Noise from the GPU fan is common during operation.
Noise from the GPU fan is common during operation.
I possess an EVGA RTX 3060 XC, a dual fan setup. I’ve observed an unusual sound from one of the fans when it starts spinning at around 50 degrees. The noise is faint but becomes audible near my living room TV or when kids are playing. It appears to be a brief clicking sound lasting about a second, stopping once the fans reach normal speed. It seems to occur only at startup, possibly indicating the motor powering up or the shaft beginning rotation. According to Precision X1 software, it’s likely fan 2 near the front of the case. I’ve verified everything—cleaned, inspected, and checked for obstructions—but the issue persists. The card is currently at 49 degrees and the PC operates normally. I’ve tried cleaning, adjusting pressure with a thumb, and following EVGA’s advice to reposition and press the hub. Still no resolution. I’m worried this might mean the card fails, leaving my investment useless until I find a better option. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
I also attempted this, but the sound remains after completion. I understand I have the warranty; they mentioned I can return it, though doing so might leave me without a card when I need it most financially. Would you consider sending it back for this issue? I don’t see the card failing due to this, but it bothers me that an old card still makes an unusual noise. I’d appreciate if you could describe the sound more clearly or provide a recording, since my phone can’t detect it at all.
a video might clarify things. if it were me, likely not. i've used four gpus with noisy fans—only one failed. the specific card was around ten years old, and its fan stopped working. the other three are still okay. my old gtx 1050 ti had a similar noisy fan, making noise at certain speeds but quiet otherwise. i didn't pay attention, and the card is still fine now. if it's not too loud, i probably would. if it gets louder, it might be worth considering alternatives. this is just my take.
I just attempted to capture the sound by playing a game to engage the fans, but the noise is completely absent. I plan to try again tomorrow with Precision Software when I have more time—ramping up from idle to see if any sound comes through. It’s a relief to know it won’t be sent back for that issue. I’m curious about what caused the problem on your 1050; I’ll take it in stride and hope it doesn’t fail me. Thanks for the support!
It seems the bearing is just making a lot of noise. I disassembled the whole card, cleaned it up, but it kept rattling. I checked if the hub was overheating due to friction, but it wasn’t, so I decided to overlook it. I handed it to my brother-in-law, who now knows how to ignore it. It wasn’t a scraping or screeching sound—it just sounded like a rattling noise.
Interesting, good point. A noisy bearing is manageable as long as it doesn’t fail suddenly, and I’m happy the brother-in-law is coping with it too! Thanks for your support. If my card is damaged in a month or so, I won’t be holding you fully accountable for suggesting I might not return it, haha.