x1900xt users please look in

fullfat · 21 Jun 2006 at 22:04

if youve got one of these cards in your computer and you can get your ear next to the card. can you run ati tool's 'scan for artifacts' tool and see if your card is making a pulsating sort of 'whine' noise from the card.
ive had 2 of these cards now that have done it and read elsewhere about it too.
just wondering if this is a widespread problem/or quirk of the card so i can try to rest a bit easier.

TaKeN · 21 Jun 2006 at 22:11

My card used to make a whine noise whilst playing css, i always thought it was the fan though :confused:

fullfat · 21 Jun 2006 at 22:19

no, its something to do with the power, thats all i know as people watercooling have the same issue, its not on every card though i dont think. its yet to become clear if its a tell tale sign of the cards going pop. but some x1800's are like it too apparently

LoadsaMoney · 21 Jun 2006 at 22:42

Is it not something to do with the capacitors or something, like when its getting stressed.

BloodWolf · 21 Jun 2006 at 23:21

Hi

Ive got a x1900xt.. i dont notice any whine noise?

fullfat · 21 Jun 2006 at 23:21

LoadsaMoney said:
Is it not something to do with the capacitors or something, like when its getting stressed.

could well be, although its not effecting performance at all so maybe it is a normal thing for these high powered cards to do, i didnt notice it with my old x1800 but i didnt have it up on my desk before so i cant be 100%. im curious to see how many people on here have the noise issue though as its not been raised before i dont think

Trip Hazard · 22 Jun 2006 at 12:29

Is the fan PWM controlled? I've heard some pretty noisy PWM controllers before.

[EDIT]
Just read the post about watercooling so probably not because of a noisy PWM controller.

fullfat · 22 Jun 2006 at 12:55

BloodWolf said:
Hi

Ive got a x1900xt.. i dont notice any whine noise?

try running ati tool's scan for artifacts and see if it makes a pulsating sort of sound, or battlefield2 menu's/fear menu's. or control panels 'find max clock speeds' iirc. some people dont get it though, it looks to be PSU orientated if its there or not as ive seen people switch psu and the noise goes away. its very weird

LoadsaMoney · 22 Jun 2006 at 12:59

Odd if thats the case, then id say its the PSU not the card, if you change the PSU and it stops.

fullfat · 22 Jun 2006 at 13:10

LoadsaMoney said:
Odd if thats the case, then id say its the PSU not the card, if you change the PSU and it stops.

no its not me it does it with, iv changed psu and its the same. others have reported changing psu has helped them

TaKeN · 22 Jun 2006 at 13:16

Well im going to drive down to ocuk on saturday and collect a Sapphire X1900

I will report back

sablabra · 22 Jun 2006 at 13:32

fullfat said:
no, its something to do with the power, thats all i know as people watercooling have the same issue, its not on every card though i dont think. its yet to become clear if its a tell tale sign of the cards going pop. but some x1800's are like it too apparently

Yup, my old watercooled x1800xt made that sound, and it was really loud. What's strange is that the sound appeared while I was browsing the menus in bf2, but as quickly as I started playing the sound disseapered. I do get a sort of similar sound with my 7800gtx 512 too in between the 3dmark tests, but it's no where as bad

EDIT: But when I'm thinking about it, I can't remember getting the pulsating sound with my old psu? :confused:

fullfat · 22 Jun 2006 at 13:40

the pulsating sound is only when you run ati tools check for artifacts apparently, and i can testify to this too. also when on cpu tests (how weird is that!) with 3dmark05 its really loud, ive tried that too.
but youre right, as soon as youre ingame the sound isnt as noticable, although when i press esc in oblivion and the menu is onscreen, the noise comes back slightly.
BF2 server list screen/3dmark's cpu tests seem to be the very worst though.

Six6siX · 22 Jun 2006 at 13:42

The high frequency squealing is often found in power supplies or any frequency dependent components. The components (genearally, MOSFETS) internally operate at a certain switching frequency which is usually beyond the limits of the human range. Sometimes, discrepancies within other components which determine this switching frequency may be slightly 'out' and as a result the switching moves into the audiable realm - which is what you hear.

That'd be my guess, and if thats the case, I dont think its anything to worry about really...

LoadsaMoney · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:43

TaKeN said:
Well im going to drive down to ocuk on saturday and collect a Sapphire X1900

I will report back

Let us know how long it lasts.

EDIT: £260 to expensive, shop around mate.

dale1uk · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:49

My x1800xt makes the same sound, and like said its worse when selecting a server in bf2. Hopefully we can find out exactly what the prob is.

SpudMaster · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:49

my card makes the sound, but only when my OC it to max. Its fine at 750/860, but the sound occurs sometime if i oc to 760/870. I run the card at 750/860 though, no sounds, no problems

TaKeN · 22 Jun 2006 at 17:36

LoadsaMoney said:
Let us know how long it lasts.

EDIT: £260 to expensive, shop around mate.

OMFG NOOO !!

I already ordered it from somewhere else

fullfat · 22 Jun 2006 at 18:19

SpudMaster said:
my card makes the sound, but only when my OC it to max. Its fine at 750/860, but the sound occurs sometime if i oc to 760/870. I run the card at 750/860 though, no sounds, no problems

which psu are you using?

my card isnt overclocked btw and im using antec neopower 480w psu