New desktop is making buzzing noise

Worrie · Jan 4, 2016

Greetings community of tomshardware.

A few weeks ago I build a new desktop (specifications below). It came without windows so the first thing I did was windows 7 and drivers instalation. Everything was fine. I instaled and played some games (World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm). As I said, everything was fine until that fatefully day. I decided to play Warcraft and after a while I heard buzzing sound which was getting louder. I tried to ignore it but it was louder and louder, after a while the buzzing sound disappeared and everything was fine. I didn't noticed fps or overall performance decrease. It's buzzing only when I start a game, I did a 3DMark stress test and the buzzing sound came back just for a while, then dissapears. I don't know what cause this problem so I tried increase GPU fan speed in GPU Tweak II. That annoying buzzing sound came back around 50-70% fan speed, above 70% are fans loud but buzzing sound disappeared. Same thing happened when fan speed is below 50%. All temperatures seems to be fine. So my questions are, should I be worrie(d)? Is is safe to use?
Note:That annoying buzzing sound is similar to some kind of electrical sound. It's hard to describe it correctly. I'll upload sound record as soon as I get home.

Desktop specifications:
CPU: AMD FX-8320 3,5Ghz (stock fan, non-Overclocked)
MB: ASUS M5A97 R2.0
GPU: ASUS STRIX R9 380 DC2OC 4GD Gaming
PSU: Zalman ZM600-TX
RAM: Kingston 8GB 1600Mhz, DDR3, CL11, non-ECC, DIMM
HDD: Western Digital Blue WD10EZEX

Thanks for all your help and cooperation.

rcald2000 · Jan 4, 2016

I'm not sure what is causing that sound yet. I would guess one of the following:

Power supply: Your PSU is listed as "currently un-tiered" on the PSU tier list (http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html). I've just requested clarification of it's tier and I'll let you know what the response is within the next 24 hours.

Graphics card coil whine: Some graphics cards have an annoying sound when certain images are displayed from the inductors resonating at an audible frequency.

Fan: Either in the power supply, CPU cooler, and possibly on the motherboard (but unlikely the MB has a fan).

If I had to guess, I'd say it was the power supply. Years ago Zalman used to be THE brand to get for CPU coolers, but I don't hear people talking about them anymore. I honestly didn't know that they made power supplies, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't quality. I honestly have no idea.

Next step: Yes, please upload a sound recording as soon as you can.

Worrie · Jan 5, 2016

I have some updates on my issue. The buzzing sound came back when I was doing video output from movie maker.
The sound was audible during whole saving process, around 2 minutes. After movie maker finished job that annoying sound disappeared.

You can hear the sound in the following URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqm_gKJM-lk&feature=youtu.be

Buzzing sound starts at 1:00. It's a bit difficult to hear from a video but between 1:05 and 1:10 it's possible to hear it. The video footage itself is absolutely useless, important part is the sound.

rcald2000 · Jan 5, 2016

Definitely not coil whine. That is either your Power supply, graphics card fan, or cpu cooler. Can you keep the case open, put your ear to the components and distinguish which part it is? If it turns out that it's coming from your power supply, then you need to order a new one ASAP. That sound is not subtle at all.

Worrie · Jan 5, 2016

So, i opened case and tried to define from which component it's coming. With case opened the sound was very silent but audible. In my opinion the sound it's coming from (upper part of case) stock CPU cooler because GPU fans didn't spin at all (0db Mode) and PSU is located at bottom in the case. Right now I would like to order new CPU cooler, so what's your recommendation?
If replacement of the CPU cooler doesn't help, I will consider to replace PSU for a better one.

rcald2000 · Jan 5, 2016

@Worrie, I'll tell you what. In the spirit of community, I will send you a spare CPU cooler for free IF you live in the continental United States. I have a brand new (never used) Cool Master Hyper 212 EVO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099). I bought it less than a year ago from Micro Center but never ended up using it. I only opened the box to check it contents, but I've never installed it. Let me know within the next 24 hours and I'll send it to you. I'm in New York, so keep in mind it'll probably take 3 days to get it. If you order it directly from NewEgg, it's possible you'd get it a day or two sooner on your own. By the way, it comes with CPU compound, as all coolers do.

rcald2000 · Jan 5, 2016

If you want the CPU cooler, private message me a shipping address. Do Not post the address publicly.

