How much coil whine is enough to RMA?

[asteldian]

Hi all, I got 2xGigabyte 970 G1s, the one in my wifes machine is perfect, but mine makes a horrible noise to the point music needs to be played in order to try drown it out.

I am thinking I need to get it replaced, anyone know how good the Gigabyte RMA is and how long it takes to get the card returned/replaced? I went with Gigabyte because I heard you can RMA in the UK so it is an easier process.

 

[r7slayer]

Not sure exactly but i'm sure if you can hear it well over all your system fans which produce around 20 - 25db of noise each then id say you could RMA it.

But as you pointed out if you have to play music to drown it out then obviously its an annoying buzzing whining sound in the background so must be well over 30db of noise its producing. I think gigabyte recently for a RMA base nearby not sure. Also did you get the card from OcUK?

 

[Wizzfizz]

If it's intrusive as you suggest and that the whine is there in actual game(s) (not just in game menus or benchmarking software), then I'd return it. As above, where did you purchase the cards from? Also what PSU do you use?

 

[PapaLazaru]

Have you tried swopping them around to see if it is the card or something else?

 

[Sencha]

Have you tried swapping them around and not telling the wife?

 

[nutsnut]

Good suggestion to swap the cards over to eliminate PSU/Motherboard compatibility issues with your 970.

If Coil whine still persist then RMA it with the reason being Coil Whine or 3.5GB of Ram.

 

[Neil79]

Good suggestion to swap the cards over to eliminate PSU/Motherboard compatibility issues with your 970.

If Coil whine still persist then RMA it with the reason being Coil Whine or 3.5GB of Ram.

Return due to the 3.5GB Vram before end of Feb, not the Coil Whine and you'll get a straight refund, rather than a product to be tested.

 

[asteldian]

Bought the card in the US, so refund not really an option, at least I would not get enough money for buying an alternative
The whining only begins once games start up - fine at desktop, fine at any game load screens. So only when it needs to work does it start getting noisy.

Good point regarding swapping cards. My PSU is a bit old now and may well be struggling (cannot remember PSU model)

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I had a bit of whine on a 970. When I bought a second for SLI, the whine disappeared. I'm sure it's PSU related, and not just a problem with under rated PSUs (mine is Corsair 850w Gold).

 

[asteldian]

Interesting. I hope it is the PSU, I hate having to RMA stuff, so much hassle