grinding noise from graphics card

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mkumar12

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May 31, 2017
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510
about a week ago i played battlefield 1 for about 5 hours and the system was fine. The next day, halfway through one game, there was this sudden grinding noise, almost like a car revving but with a rock like grinding (its very hard to describe). I quit game and shut down in fear of damaging my computer. i turned it back on again and it was fine, but every time i've tried to play since this has happened. i tested by just closing the game whilst the sound was happening and just waited for it to stop while the computer was idle on the desktop, and after a few minutes it got quieter, but it never stopped, whilst i did this, i watched the graphics card fans until they stopped spinning and the sound continued.

I then tried this fix of zip tying the graphics card to a hard drive bay to stop it from sagging. this stopped the noise for a day, but the next day it continued.

I then switched out the case fans, but the noise still continues if i put the computer under stress.

i think it could be the stock intel cpu cooler, but i only got that about two years ago. The first time the issue came up, i could smell that kind of burnt smell from the graphics card, so i still suspect the graphics card.

i don't really want to spend money on a new cpu fan if the problem is actually with the graphics card, but if i must to find out whether the problem is with the graphics card, i will.

my setup comprises an MSI B85-G41 pc mate (bought in november 2014), 8gb of RAM (nov 2014), 1tb hard drive (nov 2014), a zalman ZZ1 case (nov 2014), a TP link wifi card (nov 2014), an intel i5 4690k (bought in summer 2015), an asus strix 4gb r9 380 OC edition (bought in february 2016) and an EVGA 500 watt bronze power supply (bought in august 2016).

i have watched many youtube videos about fixing the problem, but the noises they have are high pitched and due to vibration, whereas my problem is like a low grumbling grinding but very loud.

i dont think the fans of the graphics card are involved because they stopped spinning and the sound continued, although the sound did get quieter after the graphics card fans stopped. A more knowledgeable friend suggested that the MOSFET power part of the graphics card could be the problem, but i don't really understand what that means.

i'd like to know if there are any solutions to the problem, or if anyone else is experiencing the same issue and if i should do RMA for the graphics card. I'd also like to know whether the noise is a sign of damage being inflicted upon my computer and whether i can just ignore the noise and continue playing. Also should i just get a new cpu fan just to confirm where the issue lies?

thanks for the help,
kumar
 
Solution
Gam3r01
You should contact ASUS for an RMA, that sound like a great thing to replace.

If you still arent sure if thats where its coming from, remove the graphics card and use the integrated graphics for a while. The smell alone should tell you to RMA it.
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Gam3r01

Gam3r01

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You should contact ASUS for an RMA, that sound like a great thing to replace.

If you still arent sure if thats where its coming from, remove the graphics card and use the integrated graphics for a while. The smell alone should tell you to RMA it.
 
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mkumar12

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May 31, 2017
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I decided to send it for RMA unfortunately Asus don't do it so I had to call overclockers. After I took the graphics card out I booted up and within 2 minutes the sound came again so I cancelled the RMA. The only fan left is the CPU fan so it must be that. I'll buy a new CPU fan as the current one is a stock Intel fan and its time I changed it anyway. Thanks for the advice Gam3r01
 
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mkumar12

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I replaced the CPU cooler with an cooler master 212 evo. The sound still comes. The only fan left is the PSU fan. Is it this sound definitely coming from a fan? Can this sound come from anything else?


 
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mkumar12

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Is there any way, without buying new parts, to tell if it's the hard drive or the PSU fan?

 
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Faike

Faike

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Mar 27, 2017
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Yeah.
Unplug the hard drive and turn on the PC and see if it still buzzes.
Unplug the GPU too and make sure that it's not the gpu.
If it is buzzing clean the fans with an air compressor or if got a dust buster vacuum it out.
Clean all the fans.
If you're smelling burned stuff then it's your card most likely. And I would like unplug it immediately before it explodes. Clean it out. Really clean it out with a can of compressed air and even a small vacuum attachment (carefully). Then mount the card with two screws to secure it so it doesn't sag. If it's burning there's most likely dust jamming it up or it's frying out and you need a new card.
 
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mkumar12

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The grinding noise happened even when I removed the graphics card, so it can't be that. I replaced the case fans and the CPU fan. The grinding only happens after the computers been on for about an hour on idle or within 10 minutes under load, so I'm not sure if I can un plug the hard drive and see if it happens. I'm sure it's either the psu fan or the hard drive. Also would I be able to turn the computer on without the hard drive and leave it running for an hour? The sound doesnt come on startup- it just happens after the computer has been on for a while or has been put under stress.

 
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Faike

Faike

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When it's under stress is your CPU usage high? How are your temps?
Do you have a spare drive hanging around perhaps a laptop drive you can just plug in and just pretend to use instead for a while? Or you can just try it anyway. You said under idle it still does it. That would be a fast test.
You can make sure your PSU is okay and jump the PSU using an adapter if you have one and see if it start doing anything under idle after a while without it being plugged into the PC as well.
It should be pretty clear where the sound is coming from if it's your hard drive. You would be able to put your hand on it and feel it grinding. A grinding drive is loud, like a CD writing to a disk.

 
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mkumar12

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Under stress is 10 minutes into a battlefield game. Temperatures are fine- idle under 30°c, under stress up to 60°c. The GPU is similar, but under stress it's goes upto 80°c. I haven't got any spare drives. It only happens when idle if it's been on for a while- about an hour or more. I don't know how to jump the PSU. I've tried to hear where it's coming from and I can't really tell. By idle I mean just on desktop- i'd do some work; finish; close all programs; leave it on desktop; leave for an hour; come back and it would be grinding. I'll try what u said about disconnecting the hard drive, but I'm not sure if it would make the noise if it's just on BIOS, as even when the computer is on desktop, it's still under some sort of load, but on BIOS it's pretty much under no load isn't it?

 
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