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Annoying high frequency-type pitch whine coming from the back...

X

Xpred

Senior member
This problem started right after I got completed my first, and new build. Specs are as follows: A64 2800+, Abit NF8 mobo, Seagate 200GB HD, GF 6800LE AGP, 1GB PC3200 RAM, all that with a Raidmax Scorpio 868W case, and using the Antec SP2.0 SP450W PSU. Originally, I thought my problem was the HD. But after listening to my computer again, it is not, and it seems to be coming from the BACK of the computer (just don't know where--if it's top or bottom).

The problem is, I keep hearing these high frequency sounds in which it ONLY happens when it is triggered. They have a whiny tight pitch. They seem to mimic "my move" lasting for about only 1/2 to one full second. They are triggered when I usually:

-scrolling through different parts of a movie
-loading in games (this causes lots of these sounds at a CONSTANT rate)
-go backward/forward/up/down using IE (ONLY WITH THE MOUSE)

The strange thing is... it happens alot when I'm using IE. As you can see, this sound gets annoying very fast. I wish I could dampen it. Another thing to note is that when I press forward/backward or scroll up/down using my mouse, I hear the sound. It happens right after I do it almost making me think it's some sort of seeking beep/click, but not exactly a beep nor a click. However, when I use my KEYBOARD to forward/back/scroll up/down, it doesn't have the sound anymore. Strange, huh? At first I thought it was my mouse/speaker electrical interference, but I used different mouses and I unplugged my speakers, and it's definitely coming from INSIDE the computer case.

I have the latest BIOS and drivers for everything, so I know it's not a software issue, but rather hardware. I know it's not speakers/sound case related because all those have been unplugged and the sound still remains! It's not the mouse either because I've tested it, and pretty much any mouse will produce these sounds. (argh!)

After searching online, some say it's PSU related, and some say it's either the mobo, or the cpu, or a combo of all three perhaps. But since all these parts are NEW, I don't know what could be wrong. They perform great. Nothing is really wrong with the computer, just these sounds are too annoying, and I want to know why I'm the only having this! Argh...

The current situation is that I can't open my case yet. I put my computer up in a very tight place, in which I am unable to fully take out the case/unplug the cables to determine the EXACT location of where these sounds are coming. However, I will be able to do this in the next few weeks or so (I hope)...

Anyways, I come here to ask for some suggestions on what I should do or what the problem is? I must mention this sound is a mimic-type sound in which I have to do something to trigger it. It's not at a constant rate (only when I start to play games/load, it starts almost being constant meaning it does this on and off very fast), but usually the sound happens right after I do something that triggers it... kind of like a beep (but not really a physical beep). I really don't know what to do anymore. Thanks.
 
You need to open the case. Your problem is uncommon and has to be dealt with one step at a time. As soon as you opened it up, disconnect all optical and other extra drives except for the system HDD, Then remove all add on card except for the video card. Now try again. If the noise goes away then you need to recreate it again by reconnecting the drives one at a time and also the add in cards one at a time while testing each time. If the noise is still there, then you will need a mech stethoscope or even a home made one (using rubber tubes or plastic tubes) to localize the source of the noise. At this point the only probably source of the noise will be the mobo, video card, HDD, rams, PSU or the mobo. Goodluck.
 
Maybe you can take like a tube (like inside of a roll of toilet paper) and direct it exactly where you think the sound is coming from. But, I bet it's the chipset fan. (kidding, it could be anything)
 
first What is your computer so hard to get ar you that lazy LOL well the only way u can fix it is basicly opening it. if you said it is in a tight space it mabe puting pressure on somthing cousing a case fan or somthing to hit somthing lightly and mabye it comes form ur cd-rom drives or hard drives but scince its in a tight place it might be like bouncing sound becuse a hissing sound espetialy annoying sounds are never were you think they are unless its obius. also maby a cable is tuching a fan blade and when under laord the fan spinn faster cous its hotter or somthing so it hissis a litle. MAINLY GET YOU COMP OPEN AND LOOK.
 
listen to the PSU real close. I had a PSU making this type of noise, it wasn't the fan but something inside. but for the love of chthulu open the case!
 
Annoying high frequency-type pitch whine coming from the back...
Click to expand...

As I see it, those are usually one of two things. The wife/gf or fanboys.

Have you thought about an ill fitting part on your case that rattles around when certain parts of the computer is in use? I know for all my likings of the Antec P160 case, the motherboard tray doesn't quite fit properly and during heavy use when the CPU fan is going full throttle, it causes the mobo tray to rattle creating an annoying sound. Other than that, you have to do what others say and try to isolate the problem one by one through trial and error.
 
Sounds like some type of coil whine to me. It's a power conversion issue, so it could be coming from the PSU, MB or graphics card, it doesn?t necessarily mean there is anything wrong with your hardware.
 
I'm having a very similar problem xpred. It is a whine that is triggered by various applications or what I do on the computer (such as scrolling in Firefox). One interesting example is when it is making this high pitched whine, if I click on the back or forward buttons in firefox, the whine will shut off for a split second during the transition from one webpage to another. I've also noticed that it changes with how many USB devices I have plugged in and in what configuration they are plugged in.

I have tried nearly everything to get the whine to go away. I've swapped the PSU and motherboard. The whine is still there even with a different motherboard (with a different chipset) AND a different brand of PSU. I thought it was a capacitor on the motherboard, but now I'm thinking maybe it is the CPU?? Could that be possible? It sounds like it is coming right from the vicinity of the CPU.

