Buzzing Sounds from GPU When Playing Games

Graphics cards are now powerful devices that are always dealing with a large load of work, especially while gaming or other graphics-intensive tasks.

The graphics card occasionally begins to emit a high-pitched buzzing noise. The noise might be caused by faulty GPU fans or coil whining.

It’s an uncomfortable and irritating sound that may irritate you greatly. Let’s start by defining coil whine and determining where it’s originating from, and then we’ll go through how to cure the buzzing sound coming from your graphics card.

The Culprit: Coil Whining

Coil Whine is a high-pitched noise that can be produced by any device with a power supply, including a graphics card. Typically, it sounds like a high-frequency electrical buzzing.

Some describe it as a hissing sound like a tea kettle, while others describe it as a screaming or scratching sound as when you crush things together.

What components of a computer make this coil whine sound?

Coil whining is often caused by an electrical current passing through a power-regulating component such as an inductor or a transformer. An inductor is a component that is made up of a core and a coil of copper wire that is wound around it. The core is mostly composed of iron or ferrite. Inductors are electrical devices that convert and store electrical energy in the form of a magnetic field.

Their aim is to smooth out power delivery to the components by filtering out any abnormalities. Inductors may be found in a variety of PC components and are known by several names depending on where they are found, such as reactor, choke coil, or solenoid.  When current flows through the coils of an inductor, it begins to vibrate. 

We hear the coil whine when the coil vibrates against the inductor’s core at a frequency within our hearing range. Depending on the system’s load, the current that travels through the coil might have varying frequencies, causing the vibrations to shift in amplitude and frequency.

As a result, the loudness and pitch of the coil whine might vary. Sometimes we can’t even hear it, and other times only younger people can. A faulty solder connection between the inductor and the circuit board can also cause the coil to whine, but this is less common. Even the GPU noise can reach  through speakers

How to remove Coil whining?

Tip – 1: Be Patient

New graphics cards are prone to coil whining at first, but it is quite likely that the whining will fade or diminish in severity with time.

If you just installed your GPU, wait at least a couple of days before attempting any of the time-consuming and costly solutions. It will cause no harm because there is nothing physically wrong with a GPU that creates coil whining.

You can use active noise-canceling or sound-dampening headphones in the meanwhile. A little foam padding may go a long way toward dampening high-frequency noises.

You may also try moving the case away from where you are sitting because the volume of high-pitched noises diminishes dramatically with distance.

Tip – 2: Install the latest GPU drivers.

Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers may be interfering with the fans in some way, so consider replacing them before attempting more sophisticated remedies.

1. In the Windows search box, type Device Manager.
2. Locate the Display Adapter, click on it, then look for your driver beneath it.
3. Select Properties from the context menu when you right-click on the driver’s name.
4. Navigate to the Driver menu and choose Update Driver.
5. Select Search automatically for updated driver software in the box that appears.

You may also update the drivers by running the software that came with your graphics card.

Tip – 3: Turn off Overclocking.

Overclocking the graphics card, as you may know, puts additional strain on it and its inductors, causing them to vibrate very quickly while under load and producing distracting coil whine.

If you’ve overclocked the GPU, return it to its default setting.

Tip – 4: Framerate Restrictions

Lowering the number of frames per second produced by the GPU implies less current traveling through the coils and hearing less coil whining. This is especially useful if you hear the noise while gaming.

To begin, you may set a frame rate restriction using the Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings.

Second, some third-party software, such as the RTSS FPS limiter and the MSI Afterburner, can lower the frame rate.

Another approach is to enable one of the V-sync, G-sync, or FreeSync utilities, depending on the type of your machine. These apps automatically restrict the game’s frame rate to the refresh rate of your display.

This strategy might produce delays and stutters in the game, making it unsuitable for competitive situations. Furthermore, some games include FPS limiters that you may leverage to your advantage.

Other Tips for eliminating the buzzing sounds while playing games:

Examine the GPU Physically

The following step requires you to get your hands dirty and physically inspect the GPU for any flaws.

