Weird GPU fan noise

UkieGunZ

Honorable
Sep 8, 2013
24
0
10,510
So, whenever I am at my desktop or simply not in-game, my gpu starts to make weird buzzing noises in short constant bursts. The fans are at 75% fan speed all the time. However when in-game, it stops eventually and the weird noises do not start until I am out of the game or simply alt-tab.

By the way I have a dual-fanned Sapphire 7970 OC'D to 950/1425 which was at those speeds even at first when I purchased it. The noises will start to lessen their intensity as I start to near about 30% fan speed. But remember, even at 75% fan speed, the noises only start when I am out-of-game (alt-tabbed) or just on the desktop doing whatever other than gaming.

I have no clue what I am dealing with. What is the meaning of this?

Oh yeah, it doesn't sound like coil whine. It comes in short buzzing bursts only on the desktop. I haven't tried it on games that are not demanding.
 
Solution
If it's not too loud, under normal usage it might even be drowned out by ambient noise from other components in a closed case. If you just got this card last week, it may be a good time to request an exchange if your retailer allows it. Who knows, it could be a defective fan that will fail within a month.

UkieGunZ

Honorable
Sep 8, 2013
24
0
10,510

It makes the noise at all percentages, the intensity of the noise just lessens as I lower the speed. Like, if I lower it to 30%, it sounds like the noise has gone away, but it really hasn't. The noise just lessens.

This only happens at the desktop or anything that does not load the gpu heavily which sounds like coil whine (the situation), but doesn't actually sound like it regarding the actual noise. It's constant short bursts of buzzing.
 

UkieGunZ

Honorable
Sep 8, 2013
24
0
10,510

Manual, haven't I been talking this whole time about how even if I change the speeds, the noise never goes away? I use MSI Afterburner by the way and User Defined software is disabled.
 

thismafiaguy

Distinguished
Jan 9, 2011
607
0
19,160
Is your card still covered under any type of warranty? This definitely doesn't seem like a driver or software issue. Unless you're comfortable with taking your card apart for a closer look, the best thing to do is to let the manufacturer handle it.
 

UkieGunZ

Honorable
Sep 8, 2013
24
0
10,510

I just got this card on the very first few days in October as a replacement for my previous 7970. I think I might just check the fans and see if there's anything making the noise and if there's not, I'll just live with it.
 

thismafiaguy

Distinguished
Jan 9, 2011
607
0
19,160
If it's not too loud, under normal usage it might even be drowned out by ambient noise from other components in a closed case. If you just got this card last week, it may be a good time to request an exchange if your retailer allows it. Who knows, it could be a defective fan that will fail within a month.
 
Solution