MSI GTX 970 Coil Whine?

Guinibee · Sep 28, 2014

Hello all,

I received my 2x MSI GTX 970s this weekend and I noticed a slight coil whine (I think) during 3d Mark Firestrike test. I love how they perform...getting great test numbers...but if I take the side panel off the case I notice a low ticking noise during the graphics tests where I don't get that noise during the physics test.

I'm not too sure if this is actually a coil whine or not, it's not very loud, but it is a noticeable ticking/buzzing kind of noise that I think classifies as coil whine.

Anyway is this a defect? Should I send these cards back and get different ones or a different brand perhaps? I really like MSI's cards so I don't want to switch brand or return these if this is something people have experienced and possibly fixed.

Thanks

DarkSable · Sep 28, 2014

Coil whine happens. It's not considered a defect, and manufacturers don't take many steps to eliminate it, because most people don't care about it or can't hear it over their ridiculously loud computer.

My GTX 670 does the same thing, as do most high end cards.

Guinibee · Sep 28, 2014

yeah I did some other tests....

Just ran CSGO and didn't hear any whine
Ran Bioshock Infinite Benchmark and only heard a very very low ticking noise

I have seen the video of Linus's Coil Whine demonstration and this is nothing like that...it's not even really a whine...it's a slight ticking noise...

Also I'm seeing that PSU can effect it, but I have a 1000W Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold...and I don't think that's what is doing it...even though my PSU is about 2 years old.

DarkSable · Sep 28, 2014

I know exactly what noise you're talking about; my card does it when I stress it as well.

Your PSU should be fine - the issue is how clean the power it produces is, which since we both have very good quality power supplies, shouldn't be an issue. It's just something that happens.

terry4536 · Sep 28, 2014

Hear is a video that may help answer your question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP73edpQwgc

A ticking sound sounds like a fan problem to me.

Guinibee · Sep 28, 2014

terry4536 :

that's the exact video I was talking about...what I have is nothing like that

also I don't see it being a fan issue...I looked and nothing is interfering with the fans...also if it was the fans then it wouldn't be doing it only during high stress tests...

It literally happens on FireStrike test in between the tests...so it clearly has something to do with the card itself...I guess it could just be a normal occurance like darksable is saying. Also the fan profile is manually set so I know that the fans aren't just kicking up during the test...which I figured could be the test due to these fans not spinning until a certain temp when on auto

terry4536 · Sep 28, 2014

There is an easy test to determine if it is a fan. When you hear the noise, simply put your finger on the hub of the each fan (or turn off fans that you cant get to). If the noise changes or stops, then you have your culprit.

Coil whine is usually described as a high pitched or buzzing type of noise.

Guinibee · Sep 28, 2014

with this card the fans will turn off if I keep it on auto while I'm idle on desktop...and the noise doesn't appear when turning them on or off...I have heard of this though in order to check if the fans are unbalanced, but due to the fact that I did turn them on and off and nothing happened I'm pretty sure it's not that...good suggestion though!

Yeah what I have is def not a whine noise...it's almost a buzz...more of a constant ticking noise though

terry4536 · Sep 28, 2014

By the way, I am also looking at the GTX 970. With your experience, would you recommend the MSI gaming or Asus Strix (Gigabyte is also in the running)?

DarkSable · Sep 28, 2014

Guinibee, again, I know exactly the sound you're talking about, and I can guarantee, terry, that it's not a fan issue - my entire system is watercooled.

It's a relatively rapid, low pitched clicking that increases in volume as GPU load increases. When I was trying to eliminate it, before I gave up, I was half convinced that what I was hearing was the clock cycles themselves, but no. I have good hearing, but nobody has that good hearing. (And it wouldn't sound anything like that.) From my research it appears to be analogous to coil whine, and is very common on more powerful graphics cards that have a higher power draw to push through the circuitry.

Alex Kelly · Sep 28, 2014

terry4536 :

MSI is the apparent winner, but if I have any issues with mine I'm exchanging it for the Strix.

Guinibee · Sep 28, 2014

terry4536 :

I love the MSI cards! I have the core clock boosted to 1500+ and it dominates on benchmarks...especially in SLI...I'm thoroughly impressed. It feels like a solid card too, designed well, high end components...only issue is that it doesn't have a backplate...which is meh...but it's not a big deal.

terry4536 · Sep 28, 2014

Guinibee, again, I know exactly the sound you're talking about, and I can guarantee, terry, that it's not a fan issue - my entire system is watercooled.