1. Turn your computer off and disconnect the power cord.
2. Locate your GPU by opening the case’s side panel.
3. Look for any loose or broken wires on the GPU. If you come across one, correct it and try again.
4. Look for any things that may have been entangled in the fan blades and are creating the noise.
5. Spin the GPU fans using your finger; if their motions are uneven, or if one moves differently than the others, the fan bearing may be damaged.

Change the GPU Fan Curve

The GPU’s default fan curve might be the source of the noise, and changing it could help alleviate the problem.

1. MSI Afterburner is available for download and installation.
2. Open the app and select the Gear icon.
3. After you’ve opened Settings, go to the Fan tab and tick the box next to Enable user-defined software automatic fan control.
4. You may adjust the fan curve slightly such that the GPU has a lower fan speed at higher fan temperatures. Make no major adjustments otherwise, your graphics card may overheat.
5. If the noise persists, play some games while monitoring the fan speed and temperature with the MSI Afterburner software.
6. If the parameters don’t match what you’ve specified, it’s conceivable that the GPU’s fan speed sensor is faulty and has to be repaired.

Effectively clean the Heatsink Fans

If your GPU is having fan issues and its fans are spinning excessively fast all the time, it might be because the case’s heatsink fans aren’t properly cooling the inside of the case and your graphics card.

One of the causes for this is that dust and debris have accumulated and are obstructing the fans.

If you haven’t cleaned the case fans in a long time, use compressed air to clean them. You may also use a brush. If you find that the fans aren’t spinning as rapidly after cleaning, it’s possible that they need to be serviced. Remove any covers to have access to the bearings, and then apply some oil to them.

Change the power supply.

An outdated or inexpensive power supply unit can transmit unclean power to internal components such as the graphics card, causing the inductors to act erratically and generating more issues further down the chain.

Perhaps it’s time to replace your PSU with a high-quality one to permanently eliminate the coil whining.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Can Coil Whine damage my GPU?

The whining noise from the GPU fan will have no effect on the computer’s performance or the component’s lifespan. It has no negative consequences.

Can a rattling GPU Fan harm the GPU lifespan?

If your GPU fan is making rattling noises then the fan might be improperly placed on the shaft that connects it to the motor. This might be the source of the rattling noise coming from the GPU Fan.

Your GPU lifespan can be affected due to the rattling of the GPU fan as it won’t reduce the heat produced during the gameplay.

Does the graphics card affect the sound?

The GPU you installed has its own audio, which has replaced the default option on installation. Because the HDMI or Display Port output may offer both audio and video, the GPU has its own sound capabilities. So, the graphics card can cause audio problems.

What is causing my GPU to make a clicking noise?

Coil whining might be the reason for a GPU creating a clicking noise. Coil whining may generate a variety of unique noises. This is due to the video card being overloaded, which causes the chips to vibrate and make a clicking noise.

Aside from coil whining, fans are another prominent source of clicking sounds. While spinning, the fans might be colliding with a loose wire or the GPU heatsink itself. Otherwise, the fan bracket may be incorrectly placed, causing contact with the GPU heatsink and the clicking noise.

What is the source of the grinding noise coming from my GPU?

A grinding noise typically indicates that the fan’s bearings are deteriorating, especially if the fan is run at high speeds often. Because a computer has numerous fans to keep its internals cool, it is critical to determine which fan is causing the grinding sounds.

You must open the computer case and look for the fan that is creating the noise. Remove the fan and peel back the sticker. There should be a stopper in the hole.

Remove the plug and lubricate the fan bearings with a little drop of home lubricating oil or light machine oil. If the fan continues to produce a grinding noise, replace it completely.

Conclusion: 

Even after trying all the tips above if your GPU still buzzing relentlessly, replace the GPU as part of the warranty. While most manufacturers do not cover coil whining under their warranties, some do. If your graphics card is still under warranty, you may be able to return it via RMA.

Check the manufacturer’s website first to see whether coil whining is covered. Replacing the GPU with the same model will not inevitably result in the same coil whining issue, so it’s worth a shot.