This sound is originating from within my PC, and I've tried everything possible. Please let me know if you can assist.
This sound is originating from within my PC, and I've tried everything possible. Please let me know if you can assist.
How my problem began
It all began during my session with RDR2. I usually run my games at the highest settings, using Ray Tracing because of my 4080 processor. Suddenly, a grinding or a small rotor bearing noise appeared. I paused the game to get a clearer sound and pinpoint its origin. After that, the noise gradually faded. When I resumed playing, it would occasionally return—sometimes loud, sometimes medium, sometimes low volume. During RDR2 sessions, it was usually very loud, which made me confused about what I was doing wrong or why my PC was making such a disturbance. I didn’t want my system to crash or trigger a BSOD, so I removed the game (assuming it might be corrupted).
How it continued:
After becoming anxious, I switched to Elden Ring, which came from Steam and didn’t produce that sound issue. However, when I played Elden White Rose, the problem reappeared, but the noise was much quieter than in RDR2. I didn’t pay much attention at first.
I’ve tried various games, but this issue has never happened before. It started suddenly and is now present across many titles, even those I’d played earlier. Previously, no such disturbances occurred. Recently, while trying Witcher 3, the same sounds appeared, which really annoyed me and prompted me to search for solutions.
What it sounds like:
I’m uncertain about how to describe the sound, but here’s what I think: It seems like a tiny pin-sized cardboard piece is repeatedly striking the fan, creating a grinding or low-pitched whine. When I pause or quit the game, there’s a brief, intense burst of noise lasting about a second, followed by silence as the GPU stops. This sudden stop feels like a fire about to extinguish—it flickers quickly, just like the sound before it fades.
Solutions tried:
I attempted several fixes. To check if another fan was responsible, I manually disabled each one individually, but none stopped the noise. I also capped my in-game FPS below 80 to see if it reduced the frequency of the sound. The result wasn’t complete, but it did lower its occurrence.
I lowered graphics settings by turning off Ray Tracing, though the difference was minimal. I ran Prime95 to test for CPU or AIO involvement; temperatures spiked to 100°C without any noise. Furmark was used to assess GPU performance—sound returned during testing, but at a very low volume and not as loud as during gameplay. After closing the app, I repeated the tests with both tools together. The noise became much louder and more grating, confirming that closing Furmark helped.
To identify the problematic fan, I tried stopping two fans at a time and letting one run. It turned out to be the third GPU fan. [Moderator edit to bold font.]
This could indicate the source of the issue, though it still feels uncertain. Someone on Discord suggested the noise might come from my AIO pump or low RPM. My GPU is new—about two years old—and I’m using a Gigabyte RTX 4080 Eagle OC. They advised me to use Specify, but I encountered persistent WHEA errors. I changed my M2 slot as recommended, yet the error frequency increased. I’m still trying to connect this noise problem to my hardware concerns.
Current situation:
Whenever I play any game now, these sounds and noises appear, which is quite bothersome. I’m unsure if they’ll lead to further damage in my GPU or PC.
PC Specifications:
CPU: Intel i7 13th Gen
GPU: Gigabyte RTX 4080 Eagle OC
AIO: Aorus Waterforce x360
SSD: SN 850X 1 TB (2 partitions, one for C Drive OS, another solely for gaming)
HDD: Western Digital 2TB WD Blue 3.5" SATA
PSU: Corsair SMPS RM 1000X (1000W, purchased in November 2022)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 UD AX Rev. 1
RAM: Corsair DDR5 16x2 GB 5200
Other Peripherals: 10 W sound system, printer, and nothing special.
I have a Specify link for more details:
https://spec-ify.com/profile/cc42eac3
From the sample, it also appears there is a faulty fan bearing.
Fix: replace the fan.
The GPU comes with either a 1 or 2-year warranty. If you signed up as described, you'd receive a 4-year warranty and can reach out to Gigabyte for repairs. Otherwise, you'll need to cover the cost yourself if the warranty expires.
Thats the thing , am i absolutely sure that its the GPU? i mean, i know that Gigabyte services sucks even in countries like America…i am not really sure whether they will even get to my issue.
I can grind for it, but it would be wasting my time to go through the trouble, and later comes down to “GPU is Okay, something else is the issue”
I'm considering one of your GPU fans might be having a problem.
The fan speed increases to align with GPU temperatures for optimal cooling.
Elden Ring is limited to 60fps and can't match the performance of RDR2 in pushing the GPU.
Since the experts have already suggested returning your GPU via RMA, that seems like the best option. If this bothers you, I'll suggest another alternative:
You can find replacement parts on your preferred ecommerce site for a new fan, though that might be a bit more complicated.
Are you certain my main priority should be adjusting the 3rd fan on the GPU? Please check, I don’t want to make mistakes. I’m wondering if I can manually tweak the RPMs of various fans and specifically fix the third one that’s causing problems. I’d like it to run cool enough for the game while staying stable and quiet. I’ve seen some YouTube videos explaining how these fans are connected inside a GPU, but I don’t want to risk using an unknown source that might worsen the issue. I’m trying to be careful before making any changes. If I can handle it myself, it would be the best option for me.
Your suggestion is equally reasonable. If your GPU brand allows it, you can certainly adjust the third fan to reduce noise, though I’d suggest shutting it off completely if possible. For yourself, manually changing the fan is best approached by watching a YouTube video such as "[your gpu here, with manufacturer and variation] teardown/fan replacement" or similar resources.