Question How to figure out whether my old PSU is the cause of coil whine on my GPU?

[dalexander11]

Hey guys. this might be the better forum for this..

So I was rocking a Red Devil RX 6950 XT for some months now and it had insane coil whine. Even when just browsing the internet, being on the desktop etc.. all the time.
This is the reason I decided to go for a Sapphire Nitro+ RX 7900 XT, since i read that those are the best RX 7900 XT with the least problems and least/no coil whine. Also I wanted more performance of course.

After the RX 7900XT arrived, I instantly built it into my rig and tested it, all was going great.. until I started a benchmark and a game afterwards. Really unpleasant coil whine again (PC is right next to my ear). So i was very unsatisfied again, I am surely not gonna spend almost 1000€ on a GPU which wont make me happy and is loud af. Could´ve just sticked to my RX 6950 XT then.

However, then I read, that oftentimes a PSU could also be the reason why a GPU has coil whine.
Therefore I just got a Seasonic Focus GX-1000

What is the best way to go about this? I want to test it as quickly and easily as possible with the 2 new PSUs.. I´d really prefer to not disassemble my entire PC, remove all existing cables etc.. This would take me hours and a lot of my non-existing nerves.

Can I just unplug the GPU and plug the new cables from the new PSUs into it? I figured that wont work, since the PSU wont even start right? Is the only way to unplug CPU, Mainboard, GPU, all SSDs (in the back, burried behind all those nicely fixed cables.. I put some time into cable management) and connect all those new cables from the new PSU into the components for each of the 2 new PSUs?
If this is the only way, then I am probably going to cry.. but crying most likely is still better than having insane coil whine in my ear 24/7.

Maybe one of you guys has an idea how to do it more efficient and without that much work! Thanks!

Specs:
Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite v2, latest BIOS
AMD Ryzen 7 5800x3D, stock
2x16GB TridentZ XMP 3200MHz
AMD RedDevil RX 6950XT, stock
bequiet Straight Power 11 850W

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Unfortunately, the high-power requirements needed these days to run your pc and games is the major cause of coil whine. I would bet even if you changed out your psu the coil whine will remain. My suggestion would be to find a spot for your pc farther away from you since your pc is next to your ear. The only other suggestion would be to use an app like MSI Afterburner and undervolt your card a bit so that you have the same fps output but at a lower voltage draw. This may reduce the noise. To answer your psu question, you have to use the cables provided with each psu when replacing them.

 

[dalexander11]

Unfortunately, the high-power requirements needed these days to run your pc and games is the major cause of coil whine. I would bet even if you changed out your psu the coil whine will remain. My suggestion would be to find a spot for your pc farther away from you since your pc is next to your ear. The only other suggestion would be to use an app like MSI Afterburner and undervolt your card a bit so that you have the same fps output but at a lower voltage draw. This may reduce the noise. To answer your psu question, you have to use the cables provided with each psu when replacing them.

Unfortunately, this really is not the way to go.. I especially built this PC to look awesome and stand on my desk..
Also, undervolting didnt do too much.. I will just try out a second RX 7900XT then and hope for the best!

By the way, do you think my 850W BQuiet is easily enough for 10 fans + Watercooler AIO + R7 5800X3D + 7900XT? Or should i probably be swapping to those 1000W nevertheless?

 

[Ralston18]

Find the source.

Open the case.

Use a long cardboard tube or rolled up sheet of paper to "listen around" and find the source of the whine.

Hold one end of the tube to your ear and carefully aim the other end of the tube at the GPU(s), PSU(s), etc..

Get a helper, if necessary, to help you avoid hitting anything.

Very likely you will be able to pinpoint the source of the whine.

= = = =

Also: Use only the cables that come with any given PSU. Do not "mix and match" PSU cables.

 

[dalexander11]

Find the source.

Open the case.

Use a long cardboard tube or rolled up sheet of paper to "listen around" and find the source of the whine.

Hold one end of the tube to your ear and carefully aim the other end of the tube at the GPU(s), PSU(s), etc..

Get a helper, if necessary, to help you avoid hitting anything.

Very likely you will be able to pinpoint the source of the whine.

= = = =

Also: Use only the cables that come with any given PSU. Do not "mix and match" PSU cables.

It is defo coming from my GPU, thats for sure.

However, I have seen, heard and read that oftentimes a PSU can make a drastic difference to the GPUs coil whine. Depending on how clean power is, if its multi or single rail etc.
Thats why i wanted to test out a second one.. However, the work will be insanely much especially if i have to build it all back, in case it doesnt change anything.. lol

 

[Ralston18]

Regarding that "850W BQuiet" PSU.

Start here:

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-psus,4229.html

Not with the immediate intent of purchasing a new PSU.

First use the calculators to determine the wattage requirements of your system. If a component provides a range of wattages then use the high value.

850 watts may appear to be enough but being able to handle sudden power demand peaks is also important.

Even if enough (or if 1,000 watts is warranted) the quality of the PSU matters.

Second, reconsider the build: Are 10 fans really necessary? Consider that the fans may be getting in each other's "way" and the resulting airflows are not as they should be.

= = = =

I suggest taking a couple of photographs showing the interior of the case, the fans, and then indicate airflow directions.

Post the photographs here via imgur (www.imgur.com).

Premise being that if there are other potential problems another PSU may not be the solution.

 

[dalexander11]

Regarding that "850W BQuiet" PSU.

Start here:

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-psus,4229.html

Not with the immediate intent of purchasing a new PSU.

First use the calculators to determine the wattage requirements of your system. If a component provides a range of wattages then use the high value.

850 watts may appear to be enough but being able to handle sudden power demand peaks is also important.

Even if enough (or if 1,000 watts is warranted) the quality of the PSU matters.

Second, reconsider the build: Are 10 fans really necessary? Consider that the fans may be getting in each other's "way" and the resulting airflows are not as they should be.

= = = =

I suggest taking a couple of photographs showing the interior of the case, the fans, and then indicate airflow directions.

Post the photographs here via imgur (www.imgur.com).

Premise being that if there are other potential problems another PSU may not be the solution.

I really dont see the need to get rid of fans or something. I built my dream PC and its looking fancy.
The only thing killing me is loud and whining GPUs, not the fans or anything else

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Unfortunately, this really is not the way to go.. I especially built this PC to look awesome and stand on my desk..
Also, undervolting didnt do too much.. I will just try out a second RX 7900XT then and hope for the best!

By the way, do you think my 850W BQuiet is easily enough for 10 fans + Watercooler AIO + R7 5800X3D + 7900XT? Or should i probably be swapping to those 1000W nevertheless?

Replacing with a high quality psu/cables could reduce the coil whine. The better the cables and clean power produced will reduce the electromagnetic interference. But I can't say that it would reduce the noise enough to your comfort level.