Worrie · Jan 6, 2016

That's very kind of you but I live in Europe. I looked on few websites and I have found Master Cooler Hyper 212+ EVO for 36€. ($38.69). That's fairly good price. I'll post an answer within 2-3 days, depends of the shipment speed.

rcald2000 · Jan 6, 2016

Please do. I appreciate you updating this thread as I'm very curious to know the outcome. One other suggestion: Contact AMD and tell them that your CPU fan on the heatsink is failing. Ask them for a replacement or some other compensation. I suggest that you continue with the purchase of the 212+ EVO, because you don't have time for AMD to place the stock cooler, but nothing wrong with having a backup.

Worrie · Jan 7, 2016

While waiting for a new CPU cooler I was thinking. What if source of buzzing sound I defined (cpu cooler) is wrong?
I started searching on internet about my current PSU (Zalman ZM600-TX) and I found something related to "non-brand" PSU which isn't same case as mine. But description was similar to "buzzing" sound under a load.
Here's URL: http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=60875
As he said in the thread, he used a stethoscope to define source of buzzing sound and that's solved his problem.
My question is, can I use stethoscope on my computer? Aren't they magnetic? Honestly I have no idea from which material stethoscopes are made of.
Despite of "undefined" source of buzzing sound, that doesn't change replacement of CPU cooler. (stock fx coolers are loud anyway)
What's your opinion about this thing with stethoscope?

Worrie · Jan 7, 2016

And what about condensation? Condensation can also cause serious damage to computer. Especially in winter, when components are warm and room temperature is cold. (opened window)
But I'm not sure if condensation damage can cause that buzzing sound. Maybe I'm just worried too much about it and overreacting my current situation.

RobCrezz · Jan 7, 2016

the 8350 stock fan is bad and very loud even when its working fine, so good plan to replace it.

Best thing to avoid condensation is to just not turn the computer off if its in a cold place.

Worrie · Jan 7, 2016

Maybe I found what's causing that buzzing sound and that's a BIG maybe. My PSU input is 200-240V, 8A. Cable that was plugged in the PSU is 250V and 10A. Can different power cable cause this buzzing sound?

EDIT: I asked a friend about this, (electrician) he said it's unlikely to cause over voltage also ZM600-TX have over voltage protection.

Worrie · Jan 9, 2016

So I'm back with some news. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO didn't arrived yet. I did a small research about "buzzing" noises similar to mine and most of the time they were related with PSU, MB or certain combination of hardware. I also found an advice that help some people who had issues with "buzzing" noises.
And that's disabling idle processor in power management. After few seconds I did it PC starts to "buzzing" (a lot). Until I changed power management to Power saver (or turning on "disable idle processor"). Same thing happened when I turn on High Performance power mode but it wasn't so loud. If I had to guess it's faulty/dying PSU. (maybe capacitors on MB). Can someone confirm this? Actually I can try to change power setting in BIOS. Current MB (M5A97 LE R2.0) have some utilities with power management. If it's a faulty/dying PSU then rcald's first guess was correct.

Worrie · Jan 13, 2016

New CPU cooler (CM 212 EVO) arrived 2 days ago. I send it with PC to local store and told them to repleace it (i'm currently busy becasue of job, so I don't have time to repleace it myself). Also I told them about "buzzing" noise coming from stock CPU cooler probably. After replacement of CPU cooler there was no more buzzing noise. So, I consider this problem as solved and again thanks for your help guys. Have a nice day.

TL;DR: Faulty stock CPU cooler, replacement for a better one solved the issue.

rcald2000 · Jan 13, 2016

Excellent. Thank you for sharing the conclusion with us. Your story has inspired me to recommend replacing the stock AMD cpu cooler to my friends and acquaintances. I'm glad it all worked out.

RobCrezz · Jan 13, 2016

Yep the stock cooler for the 8350 sucks big time. The heatsink is quite good, but they put a undersized fan which has to spin far to fast, hence the noise.

New desktop is making buzzing noise

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