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Graphics card making weird squealing noise when computer is switched off

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Joined
15 Jan 2012
Posts
7
Hi,

Built my PC at start of January, but didn't have the graphics card initially as I wanted to see what the prices for 7970 were like (they were too high). So I decided to buy an ATI Radeon HD 6950 (Asus Directcu ii). Now the card works absolutely fine, I unlocked it and everything and all my games run really smoothly, but whenever the computer is switched off at night, there is an intermittent (usually every 10-20 minutes for about 30 seconds to a minute) high pitched squealing noise that is definitely coming the graphics card. I know this as the PC definitely did not make the noise before I bought the graphics card, as there was about a week and a half between the actual build and the graphics card arriving.

I am just wondering if this should be a cause for concern, I looked around the internet and a few places said it was normal, a few said it indicated faulty capacitors and a few said it couldn't be coming from the GPU, it had to be coming from the PSU (which is not the case). Can anyone shed any light on this issue?

Thanks very much,

Zumio
 
Some gfx cards scream when they do not have enough power, it lets you know he power boost leads are not connected into the card directly.
Quite why this happens when the pc is off bewilders me, capacitance issues?
 
Some gfx cards scream when they do not have enough power, it lets you know he power boost leads are not connected into the card directly.
Quite why this happens when the pc is off bewilders me, capacitance issues?

The thing is it's not that loud, I only really notice it as I am trying to sleep when it occurs. I would pass it off for tinnitus its that quiet, but I put my ear against the case and it is definitely coming from the card. It might well be happening when the computer is on too but the fans would drown it out. The noise isn't really a problem per se, I'm just worried that it means something is going wrong inside the card or something as I have absolutely no clue why it is doing it. Like I said it works fine so... guess I shouldn't be too worried
 
It has got to be coming from the PSU. The GPU shouldn't be getting any power???

Capacitor squeal on GPUs while it is on is quite common.
 
It has got to be coming from the PSU. The GPU shouldn't be getting any power???

Capacitor squeal on GPUs while it is on is quite common.

Nope it is definitely coming from the card. Like I said I had the system built for about a week and a half and the squealing only started after I put the graphics card in. I think I won't worry too much about it as I have absolutely 0 performance/heat problems with the card (it runs skyrim on ultra at around 55-58C which I don't think is too bad). I will post back if the problem worsens.

Thanks for your replies!
 
I think you should at least disconnect and remove the graphics card and check again.

I have a squeaking PSU when my system is shut down and it is the PSU, my old one doesnt make that sound when I tried it in the EXACT same rig.

btw what PSU have you got, a Corsair by any chance, how about a TX750, I have this PSU and the Nvidia Asus GTX506Ti with the Direct CUII cooler
 
The squealing is often caused by the voltage regulator modules. They are tiny coils, that vibrate. You shouldn't be able to hear them, but as they age it may well become audible.

It doesn't generally mean anything is wrong per se, but it's not a nice sound to live with.

Corsair did a big run of power supplies a couple of years back that squealed like pigs. Nothing wrong, but bloody annoying for the poor sods who had to live with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4d23F2jehQ
 
I think you should at least disconnect and remove the graphics card and check again.

I have a squeaking PSU when my system is shut down and it is the PSU, my old one doesnt make that sound when I tried it in the EXACT same rig.

btw what PSU have you got, a Corsair by any chance, how about a TX750, I have this PSU and the Nvidia Asus GTX506Ti with the Direct CUII cooler

I have a Corsair HX850W, I will take apart the computer tomorrow and see if that changes anything. Thanks for your input

The squealing is often caused by the voltage regulator modules. They are tiny coils, that vibrate. You shouldn't be able to hear them, but as they age it may well become audible.

It doesn't generally mean anything is wrong per se, but it's not a nice sound to live with.

Corsair did a big run of power supplies a couple of years back that squealed like pigs. Nothing wrong, but bloody annoying for the poor sods who had to live with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4d23F2jehQ

My squealing is not quite that loud, it is literally the same squeal as when you have been to a concert and your ears are ringing - but it is not my ears! I might just start turning off the power supply every night before I go to bed as it is only audible when the PC is switched off. Also it happens when my PC is switched off!

Thanks for your input
 
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