GPU "coil whine" issue

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Athawolfus

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Feb 23, 2011
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Hello,

I have a distinct "coil whine" problem with my PC. It only happens in games. It's often a high-pitched, noticeable "whining" sound. I know that often happens when the frame-rate is too high but it doesn't just happen in menus or loading screens but can also happen when a game is lagging (like when it stops for a second) or while changing the camera angle in a strategy game. There is also a different "wind tunnel" type of noise that happens normally in most games, for example with GTA V. I have a GTX 970.

Now I can't even be sure if it's the CPU, GPU or the PSU but most people say it should be the GPU. For some reason some forum posts claim it can somehow be fixed by disabling CPU power-saving features like C1E in the BIOS but I don't understand how that's related. In order to isolate the problem, I used the "stress CPU" option in CPU-Z and there was no coil whine. But when I fired up 3DMark there was no whine either. But it DOES happen in games with similar framerates so that's weird.

What do you think? Is it the GPU? Is it a major problem other than the sound? How would disabling C1E fix this? Thanks.

EDIT: I actually kinda got that wrong. It's more of a buzzing than a high-pitched whine, and it actually disappears momentarily when the game lags, which can happen as I said when I'm changing the camera angle or right after loading screens or something. Which probably also points to the GPU. The buzzing can come at all times even when the framerate is around 120 and not when it goes way up like in menus. The "tunnel wind" sound is consistent with games with heavy loads though.
 
what I don't understand is with the issues for the 970 since day one first release like the coil whine has been well reported , talked about , articles threads , and everything else about thiss on them and the rest of its issues , but yet you still went and bought one and don't understand ???

did you think you were immune to all of that ?? you got what you paid for [and some times less] and all this should of been no surprise at all
 
I see you not read anything on that with a 970 ..lol

start here
http://www.pcper.com/news/Graphics-Cards/GeForce-GTX-970-Coil-Whine-Concerns

and a 1000 more on it

then some food for thought

If you've already worked your way though our GTX 980 review, then you'll know that unlike that card, Nvidia is not producing a reference model of the GTX 970, the second enthusiast-grade Maxwell part that replaces the GTX 770 in the product stack. The images on this page do not reflect a ready to buy product. Instead, Nvidia's AICs will be able to purchase the GPU and memory chips, but after that it's up to them, and this will undoubtedly lead to a high degree of variability when it comes to PCB and cooler design as well as factory overclocks. [bit-tech.net]


Furthermore, as we mentioned in our GTX 980 review, GTX 970 has been a pure virtual (no reference card) launch, which means all of NVIDIA’s partners are launching their custom cards right out of the gate. A lot of these have been recycled or otherwise only slightly modified GTX 700/600 series designs, owing to the fact that GM204’s memory bus has been held at 256-bits and its power requirements are so low.
[Anandtech .com]
 


While I appreciate the answer, I don't understand the unnecessary hostility in your tone. Any purchase is a pros and cons issue. While the 970 may have this issue, it's also still a great purchase in terms of bang for the buck. And simply put, I'd found a great deal, one that only applied for the 970 in that case.

I certainly wasn't shooting for any sort of immunity. And I didn't know about the coil whine problem in great detail, I just knew that it could happen. Now, if you think that my having knowingly bought the card automatically strips away my right to ask or learn about the issue or try to limit it, that's just like... your opinion, man.
 
nothing hostile meant - just 3wanted to know why as well know all there is on a 970 you would buy one ?

''it's also still a great purchase in terms of bang for the buck'' true as long as you live with its issues I guess like your asking about how to fix the whine

putting up wioth that and all is all part of your ''bang '' like I said theres 1000's of posts/ threads on that all over from there first release with plenty of trick to try to resolve / discuses that .. its old wore out news and common place

best bet is rma the card until you get one that works to your satisfaction or spend more money like said above on new parts like a psu until you hit on something that works ?? [then now wheres that bang for your buck at ? ]

no hate was meant here just wanted to know why

sorry and good luck

something from here may help ?? lots to look at on it

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/all.html?refine=gtx+970+coil+whine
 