It's a relatively rapid, low pitched clicking that increases in volume as GPU load increases. When I was trying to eliminate it, before I gave up, I was half convinced that what I was hearing was the clock cycles themselves, but no. I have good hearing, but nobody has that good hearing. (And it wouldn't sound anything like that.) From my research it appears to be analogous to coil whine, and is very common on more powerful graphics cards that have a higher power draw to push through the circuitry.

My point is that if it is a fan, it is a relatively easy fix. On the other hand if it is electronic noise, there isn't much to do about it other than replacing the card.

Your point that the noise changes with the amount of stress on the computer is common to "coil whine". In the video I linked, the noise would change frequency just with the movement of the mouse.

terry4536 · Sep 28, 2014

terry4536 said:
By the way, I am also looking at the GTX 970. With your experience, would you recommend the MSI gaming or Asus Strix (Gigabyte is also in the running)?

I love the MSI cards! I have the core clock boosted to 1500+ and it dominates on benchmarks...especially in SLI...I'm thoroughly impressed. It feels like a solid card too, designed well, high end components...only issue is that it doesn't have a backplate...which is meh...but it's not a big deal.

I have had good luck with EVGA graphics cards in the past, but I'm not happy with GTX 970 cooler from EVGA. The 770 and 780 graphics cards from Asus had a much better reputation than MSI or Gigabyte. That is why I'm leaning towards the Asus Strix even though it doesn't seem to overclock quite as high as the MSI. But I wouldn't run it overclocked "balls to the wall" anyway.

And I like the quiet features of both the Asus and MSI GTX970.

DarkSable · Sep 29, 2014

You are correct that it's a fairly easy fix if it's a fan - I was just pointing out that it's not a fan. I also, if you re-read my posts, said the exact same thing you just restated - that it's an electronic issue that manufacturers ignore and can't be fixed by the user.

Replacing the card just means you're taking another gamble and praying you happen to get a card without the issue.

Also, this is a distinct issue from coil whine. I'm very aware of what it sounds like, but this is a separate issue; it's a low pitched clicking or ticking noise. It sounds like something physical moving back and forth, rather than a capacitor having an issue. (And I stress that it occurs even on a graphics card with no moving parts.)

The Asus Strix is very nice for silence, but even it doesn't compare to a 980 with the stock cooler.

Alex Kelly · Sep 29, 2014

I got my MSI. I have bad coil whine too. Hello ASUS!

Joseph DeGarmo · Sep 29, 2014

Haven't noticed any coil whine on my EVGA Superclocked ACX 2.0. I'm satisfied with it so far.

terry4536 · Sep 29, 2014

The Asus Strix is very nice for silence, but even it doesn't compare to a 980 with the stock cooler.

I like the EVGA reference cooler as well. With the GTX 980, the RPM of the reference blower fan would be low and relatively quiet plus it forces the heat out of the case. I just can't justify the extra $200 expense ( but I was ready to spend that amount on a GTX 780 SC if these new cards didn't turn out well.)

yangsx · Sep 30, 2014

i have exact same issue with MSI GTX 970, i know what noise you are talk about, my card produces two kinds of sound, one is the sound from the youtube video, the other is kind of ticking sound.
Both of the sounds are not from the fans, but the card itself.
I am using 750W PSU, if I change to a 500W PSU the noise could be greatly reduced.
So i consider it is incompatibility between the PSU and card, because the high end cards are really sensitive to PSU. In conclusion, another PSU or another card. It's your call.

ccampy · Sep 30, 2014

At a guess it the power phase switching of the card

terry4536 · Sep 30, 2014

The GPU is powered by the 12V DC output of the power supply, so their is no power phase switching (that I know of anyway) on the graphics card. From my understanding the noise is a byproduct of charging the capacitors on the GPU board, a harmonic oscillation. But that doesn't really explain a clicking sound.

ccampy · Sep 30, 2014

terry4536 :

GPU j cores and its memory ust like the CPU do not running off of 12v they run off much smaller voltages aand they use power phases to reduce the voltage

Alex Kelly · Sep 30, 2014

Apparently it can be caused by the PSU, but I have an EVGA G2 750W which is supposed to be amazing so I don't think that's the cause.

terry4536 · Sep 30, 2014

The power supply has a wire coil which can vibrate generating noise, hence the term "coil whine".

Alex Kelly · Sep 30, 2014

I know, my PSU has a TINY bit of coil whine, but I can only hear it with my ear touching the PSU.
I don't think it's the issue, my Gigabyte 760 is 100% fine.

MSI GTX 970 Coil Whine?

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