New System Build making hissing noise while under load

[Aolish]

Hey all, I was hoping that someone here could help me with a hissing issue that I'm having right now with my new build. To make a long story short, just finished up a new build. After the build was finished everything seemed to be working just fine until I did the Windows Assessment Test. I noticed there is a rather loud hissing noise coming from inside the case that I just can't seem to isolate. The hissing noise comes when the assessment test is doing Direct3D tests then the hissing noise totally disappears as it goes into the CPU performance test. I have tried my best to put my ear up as close as possible to the components but I just can't seem to pinpoint where the hissing noise is coming from, it seems that its coming from everywhere. The hissing noise also comes back whenever I start a steam game of any choice then immediately disappears when I shut the game off.

I am fairly sure though, that the hissing noise is NOT coming from the PSU as the noise is a lot lower as I put my ear towards the bottom of the case. However the hissing noise does get a lot louder as I go up, in addition I'm guessing it might not be the CPU either because as I said before during the CPU performance assessment test the hissing completely disappears. I can only narrow down my assumption to a defective capacitor on the motherboard or maybe a GPU problem? Everything is at stock speeds and I'm running all defaults on the bios. I'm really hoping its not the motherboard as disassembling everything is really going to be a pain. Can anyone give any ideas of where this hissing might be coming from? Thanks for any help anyone can give.

 

[Eureka]

Well, it's hard to say what a hissing sound is without hearing it. Do your fans ramp up with higher temperatures? Could be a bad bearing if it is. You could also take off the GPU and run it off IGP, and see if it still happens under load. Disconnect as many peripheral devices that you can and see if it goes away.

 

[Termie]

Probably coil whine on your GPU. Is it the 4870 in your signature?

Direct3D tests in WEI push very high frames per second and will cause coil whine on many graphics cards.

 

[mfenn]

Termie nailed it. What you're describing sounds exactly like coil whine. It's not dangerous (to you or you PC), so my advice would be to ignore it.

If you simply can't ignore it and don't mind potentially messing up your GPU to fix it, read on:

1. Set up a test where you can readily reproduce the coil whine. The WEI test works great as you've discovered. Game menus are also good candidates because they are often rendered in-engine at ludicrous FPS.

2. Find a normal pencil with an eraser. While the GPU is whining, firmly press each exposed chip in sequence. You'll know that you've found the right one when the whine stops or changes in pitch. Note that there may be several.

2a. If you've pressed every chip that you can see and can't find the source, disassemble the GPU shroud as much as possible and try again.

3. Turn off the PC. Paint the sides of each problematic chip with clear nail polish. What this does is dampen the vibrations which cause coil whine.

4. Turn on the PC and test.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Yeah, my money would be on the VGA card as well. You got good advice in the posts above!