Question Graphics card making strange sound, doesn't seem like coil whine

[NoNoisePlease]

My NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti has recently started making a strange mid to high pitch vibrating sound that occurs all the time, no matter when idle or playing a game. It is driving me insane and I can't have this continuing because I also use the desktop as my work computer and it gives me a headache when I listen to it for too long. I have tested turning the computer on with the gpu removed and it is fine so I know it is the gpu that is the source of the noise. Is it about to die? I've only had it for 1 year. Anyone with experience in this can you please give some advice on what I can do? Thanks.

 

[Diddly]

Is the fan(s)? you might be able to replace them.

 

[NoNoisePlease]

Is the fan(s)? you might be able to replace them.

How can I easily test this? I tried stopping one fan before by sticking a pen in it which didn't fix the problem but the other fan started spinning like crazy and I got scared.

 

[mamasan2000]

Did you try pressing down on the middle of the fan? Where the motor is. Sticking a pencil in could break the fanblades, don't do it again.

 

[NoNoisePlease]

Did you try pressing down on the middle of the fan? Where the motor is. Sticking a pencil in could break the fanblades, don't do it again.

I just tried that on both fans but it didn't do anything.

 

[NoNoisePlease]

So I removed the gpu again today to have a closer look at it and found that the backplate feels like it is slightly loose, but the screws are on tight. There looks to be a flap that isnt secured and instead kept together by 2 sticky(?) nubs.

 

[AngelJin]

Open msi afterburner and set the fan speed to 0. Also try another slot.

 

[NoNoisePlease]

Open msi afterburner and set the fan speed to 0. Also try another slot.

Tried another slot, same issue. I don't see how I can set fan speed to 0 though, it only goes down to 32%.

 

[NoNoisePlease]

Fan speed doesn't affect the noise, at this point I'm probably going to have to open it up to have a look 🙁 . Thanks for the ideas.