Does your video card sing?

[Rubycon]

I've made a recording of this. This is the equivalent of holding your ear next to the PCB! Use caution while playing at elevated volumes!

sound

This was recorded while the card was run through its paces with Lightsmark 2007

 

[nitromullet]

I haven't noticed this on my card, but I think this is the inductors on the card. Google for "squealing inductors", and you'll find a number of threads on this on various tech forums.

edit: I can't quite determine if it's a serious cause for concern or not, but I know it's not a "good" thing.

 

[Flammable]

transformers, robots in disguise

 

[vanvock]

Good Lord! I can still hear it even after turning off my speakers. Have I been infected? Has my hearing been damaged? What? Help.....................

 

[ronnn]

Thanks for that! Always wondered about that high pitched whine people talked about. Now I know I don't want it. As you say seems to be a problem that can affect any make of card, so hope I keep lucky. :beer:

 

[SorryImLate]

I think ive heard this song!

 

[n7]

I'm scared.

I suspect if i know what to listen for, i'll be hearing something i couldn't before...

 

[Rubycon]

It's VERY subtle! The card had to be run on a system with a single HDD and minimal cooling to hear it. Most systems it would not be audible outside of the case. In severe cases I suppose it may creep into PC audio through a ground loop but again it would be at most 30dB higher than the noise floor - effectively inaudible when gaming. (which makes it scream the most!)

The power supply was making similar noises - almost identical but with slightly different pitch.

Listening to it affords a safe way to hear it but again it contains a lot of high frequency content that can be bad for hearing and high frequency speakers. (Pet owners beware!)

 

[imported_Section8]

Put some delay on that and a hip hop beat and you would have a cool track. Also, this could b a nice environmental sound for a game.

I disconnected my case fans and ran 3dmark06 with my 3870 and no cool noise.

 

[Munky]

Every card I've had made that noise, and it only happens when rendering something at ridiculously high fps. Turn on vsync and the noise goes away. Anyway, the noise is barely audible and I'm not worried about it.

 

[lyssword]

aww my head!! It's gona explode!

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: munky
Every card I've had made that noise, and it only happens when rendering something at ridiculously high fps. Turn on vsync and the noise goes away.

:thumbsup:

 

[cessation]

Wow I guess I was taking those meds for no reason. I kept telling my psychiatrist I was hearing this sound and he thought I was crazy.

 

[Skunkwourk]

I always thought it was my CPU not video card. Strangely enough, I can hear this even when my case is shut and the case fans are running.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: n7
I'm scared.

I suspect if i know what to listen for, i'll be hearing something i couldn't before...

Yah, no kidding... Ignorance is bliss. I am not going to click on the link, that is for sure...

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Section8
Put some delay on that and a hip hop beat and you would have a cool track. Also, this could b a nice environmental sound for a game.

I disconnected my case fans and ran 3dmark06 with my 3870 and no cool noise.

Trancemitter operational

 

[n7]

Still not clicking those links.

I'm scared that if i do, i'll notice another thing in the case making noise.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: ronnn
Thanks for that! Always wondered about that high pitched whine people talked about. Now I know I don't want it. As you say seems to be a problem that can affect any make of card, so hope I keep lucky. :beer:

that's my wife, and she stops after I hit her. several times. jk.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Must... control... the Fear...

 

[justlnluck]

Is this only Nnvidia, or ATI too?

 

[CP5670]

I have never heard anything on my X1900. I guess even if it is making such noises, its fan would easily drown them out during gaming.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: Section8
Put some delay on that and a hip hop beat and you would have a cool track. Also, this could b a nice environmental sound for a game.

I disconnected my case fans and ran 3dmark06 with my 3870 and no cool noise.

Trancemitter operational

lol

 

[BFG10K]

I sometimes get this when the game?s menu is being displayed.

 

[SniperDaws]

im sorry to say but that sound isnt healthy, if i had a card that made that noise id take it back, im glad to say ive never owned a card that made that awful sound before, the poor card is screaming in agony.

 

[covert24]

while i was running 3dmark06 my card started to do that but it went away.