PSU squealing noise

ddogg

Golden Member
May 4, 2005
1,864
361
136
Hey guys - My PSU past few days has started making a really weird squealing noise(best way I can describe it) whenever I start a game or the GPU is under load. Is this symptoms of a PSU going bad? I initially thought it was my GPU but after putting my ear right next to the PSU, it's definitely coming from there. Looking online, some people have said it's PSU capacitor coil noise and it's normal but I'm not so sure. The PSU is a 1200W Antec I bought in 2012. Any ideas? I don't mind getting a new PSU but would like to confirm before I do.
 

monkeydelmagico

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2011
3,961
145
106
Coil noise is hard to isolate. I know you think you have ruled out the GPU but I would be willing to bet it's the culprit. Got a GPU utility like afterburner that you can overclock or undervolt your GPU?
 

ddogg

Golden Member
May 4, 2005
1,864
361
136
Coil noise is hard to isolate. I know you think you have ruled out the GPU but I would be willing to bet it's the culprit. Got a GPU utility like afterburner that you can overclock or undervolt your GPU?

Yes, my GPU is currently overclocked using afterburner. When the noise started I dropped everything back down to stock but it continued. I'm fairly certain it's the PSU but I guess I could be wrong.
 

ddogg

Golden Member
May 4, 2005
1,864
361
136
Does the pitch change when you undervolt the GPU?
Will follow up on this when I get back home from work. I'm guessing I drop all the clocks back to stock as well? Also by how much should I undervolt

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 

Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,522
751
126
Ive had this happen a few times. Once it was GPU coil whine, the other time it was a short, a screw had fallen behind the mobo and it was caught behind it and was shorting the back of the mobo to the mobo tray, and it was causing the PSU to whine for some reason.
 

Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,522
751
126
Never heard of GPU coil whine. Is this bad?

Its certainly annoying its the main reason i sidegraded from a 4890 to a GTX 460 many years ago, but then i got another GTX460 for SLI and all was ok lol.

I Still have that 4890 in a system and with no coil whine, for some reason though it just did not get along with my corsair 850tx PSU.
 

ddogg

Golden Member
May 4, 2005
1,864
361
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So turns out it was my GPU and PSU. I replaced my aging PSU with an EVGA 850W G2 and now only the GPU is making that sound. Extremely annoying but hopefully it runs ok.