Put My Mind At Ease?

[phil2415]

I built my new PC last night and, inevitably, I was up until the wee small hours. In my tiredness I forgot to remove the little plastic label on my XFX nVidia GTX260 before installing it and turning the PC on. The PC was virtually silent while running apart from the occasional, unhealthy-sounding squeaking/whining from the GPU.

I didn't have the PC on for long - only long enough to install Windows 7 RC and then run a Windows Experience Index test (told you I was tired). It was only after I went to bed that I remembered about the film I hadn't removed.

I'm sitting here in work now worrying about whether removing the film is going to stop the noises and whether I've done permanent damage to the card by running it with the film still in place. Can anyone reassure me in any way? Please?!

 

[uv]

where was the plastic film?

 

[Wmega]

Squeaking noises won't stop even after you remove the plastic film, but better take it off. Squeaking/whining has become normal in the new cards

 

[phil2415]

As I recall it was on the bottom of the card, that is to say the bottom when it was installed in the upright tower. So the flat surface with all the flashy artwork. Having said that, I didn't examine it too closely, it might have been bigger and covered more than I realised. It did seem small, though...

 

[phil2415]

Squeaking noises won't stop even after you remove the plastic film, but better take it off. Squeaking/whining has become normal in the new cards

That's really bad! The rest of the PC is silent!

 

[uv]

If it's any consolation, the capacitor whine may stop after a while - my gtx280 stopped whining after a month

 

[gt_junkie]

Will be fine - that part of the casing doesn't get warm.

The older style 260/280's had rear covers (where the PCB shows on the newer cards) which did get very hot (mine do!!! ) but yours will be fine.

What you can hear is probably cap squeel.

When the GPU's do very high fps (in game menus - STALKER is one example) the caps resonate and make a screeching noise. Shouldn't do it as much in game though.

gt

 

[Wmega]

That's really bad! The rest of the PC is silent!

Yeah I know It was the reason I rma my gtx285 and stay with my "old" 4870. Having a top, expensive card while you cannot enjoy it due to crappy coil noises from manufacture defects (because that what it is!) its unacceptable at least for me.

 

[phil2415]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like I might get away with having forgotten to remove the film and I'll just have to hope that the squealing goes away - it's quite annoying! I agree with you, Wmega, that if it's not going to stop it's a pretty serious defect but by the time I've waited to see if the card 'breaks in' and the noises stop it'll be too late to RMA!