PC began emitting strange, high-pitched electrical sounds.
PC began emitting strange, high-pitched electrical sounds.
Hello, newcomer, first time joining. I think I'm fairly tech-oriented. I've assembled around ten computers for myself and friends and resolved problems for more than 50 My current configuration looks like this: CPU : i9-9900k GPU : 3080ti RAM : Corsair Vengeance DDR4 2666 Motherboard : Asus Strix B360-i gaming - didn't locate a Z variant since the socket is quite old m.2 : Samsung EVO 970 Evo Plus plus two SSDs via SATA Power Supply: V850 SFX GOLD 850 Watt Case: NR200P Maximum Cooling: 280mm radiator, 2 x 140mm SickleFlow PWM, Gen 3 Cooler Master Pump / CPU Block 2 Noctua 140mm and one 120mm fan NZXT Fan controller The system runs on a power extender with overcurrent protection. My troubleshooting attempts: Tested another GPU : MSI 2080 Gaming trio - identical results. Had a backup LGA1151 processor - same outcome. Swapped the power supply - own a spare Seasonic 1000W platinum. - same process Changed RAM modules - identical situation I possess two additional boards with LGA 1151 socket - same result. Updated the power adapter - now using a Seasonic 1000W platinum. - same adjustments Made changes to the case fan controller - consistent findings The system hums when playing games or running stress tests, but stops buzzing when entering the game menu or mapping. The noise varies: sometimes loud, other times silent, occasionally quieter. Temperatures remain normal under load. CPU temps around 65-75°C, GPU temps 65-75°C Troubleshooting steps attempted so far: I'm at the end of my troubleshooting and reaching out for guidance. In the attached file you'll find the sound it produces, the moment it stops buzzing in-game, and the time I opened it in the game menu. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Neue Aufnahme.m4a
The RTX 3080ti FE running on an 850W SFX setup feels quite constrained, especially given the noticeable power spikes from the GA102 GPU. Swapping out nearly every component does feel a bit disappointing. Consider investing in a UPS to safeguard your important files—both for basic power stability and because your electrical setup might not handle the load well. Coil whine is unavoidable; my new 1200W PSU handles it smoothly in Warframe, but at high frame rates you’ll likely notice a reduction. Try limiting your framerate to around 60 fps and see if the noise diminishes.
But Coil whine comes from two separate GPUs? That’s what’s worrying me. I didn’t have any on the 2080. Should I make my screen refresh rate capped at 120 and always keep it at 120 fps in the game? I’ll try limiting the FPS to 100 just to check if that helps. Edit: No, even at 75 FPS the sound is still present.
The problem is finding the precise origin of the sound. I'm planning to purchase a sound probe to pinpoint where the screeching comes from. However, when I posted yesterday, I considered the NZXT fan controller. Wil will try without it and share the findings. Now I realize the NZXT fan controller was the only device consistently connected during my tests. I’m hoping that’s the case; otherwise, I’ll have to accept the noise. Unfortunately, it’s not the fans. I’ve double-checked thoroughly.