I haven't swapped video cards yet, but don't really have an ideal replacement. Xpred, have you had any luck solving your problem?
 
found this one out myself with my NF8

it's sadly become fairly typical among all board makers.

disable the onboard sound!

and use an addin card.

you'll notice the noise disappear..
 
Here's an update. I swapped out the PSUs with another one and found the same problem. I believe it's my motherboard (possibly). Under DrCool's recommendation, I disabled the onboard sound through the BIOS "OnChip Audio Controller" ... and the high-pitch sound went away during load/doing things. HOWEVER, the "mouse scroll up/scroll down" sound still appears. They are two different sounds. One is the annoying high-pitch sound that comes from the back, and is triggered when forwarding/backward through IE and programs that seem to trigger it when on load and such.

But now, I have no sound AT ALL because I disabled the onboard sound.

I guess it's just my Abit NF8 motherboard's soundchip then... and I have no choice but to buy an actual sound chip? *sigh* I find this weird, maybe it's only apparant with MY motherboard (brand and/or model)...
 
As another poster said, the noise that won't go sounds like coil whine. Case damping will help here - go to www.silentpcreview.com. High-pitched sounds are the most annoying, but because of their frequency are the easiest to block out.
 
I hear the same thing sometimes. It ISN'T a case damping issue, or a fan, or a rattle..

It only occurs, for me, when I am doing certain things- noteably running 3dmark05, since it doesn't have sound to cover the whine up. What happens is in certain scenes, and certain parts of certain scenes, the whine will start up- and immediatley dissappear when a different color or item is displayed/rendered on screen. For instance, it'll be fine during the baloon/canyon flight scene, but when the dragon comes out of the water it whines.. then it switches shots to inside the baloon- and the whine dissappears, then appears again when it shows the side view- then goes away again... It's very strange.. 😕

btw, I'm on water cooling with only very quiet 120mm fans runnings on the rads- it has nothing to do with them, and nothing to do with heat. My PSU has plenty of power and shouldn't be straining.. I don't know what's up. I only notice it when it's quiet, and I'm listening for it, so usually it isn't an issue.
 
Xpred and Eltorrente, all of our symptoms sound very similar. But from my experience, the whine didn't go away after switching the psu OR the motherboard. I thought it was a motherboard problem, but after swapping with a completely different board, I am starting to think it is coming from the CPU or the video card. The whine usually appears when I watch a video file in media player or on certain windows or websites. It also turns on and of during the windows boot process. Hmm...
 
Well. We have the same processor A64 2800+. But I still think it's just my mobo... like I mentioned above, when I turn off the onboard audio, the HF sounds go away. But my mouse problem still remains. The mouse sound is a squeaky sound that only appears when I scroll up/down in IE/other programs using the middle mousewheel. Even after disabling the onboard audio, this doesn't go away. The HF sounds are far more annoying and more of a disturbance, but the mouse squeak also tends to piss me off either way. Heh...But disabling onboard audio = no sound AT all for me. Oh well.

Let's hope the next system I build will far better components that don't give me these sounds. This was my first build, and I had many problems at first. But now I realize building a system is fun... There's some luck element (in hope that your parts actually work!).. But after you build your first computer, you wanna do it again!!!! 🙂
 
There could be still one last resort since you've now opened the system. Check the mobo mountings. Make sure those hole mountings on the mobo that are rimmed with metal conductors are actually conducted to ground via mounting screws. It could be that the mobo is not properly grounded thus emitting or leaking noise caused by high frequency. There is also an option in the bios about spread spectrum. Make sure this is disabled.
 
It certainly sounds like coil whine to me. I have the same exact problem as what you described. There isn't too much you can do about it except return the board or change the caps if you're brave.
 
Don't even consider changing caps, this will not fix your problem. Your problem is caused by electrical components, its possible that its a choke (aka coil), hitting some kind of resonant frequency. Scrolling a mouse frequently creates this condition. In the 'old' days when computer memory was a physical magnetic ring or core, we had programs which, when run would create 'music', which could be heard thru a transistor radio tuned to a frequency which did not carry a radio station. We also used the transistor radios to seek out electrical noise that could cause problems. Wrapping cables in aluminum foil sometimes eliminated the 'noise'.



Since power supplies are switching, they can also emit electical noise based on load. A heavy metal case can sometimes eliminate the noise as it offers a 'Faraday effect'.
 
Originally posted by: Jiggz
There could be still one last resort since you've now opened the system. Check the mobo mountings. Make sure those hole mountings on the mobo that are rimmed with metal conductors are actually conducted to ground via mounting screws. It could be that the mobo is not properly grounded thus emitting or leaking noise caused by high frequency. There is also an option in the bios about spread spectrum. Make sure this is disabled.
Click to expand...

Well, my motherboard seems to be mounted very securely. I double checked everything, and every screw is tight and good. The only thing I didn't add are those red washers, but I heard everyone doesn't use them anymore. But maybe my motherboard is not grounded properly... I dunno. Anyways, my BIOS doesn't have anything on spread spectrum, maybe it's a hidden option. Oh well.
 
I found out the whine is coming from my 9600pro. You should try swapping your video card Xpred and see if it makes a difference.
 
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