Ok, thanks, no hard feelings. It's too late to RMA it. Some people have apparently suggested that overclocking / slightly overvolting the card might help by changing the frequency of the whine, thus making it inaudible, but I'm also kinda afraid it might make matters worse. The card is not overclocked as it is.
 
way I see it is look at all the coil whine deals on a 970 around the web and find something that may work out and live with it ??

my favorite one was the fix - downclock the card and cap/limit the fps .. so then why did you buy a so called performance card and have to do all that to make it work right ??? down clock it and limit it ?? really??

in that link I gave above from pcper.com you read ''Since all of the GTX 970 cards currently shipping are non-reference, custom built PCB designs, NVIDIA's input to the problem is one mostly of recommendations''

that goes hand in hand with these reviews

f you've already worked your way though our GTX 980 review, then you'll know that unlike that card, Nvidia is not producing a reference model of the GTX 970, the second enthusiast-grade Maxwell part that replaces the GTX 770 in the product stack. The images on this page do not reflect a ready to buy product. Instead, Nvidia's AICs will be able to purchase the GPU and memory chips, but after that it's up to them, and this will undoubtedly lead to a high degree of variability when it comes to PCB and cooler design as well as factory overclocks. [bit-tech.net]


Furthermore, as we mentioned in our GTX 980 review, GTX 970 has been a pure virtual (no reference card) launch, which means all of NVIDIA’s partners are launching their custom cards right out of the gate. A lot of these have been recycled or otherwise only slightly modified GTX 700/600 series designs, owing to the fact that GM204’s memory bus has been held at 256-bits and its power requirements are so low.
[Anandtech .com]


so it may just be luck of the draw comes more in to play then ever with a 970 ??
 
Seems like it. Downclocking sounds pretty lame and I guess I'll use a frame limiter to limit the FPS to 60 or so in the games where the problem is too strong. Thanks.
 


Cant help you if you dont tell us your system specs "my gtx 970 has coil whine" isnt enough info 🙁
 
well its just one recommended way ''If you’re having coil whine issues with your GTX 970 please let us know. If the noise is excessive you may attempt to RMA your card for a replacement. A more conservative approach would be trying to limit your framerates. If you’re using a 60Hz monitor make sure to maintain a 60FPS frame limit. You can achieve this via software like MSI Afterburner or if the game natively offers this option

Read more: http://wccftech.com/nvidia-gtx-970-coil-whine/#ixzz42vPVzBm2

seems in the end most rma until they get a ''better'' card [evga accepts coil whine as a approved rma reason] don't know about the rest

to me anything out side of working as expected out of the box is lame
 
Well, I have a Gigabyte G1 Gaming 970, i5 4690k @ stock, 8 GB DDR3 RAM and a Sabertooth Z97 mobo. Don't really think anything other than the GPU itself is relevant in this issue, though. Thanks anyway.
 
I have a CoolerMaster V750 PSU. I've read about switching the PSU to a better one might help but can't really try it. I know it's not the best of the bunch but I was of the opinion that the model was still good enough. Not really sure though.
 
You listed everything except the power supply that we have been asking for, Coil whine is cause by either the gpu or power supply. So please, as i said in my first post that you ignored

"Open up your pc while its running and figure out if the noise is coming from the gpu or power supply, also what power supply do you have?"

A bad power supply can whine, or it can cause you gpu to whine. or it could be a bad gpu. You cant just assume its the gpus fault 🙁 thats discrimination against graphics cards 😛
 
thing is regardless with a 970 your at ''its'' mercy if it don't do / work as expected out of the box replacing psu's/parts bang for the buck gone - limit the card in any way - bang for the buck gone + that loss of performance you expect to have gotten as advertised

just a high risk vid card anyway you look at it and luck of the draw is critical thing is now what way do you go ?? cause your not guaranteed its the psu in any way and buy 3 more of them and still be in the same boat ???

tough call
 
Oh, no no. I edited my post just after I wrote it but it seems it was too late. It's a V750. V. As regards opening up the case and looking for the sound I did that and I'm positive that the noise is coming from the GPU and not the PSU. However, I do know the PSU can cause the noise to come from the GPU so not blaming either at this point.
 
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