Sound effect appears exclusively during gameplay.
Sound effect appears exclusively during gameplay.
Hello, I recently assembled a new PC, installed drivers and applications, and completed some performance tests. Everything appears to be functioning properly. However, I’m encountering a noticeable loud noise resembling an old hard drive seeking during gameplay. Initially, I considered it might be related to GPU fan coil whine, but after some troubleshooting, I’m uncertain. Even when using synthetic benchmark tools that don’t render graphics, the clicking sound is present—though it’s faint and matches typical coil whine expectations. The noise becomes more pronounced during games, especially when FPS limits are applied. I’ve tested different settings like Windows 10, Game Bar, borderless mode, and fullscreen, but the issue persists as long as frames are being generated. My build includes an i5-13600KF MSI Pro Z690-A with DDR4 Sapphire Nitro+ and the NWE 80+ Bronze 750W PSU. I’m still working on pinpointing the source or finding a solution. Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Do you own a CPU AIO cooler? It might be the pump that needs attention.
Hi! I see you're using the ID-Cooling Se-226-xt tower cooler. Let me know if you need any help with it.
That raises some red flags. I’m not sure if it’s the fans, but it shouldn’t affect the fans regardless. It seems unlikely to be a simple mechanical issue—electrical problems are probably the cause, though I can’t pinpoint exactly what. My thoughts lean toward coil whine or electrical arcing, especially since those can produce unusual sounds. A GPU’s voltage levels make arcing less likely. Either way, this isn’t typical behavior, and replacing the card might be the best solution.
I've experimented with various solutions recently, but the GPU does produce a slight whine. This sound is significantly louder than usual—about 20 times more intense—and it seems to originate from the power supply unit. My reasoning suggests the timing of the noise matches the frame rate fluctuations, likely due to variations in power drawn from the PSU between frames. I attempted to analyze it using a Vulkan-based API, working with simple cube scenes that remain consistent across frames. Theoretical expectations say the GPU should handle identical workloads and power consumption each frame. I generate frames, pause for a set interval, then test different frame rates to observe changes. Initially, low frame rates produced no noise, but when the delay increased, the clicking frequency rose with FPS. Reducing the artificial delay eliminated the noise, indicating a constant load was more critical than actual frame rate. When I removed the delay and waited for synchronization, power draw stabilized and the whine disappeared. Eventually, I discovered that displaying frames wasn’t necessary; processing directly on the GPU and introducing a waiting cycle also caused the issue. This led me to believe the problem stems from power fluctuations rather than frame rate itself. I’m still trying to locate the noise source inside the case, but removing the PSU from the enclosure helped confirm it’s the power supply. It appears the PSU itself may be subpar, so I’ve ordered a replacement. I’ll share an update tomorrow if the new unit resolves the issue.
The PSU is the issue. I received a NZXT C850, and it's completely silent now. Even the coil whine is no longer noticeable when the side panels are shut. Better power supply results in less noise, probably. The only sound I detect under load is the fans moving air.