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Coil Whine - MSI 290 Gaming or PSU?

mrteeny

mrteeny

mrteeny

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Joined
16 Oct 2006
Posts
7
Hi all!

I've just got a lovely new MSI r9 290 Gaming Edition to replace my old HD4850, but I've encountered coil whine at high frame rates (1st futuremark test, Crysis menus with v-sync off)

I'm pretty sure the whine is coming from the PSU (Corsair 850HX), but it seems it's due to the new GPU!

Has anyone else had this issue, would you suggest RMA'ing the PSU or the GPU, or perhaps both?

I got the PSU from OCUK 3 years ago, It sure would be nice if OCUK would handle the RMA, but I bet I have to pay for it to go to The Netherlands instead :(

Thanks!
 
I get coil whine on my VTX3D R9 290, but only at super high frame rates (Stalker main menu, it was running at 2000fps :D) I've been getting fps up to 250-300 in some games (cs, killing floor) and not a peep, besides the fan.
What fps was the crysis menu running at?
 
Have you still got your older Graphics Card? Can you use onboard graphics to test the PSU with out the 290?

If you can, put a 100% load on the system using prime or something. If the it still whines, it's the PSU. Otherwise it's the 290.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I didn't check the Crysis menu fps, it was lower as the coil whine was quieter. I quickly glanced at futuremark before turning it off and that was 1500+, and significantly louder.

Yeah I'll test with my old card after work. I'll try and stress it as much as possible, but unfortunately my 4850 wont stress it as much as my 290. 290 is ~300W TDP? and my 4850 is... ~114W i think.

I just can't help but blame the PSU as that's where the noise seems to be coming from.
 
Try using two separate pci-e cables. I found this turned a coil whining 7990 into a silent card.
 
It could be the GPU or the PSU but it my case it was the PSU and it only started happening after a GPU upgrade. It was OCZ1000 plus if it makes any difference. Replaced it and the coil whine went.
 
tribz said:
It could be the GPU or the PSU but it my case it was the PSU and it only started happening after a GPU upgrade. It was OCZ1000 plus if it makes any difference. Replaced it and the coil whine went.
Click to expand...

Good shout.

Thankfully neither of my 290's have any coil whine at all, not even the faintest bit. Even on 'that menu' of Unigine Heaven/Valley they're silent. Praise the lord!
 
Good point. The only way you'll know for sure is swapping the PSU out for a known working one, or try the card in another machine.. but i think you're right.
 
Hmm, I am using 2 separate PCI-E cables, I don't know how you'd use one? :P Definitely not using any PCI-E adapters. The PSU does have 4, so first I'll try the other 2 cables.

I've got a Corsair 650TX in another computer I could harvest, I think the 290 box said 700W minimum. You think I could try the 650TX and not have it die in futuremark?

Ah I knew this 290 upgrade wouldn't go smoothly :D
 
mrteeny said:
Hmm, I am using 2 separate PCI-E cables, I don't know how you'd use one? :P Definitely not using any PCI-E adapters. The PSU does have 4, so first I'll try the other 2 cables.
Click to expand...

If your PSU has four PCIE power connectors then it's likely two cables split into four connectors. Instead of using both connectors from one power cable, use one connector from each separate cable (if that makes sense).
 
Clav said:
If your PSU has four PCIE power connectors then it's likely two cables split into four connectors. Instead of using both connectors from one power cable, use one connector from each separate cable (if that makes sense).
Click to expand...

Interesting... I think there are additional Modular PCI-E connections (2 "sets" of connections if I recall, yes they must be linked internally). I'll also try that. Exciting.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone!
 
I get the same with my antec tupower 750, coil whine ever since upgrading from my 7950. I am trying to RMA with antec but annoyed that I have to pay postage.
 
Well, little update.

Tried different cables, still squealing. Tried it in another computer less squealing, but also less frame rate because of the old Q6600 :D.

Tried Different PSU, still squealing. Looks like it's the GPU. I guess I'll swap the GPU for another one. Hopefully I get another Hynix!
 
My 290 had Coil whine in high fps menus etc but it went away after a few days. It might be worth waiting a few days and maybe leaving it running on a high fps menu for a few hours.
 
mine was weird, Sapphire 290, when i first got it, no whine, after a while it developed a whine, mostly in char select type menus or loading levels (Rift / WoW etc) ingame it was perfectly fine. Was running on a CM Silent Pro 700w PSU and also a Lepa 750w PSU.

Changed PSU to a Superflower Leadex 1000w Gold and i cant recall hearing coilwhine since, once my pc is back together i will test it again to make sure, as admittedly the only thing i played since putting the PSU in before the Kuhler tried killing my PC, was TESO Beta.
 
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