Constant drone from ASUS Turbo Gtx 970 at idle?

Mr Jack · 1 Dec 2015 at 18:41

I just got one of these for my new build. As a card it runs fine but when idling it produces a constant droning noise that is frankly unbearable. It seems to be related to the fan rather than being coil whine as it stops when I stop the fan.

Any possibility of fixing it? Or should I return it?

Heisenberg · 1 Dec 2015 at 18:48

Fan bearing I would assume. I would return.

yashiro · 2 Dec 2015 at 05:36

Setting the minimum rpm of the fan to 35 will fix it. The fan in general seems far too loud.

Mr Jack · 2 Dec 2015 at 08:52

yashiro said:
Setting the minimum rpm of the fan to 35 will fix it. The fan in general seems far too loud.

No, it continues to drone at these low settings.

DjchunKfunK · 2 Dec 2015 at 08:58

I'm having the same issue with mine, when I play a game it gets so loud I can hear it even with headphones on. Think I'll drop OC a line about it today.

tommybhoy · 2 Dec 2015 at 10:35

It's the impeller, probably the same one used from the reference blower, they all do it, it's cheap tat.

yashiro · 4 Dec 2015 at 21:01

Yeah, I tried to put up with it myself at first hence my fan speed suggestion. However, the constant audible droning is just way too much. Without this flaw the card would be decent but I can't put up with this constant buzzing so it has to be returned.

Just to be clear there is little to no electrical coil whine; it all stems from the fan and associated vibrations. Pretty annoying really. I hate returning stuff.

Jim99 · 4 Dec 2015 at 21:04

FWIW, I can't hear mine at all.

yashiro · 4 Dec 2015 at 21:13

Must be a fault with some of the cards then. Glad yours is OK.

moogle · 4 Dec 2015 at 21:25

I had a Zotac 970 which did the same. It was definitely the fan and it was made even worse by having a vertical orientated case (where the motherboard IO is facing upwards leaving the GPU vertical).

It wasn't noisy noisy but definitely irritating especially seeing as it was the loudest thing in my case.

nox_uk · 5 Dec 2015 at 01:00

got one of these too, it's less irritating than coil whine. With that in mind, figured I could replace the fan at a later date if it got on my nerves too much!

Tried silent settings in the software?

freddie64 · 5 Dec 2015 at 09:24

If you need a blower style cooler, you would be best with this one.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x OcUK GeForce GTX 970 "NVIDIA 970 Cooler Edition" 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card= £319.99

Total: £329.89
(includes shipping: £9.90)

But, damn that price.

It sometimes is on offer, sub £300.

Is a great cooler though. Almost inaudible when idle, rising to a faint whoosh when gaming.

nox_uk · 5 Dec 2015 at 09:44

Yep, the asus was £100 cheaper... Considering it will be replaced come pascal/arctic islands, I couldn't justify that additional amount

freddie64 · 5 Dec 2015 at 14:15

Do you need a blower cooler?

Could you could get it replaced for a twin fan style.

Sipha · 5 Dec 2015 at 14:38

Does it sound like this ?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18706041

yashiro · 5 Dec 2015 at 20:48

Yep. Hard to tell from the video but mine was way louder in terms of buzzing.

Sencha · 5 Dec 2015 at 20:51

Mr Jack said:
when idling it produces a constant droning noise that is frankly unbearable.

Sure its not the wife complaining about the price?

Sipha · 5 Dec 2015 at 21:47

I think it's normal for these cards, Just the design of blower that causes a droning noise. Either way I'm returning mine and getting a Windforce OC or similar. It's a great card and works well just too noisey!

yashiro · 5 Dec 2015 at 23:43

I don't think it's normal. Reference blowers I've had haven't been this bad. It's more likely that there's something up with the fan on some cards.

My brother recently got a Strix card and it's silent. I get the feeling I might have to stump up for one of those.

moogle · 5 Dec 2015 at 23:48

For these cards it seems to be a case of ****tier fans being used. Older blower style coolers were silent at low fan speeds.

Another 970 I had wasn't as noisy as my first one which also had a reference cooler. That led me to believe it had a bad fan on the first one, but the newer one wasn't quiet as older generations.