test the paper method and see if it helps pinpoint the source. I'm pretty sure the issue is coming from the GPU, though. I'm confident GPU coil whine shouldn't reach my speakers/headphones, which is unusual for typical noise problems...
Noise entering the on-board sound was once frequent, but improved motherboard isolation helped reduce it. Still, it can occur and isn't typically seen as a serious issue—it's often just a coincidence of hardware interactions. Other causes include faulty house grounding or problems with your outlet, power cable, PSU, or case. That's why USB DACs gained popularity, as relocating analog audio away from other parts usually prevents this kind of interference.
appears to be a grounding problem. removing the GPU might help confirm it, though I’d also check your ground connections in the sockets. I’ve noticed similar noises with jack cabled speakers when incorrect waterboiler was connected. For onboard audio, I use a USB headset or SPDIF fiber connector to prevent ground loops.
The problem would be identified by when the whining appears—only during gaming—and disappears otherwise. The situation changes when using music or other non-demanding activities, indicating a different source. The issue persists even with the PC connected elsewhere, suggesting a wiring or power supply concern rather than just audio output. Removing the GPU and switching to an external DAC eliminated the noise, pointing to a possible internal component fault.