Add second graphics card, whining sound = :(

Showboat · 3 Feb 2012 at 09:14

Hi guys, i recently aquired a second 5850 to crossfire with my existing one.

Now my PSU is a 650W and can be found here, it doesn't say its crossfire/sli approved.
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?Type=MQ==&id=MTIwNQ==

When i powered on the computer it made this whining sound. (Similar to a broken fan belt on a car!) But the computer booted up to the windows screen.
I powered the computer off and removed the pci-e connectors from the second card but left it in the motherboard connected. Computer made the same sound.
I then removed my card completely and put the new card into it's slot. Computer booted with no whining.

So was it my power supply creating this racket because it couldn't cope?
I hade the second GFX card connected using two sets on molex - pci-e connectors.

Doomedspeed · 3 Feb 2012 at 09:31

Im no expert but it sounds like a PSU problem to me. Maybe not coping too well. Id say it's about on the limit.

Kotu · 3 Feb 2012 at 09:32

well the graphics cards would only draw the extra power when under load. If the cards are located right next to each other then it could be caused by the fan on the higher card touching the lower card.

CinderzFTW · 3 Feb 2012 at 14:24

Kotu said:
well the graphics cards would only draw the extra power when under load. If the cards are located right next to each other then it could be caused by the fan on the higher card touching the lower card.

I agree with Kotu.

If the card whining is the top card then it is facing the directly at the card below it. Could be the card on a higher setting or it is sucking air in at a fast pace from a small gap (gap between the 2 cards)

Showboat · 3 Feb 2012 at 14:27

Thanks for the replies, the cards are almost the length of the crossfire bridge apart (3-5cm).
The noise happens the moment the power is switched on. I am going to investigate some more tonight. I have a feeling the molex / pci-e adapters were not forced in all the way, they are a lot harder to push in than the adapters that are attached to the psu.

abarth_1200 · 3 Feb 2012 at 19:39

Any way to split the cards power over your PSU outputs, like take one PCIE for each card then one molex adapter for each card, IDK what your cards need for power.

I have had whinning noises occur when power plugs arent all the way in btw

Dave0w · 3 Feb 2012 at 19:51

switch the cards round, see if the problem still happens

freddie64 · 4 Feb 2012 at 08:55

Try running one card just using the PCI-E adaptors to see if they are the problem (are you using just one molex cable for both adaptors?).

Showboat · 4 Feb 2012 at 09:53

Got the sound fixed. One of the molex connections fell out! Now I can't crossfire enabled as windows isn't seeing the second card. I uninstalled the drivers and reinstalled them. Also tried connecting one crossfire bridge and both. No joy. :-(

Kotu · 4 Feb 2012 at 13:01

might be worth inspecting the molex connectors, if you had to force any in then there is a chance you actually forced the pins out the back of the plug.