Loud buzzing sound coming from PC while playing intensive games

[TheRandomGuy7]

Hi, first of all, I posted this in the graphics section because I assume the graphics card is the only reasonable culprit here.

I built a new gaming PC last December, and it all worked fine except the graphics card, which more and more consistently gave my PC black screen crashes. When the card was taken out, there was no problems at all playing the same games on low video settings with my integrated graphics. I sent the card back and received a new one today.

I installed the card, and all the latest drivers, then tested it out on Battlefield 3. It worked like a dream... but only for a minute or two. As I was just getting into a good game, there was a shockingly loud buzz from right beside me. Soon after, a few more prolonged 'buzzes' came. I alt-tabbed out of the game but the buzzing persisted, so I quickly closed the game. The buzzing stopped instantly. Very annoyed, I had no idea what this new problem was.

I turned off my PC, made sure the card was fitted properly, and everything was OK inside the case. I then tried BF3 again to see the same problem. The only problem is buzzing, the gameplay still stays the same, but I can't bear it as it feels like the whole system will explode. I tried an extreme graphics benchmark test for 5 minutes solid, no buzzing problem. The temperature stayed below 60 degrees at all times.

I thought BF3 may be the problem, so with some hope I tried playing another intense game. Buzz.

This really is a strange problem and I have no idea what to do. It would be rather annoying if I had to RMA my brand new card, and I'm sure the company won't be too happy either.

Now I know this problem can certainly be the fault of the PSU, but mine has always worked. The problem only started when I installed the new GPU.

Here are the all-important system specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte SKT-1155-GA-Z77--D3H

GPU: Sapphire Radeon 7850 2GB OC Edition

Processor: Intel i5 3570K

PSU: XFX Pro650W

RAM: GSkill Ripjaws 2x4GB

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB

Sorry for the very long description, but the more detail the better! I would be extremely grateful for any kind people who bothered to read it all and can help me out!

Thanks.

 

[slomo4sho]

Could be the fan of either your CPU or GPU coolers. How about opening up the case and pinpointing the source of the sound?

 

[TheRandomGuy7]

Could be the fan of either your CPU or GPU coolers. How about opening up the case and pinpointing the source of the sound?

Well, I opened up the case and gave that a go. I played for half an hour straight on an action-packed server (usually takes a minute or two for buzzing to start) but it didn't buzz once.

I put the side panel back on, restarted the PC and tried again. The buzzing was instantly back!

I seriously have no idea. Maybe, just maybe, the open case meant it could cool better? Seems pretty unlikely though...

When the sound came back again though, I listened very closely and the sound did seem like it was coming from nearer to the GPU than anything else. I highly doubt it's the CPU as this has worked like a charm since I got it. That pinpoints it to the graphics card, but what the heck is causing it?

 

[slomo4sho]

Seems like there is a wire that is hitting one of your fans.

 

[TheRandomGuy7]

I can definitely see what you're thinking, but the thing is, the sound is ONLY there while I am playing intensive games. If it was a wire, surely it would happen all the time. There don't seem to be any loose wires near any fans.

Also, the buzzing doesn't sound like a wire on a fan. It is more of an electrical sound, and so loud it made me jump the first time it happened.

 

[cookybiscuit]

Most likely coil whine theres nothing that you can do to fix it, though you can return the card for it if it bothers you. If the card were to do it at idle I would return it straight away, but at load I'd just live with it if I were you, its very common and theres nothing to say the replacement wont have it or be even worse.

Way to check if it is certainly coil whine is to see if it changes based on framerate. Do something like look up and down and see if the noise changes when you are looking at the floor.

 

[TheRandomGuy7]

Most likely coil whine theres nothing that you can do to fix it, though you can return the card for it if it bothers you. If the card were to do it at idle I would return it straight away, but at load I'd just live with it if I were you, its very common and theres nothing to say the replacement wont have it or be even worse.

Way to check if it is certainly coil whine is to see if it changes based on framerate. Do something like look up and down and see if the noise changes when you are looking at the floor.

It only does the sound with load. I would live with it, but it is so damn loud that it would wake up anyone in the house at night, and not to mention I can't even hear the game at all while it is buzzing with its high volume.

It buzzes intermittently, not constantly. It might do a prolonged buzz for a while but then stop for 10 seconds. There aren't really any patterns with looking at the floor in games and the sound.

So seeming as there's no way I can live with this, should I just send it back? I already sent my FIRST 7850 back with worse problems, so I would have to see if Amazon would reluctantly refund me this time instead so I can buy an Nvidia.

 

[cookybiscuit]

Yea just send it back.