PSU makes buzzing sound when in games?

geon106 · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:07

Whenever I load up games, my PSU makes a sort of humming/buzzing sound. I thought it was its fan, possibly a loose bearing. But it only happens when in games and the noise changes as I move the mouse. If the screen flashes back(like loading screens etc) the noise stops until a picture is displayed again.

I've put my ear to the PSU and it is coming from that rather than anything else.

In Windows the noise isn't present at all. The system is fully stable and games work fine.

My specs are as follows:

PSU: XFX 750W
Motherboard: Asus P8768-V
CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K OC to 4.3Ghz
GPU: Radeon 7950 3GB Windforce Edition
SPU: Asus Xonar D2X

CPU temp on idle: 28oC Load: 34oC
Mobo temp on idle: 30oC Load 31oC

dacads · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:12

Well more stress is put on the PSU as the components start working, so the fan has to increase its speed to cope with this

How old is the PSU?

[TW]Sponge · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:17

Is it high pitched? Could be just coil whine.

geon106 · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:22

It is high pitch, but its not that loud. It is only just louder than the case fans.

The PSU is getting on a bit, its about 4 or 5 years old so quite old. I'd like to replace it but don't have the funds to yet.

Not sure if its from its fan(as it may just need cleaning etc) or from the internal components. The fan is spinning properly though

geon106 · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:23

It's strange, as I navigate menus in a game the pitch changes along with when I move the mouse :S

dacads · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:23

Well the best thing to do is open up the case and stick your head in(gently)

Then you can determine the route of the problem.

If it is the PSU fan then try and blow some air in with an air duster

trickynickyuk · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:25

i would look at changing your PSU see if it happens with a different one

dacads · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:29

IF the problem is the PSU then I would try cleaning the fan first before replacing the PSU itself. Buying a new one without finding and trying to resolve the problem doesn't sound like the brightest of ideas

[TW]Sponge · 12 Sep 2012 at 17:51

It's probably just coil whine. Unfortunately some PSU's just have it. Nothing to worry about (only the noise is irritating)

geon106 · 12 Sep 2012 at 18:53

ill order some compressed air and clean it out, when i get some more dosh ill invest in a new PSU

wazza300 · 12 Sep 2012 at 18:57

try turning off intel speedstep in the bios and see if noise lessens or gois away completely

daveyg · 13 Sep 2012 at 12:12

geon106 said:
It's strange, as I navigate menus in a game the pitch changes along with when I move the mouse :S

I thought I was going mad for ages with odd noises from my PC that I could hear through my speakers, i.e. I could hear my HDD through the speakers.

Try muting your mic in the sound mixer and see if that fixes it. The analogue microphone can pick up all sorts of strange things depending on how good or bad the grounding is.

sadbuttrue · 13 Sep 2012 at 12:58

[TW]Sponge;22755333 said:
It's probably just coil whine. Unfortunately some PSU's just have it. Nothing to worry about (only the noise is irritating)

This.

It's probably the graphics card and/or an interaction between it and your PSU. There is no cure.

dcsarge · 13 Sep 2012 at 13:15

My Antec 650w does the same since i upgraded to a gtx 470 from a 8600gts. It is definitely coil whine and the pitch changes with variations in load. The fan also ticks constantly but as I game with headphones I just ignore it.

Zeed · 13 Sep 2012 at 16:01

coil whine 100% sure

I have it in my rig to. Over 1.5 years now and no problems cos i play on headset.
If it bothers you get new PSU and pray it wont start in 2-3 months...