Question PC Grinding noise narrowed down, please advise

kokotas

Commendable
Feb 3, 2018
21
5
1,515
Hello Tom's, I need your help! I don't know if the GPU is the culprit in this case but most evidence point to it so I'm posting here.

This is a new rig recently built, specs are below:
Cpu: Intel 10900K (SP 81)
Mobo: Asus Maximus Apex XII
GPU: Asus tuf 3080
OS drive: 970 Evo Plus nvme 500GB
PSU: Seasonic 750W Prime Ultra Plat
Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster AE-7
Cpu cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360
Fans: x7 Arctic Bionix P120 pwm
Ram:G.Skill Trident z RGB 2x16GB B-dies
Case: Lian Li o11 Dynamic XL

So this is most perplexing for me as I have never bumped upon something like that before. Thing is the noise source is kinda difficult to isolate. Here is a sample so you can get the idea:
https://vocaroo.com/Pur5vPAzuPa

Now I have managed to find the exact reason which causes this noise. With that said, I'm still lost as to where it's coming from. Is sound like it could be coming from the psu, the gpu, the pump or even the motherboard itself.
So here's what's happening. Whenever I play a video using NVIDIA Cuvid as the video decoder I get this super loud grinding noise. If I change the decoder to DXVA2 (Copy-Back) then the noise is almost inaudible. In both cases the noise gets louder if I go full-screen.

I'm worried because after sticking my ear next to the open case for a few minutes, I'm 80% sure the sound is coming from either the pump or behind the pump... Weird thing is the using prime95 or furmark doesn't produce any such noise, at least continuously like when playing back videos.
I would appreciate any insight that will help me isolate the issue and contact the respective support team.

One more thing to notice is when the noise abruptly subsides for a second before it starts again, this translates to frame dropping or stuttering in the video.


Ok, last thing I can do to demonstrate the issue. Hoping for the right person to see this and provide an answer:

(kindly turn up your volume)
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMfTrvrAid0&feature=youtu.be




Final attempt at finding help:

disabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the CPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:

https://vocaroo.com/dwlzrjzvaob

re-enabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the GPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:

https://vocaroo.com/dxSvJircyHa

BTW I manually stopped the pump fan, gpu fans, psu fan and that didn't affect the noise. At this point, I think it's the pump or the PSU... I swear the sound comes from the pump. Or is it possible for the motherboard itself to make such a noise?
 
Last edited:

kokotas

Commendable
Feb 3, 2018
21
5
1,515
I'm running the msi overclocking scanner right now and I think I hear what seems to be the same noise but at lot lower level. Also it comes at short intervals instead of continuous. Any thoughts?

Edit: seems there two different noises as well. One is like a high pitched buzz or mechanical hd drive sound (but I have non connected) and the other is the the fan catching grinding kind of sound.
 

kokotas

Commendable
Feb 3, 2018
21
5
1,515
Final attempt at finding help:

disabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the CPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:
https://vocaroo.com/dwlzrjzvaob

re-enabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the GPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:
https://vocaroo.com/dxSvJircyHa

BTW I manually stopped the pump fan, gpu fans, psu fan and that didn't affect the noise. At this point, I think it's the pump or the PSU... I swear the sound comes from the pump. Or is it possible for the motherboard itself to make such a noise?
 

kokotas

Commendable
Feb 3, 2018
21
5
1,515
So I kind of isolated the issue to gpu and psu. Thing is this very bizarre reaction can only be triggered with specific software or should I say renderer.

By using megamix lav filters pack, and setting up as:

Potplayer
Madvr renderer with 4k profile
Lav video decoder, using nvidia vivid

Playing back a big video file like 4k to 5k, 10bit hvec.

This causes the gpu to reach 90% utilization and that's the only scenario that I get that noise. Furmark was normal. Playing the same video with mpc-be and default renderer and settings, again no noise.

My conclusion is madvr and the specific software setup causes a very high power draw from the gpu which causes that noise from some part of the system, most likely the gpu itself.