screaching noise from PSU under load

Gread88 · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:30

I recently upgraded from a 9800 gtx to a gtx 480 and since doing so whenever I do something that puts a load on the GPU I get a screaching noise from my power supply. The noise level seems to roughly follow the load and sounds too high pitched to be from a fan. It also changes in pitch faster than a fan could change speed I think. For example when I close a benchmark it goes from loud to silent instantly.

Im using a Tagan force 2 800W power supply, which should be enough for the new card but it is about 3 years old so is there a chance it has degraded so much it no longer provides enough power? I have stuck my old graphics card in for now just to prevent the noise and I can run anything in this case without problems.

Anyone have any experience of this? if it is beyond help would a corsair HX850W be a decent replacement? Im happy to spend some money on getting a decent PSU but as far as I can tell this corsair one is good value and performance, please correct me if im wrong!

stulid · 14 Apr 2011 at 17:37

Turn Vsync on in the nvidia control panel.

The noise is from the graphics cards coils.

Does the sound then go away?

Gread88 · 15 Apr 2011 at 12:24

Thanks for the quick reply!

I tried turning Vsync on. The noise remains. Im pretty sure its coming from the PSU, it sounds loudest there. Im guessing it only happens with the new GPU because it requires something to draw a large load to cause the problem.

pcAnywhere · 15 Apr 2011 at 13:43

Loud screech? Have you connected all the power cables to the card - because if you don't the card tells you by emitting a loud screech..

Tazzfalcon · 15 Apr 2011 at 13:50

My 6950 does something similar when under heavy load (Furmark basically and occasionally in other benchmarks).

It made no difference changing my PSU from a coolermaster elite 460w to the Antec truepower 650w in my sig. so it must be to do with the card not the PSU.

I've tried enabling vsync as Stulid suggests (obviously through catalyst not nvidia control panel) but I haven't had a chance to test it yet.

I think I'm gonna start steering clear of Furmark as it obviously puts an unrealistic load on the card. As a whole I'm convinced of the cards stability though. (touch wood!)

Gread88 · 15 Apr 2011 at 14:27

Yep power is all connected, a 6 and 8 pin. Benchmarks cause it but also games, anything that makes the gpu do any work. Is there a way I can simulate a load on the PSU without the graphics card in? That way I could know for certain which component is causing it. I know all the responses suggest card but it really does sound like its coming out of the PSU.

Tealc · 15 Apr 2011 at 15:07

Unless you have a load test unit (if you did you wouldn't have asked) besides loading up the CPU all you can do is connect loads of 12v devices to your PSU. You'd need about 50 fans to simulate the load of a gtx 480 though. Most electronic items outside of a pc that use 12v DC are low power items.

Coil whine could be caused by resonance between some capacitors on your graphics card and the PSU. Sometimes the noise comes from the PSU and sometimes from the card itself.

To fix you'll need to invalidate one or both of the warranties.

I saw an image the other day if a 480 that had been coil whine fixed but forget where it was.

Gread88 · 15 Apr 2011 at 15:46

Ok thanks, that makes sense. My electronics knowledge is pretty good but I dont really want to go opening my 480 and breaking something. Im definately not opening my PSU, ive electrocuted myself on one before and it wasnt much fun.

I will see what kind of load I can produce by connecting various things. Mabey my brother will let me borrow his card and I will put that and my 9800 gtx in SLI together and see what happens.