EMI causing buzz when GPU is under load in certain situations. Does this damage my hardware? Help?

[RadWalk]

So I've noticed an annoying problem. I used to use my monitor speakers for audio sometimes. I began to notice that when my gpu is under load the speakers would play a buzz/whine and it would be louder the more power the gpu is using. This sound does not come through my wireless gaming headset or through the hdmi cable to my TV when the TV is the default sound device.

I thought originally it was the audio cable but I replaced the cable and the problem persists. I believe it must be electromagnetic interference from what I've read. I took a small bluetooth speaker and plugged it into the computer using the same aux cable and I didn't notice the sound, then I plugged the bluetooth charging cable into the computer with the aux cable still in. The sound then started. This essentially confirms it has to do with the power coming through the circuit.

Is there anything I can do to fix this (I was considering a new surge protector designed to block EMI could help)? More importantly, is this EMI doing any damage to my hardware because that is what I care most about as I said the sound doesn't go through my headset or tv so I can play games and watch movies without my speakers.

(I did lose a single motherboard screw so I went and bought a replacement, could having a different type screw be doing anything to fail to ground the mobo? I felt the screws were essentially identical but maybe the ones that came with the case had some sort of coating (they were black) while the new one was silver metallic.)

 

[tsroark]

Check and see if any audio/video/data cables are running parallel with power cables. Especially if the monitor is connected to a front panel audio jack, and the cable for that connector is running parallel with the gpu power connector on the motherboard. I would imagine that the gpu power cable would have a nice electomagnetic field

 

[RadWalk]

Check and see if any audio/video/data cables are running parallel with power cables. Especially if the monitor is connected to a front panel audio jack, and the cable for that connector is running parallel with the gpu power connector on the motherboard. I would imagine that the gpu power cable would have a nice electomagnetic field

Could you explain exactly what you mean by 'running parallel'? Also the problem occurs from the rear audio jack as well as the front.

 

[tsroark]

Parallel means two cables running next to each other, like train tracks. Generally you dont want power and data lines parallel or next to each other. Crossing, like an x shape, is fine though.

 

[RadWalk]

Parallel means two cables running next to each other, like train tracks. Generally you dont want power and data lines parallel or next to each other. Crossing, like an x shape, is fine though.

Okay, I don't believe I have any like that. Maybe my USB 3.0 cord and the gpu power cable and slightly parallel for a small segment but there is really no other way to orient it and the USB 3.0 slots have been unused while this issue has occurred.

I talked to some people at my local computer store and they believe it's just due to the cheap nature of my aux cable, they think a more insulated cable would stop the buzz.

Regardless though I mostly use my headset or hdmi to my TV so I really don't need the monitor speakers. And from everything I've read and others opinions it seems like the EMI isn't going to do any hardware damage so I think it will be best to just ignore it.

I appreciate the help though.

 

[tsroark]

The aux cable could definately be an issue. I dont think I've seen to many instance where internal inductance has been an issue. But with electronics and computers anything can happen.