What damping material is best for coil noise?

DG · Post by DG » Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:09 pm

It seems that i can't get rid off completely of coil noise. It's not so bad, but i can hear it from time to time. I want to put something on the inside of the case (or around the psu and on the inside of the muffler that i plan to make) to make the coil noise history..

I don't have problems with case vibrating or fan noise, just coil noise.
What material works best for this kind of noise (coil noise in my case is a sort of whine\ slight buzz)...?

DG · Post by DG » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:45 am

Does anyone knows?

vertigo · Post by **vertigo** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:33 am

Is it coming from the power supply? What psu is it?

DG · Post by DG » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:36 am

No, mostly from the mobo\video card when the video card is in heavy use. And just a little from the psu (Seasonic S12).

vertigo · Post by **vertigo** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:45 am

If you have access to another power supply, try it just to see if the noise changes. In my old machine my maxtor hard drive and the power supply seemed to clash. It seems that sometimes components clash although who knows why. You might find that another psu takes all the noise away.

Although I suppose your PC is set up for near silence and the coil noise is really not that bad, just annoying because there is no other noise to cover it.

vertigo · Post by **vertigo** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:49 am

Just to let you know, the coil noise my old PC gave was directionless, it could be heard from any angle, throughout the room. It was no louder or softer anywhere. It was damn annoying, although at the time the machine wasn't too quiet so I managed to stand it.

DG · Post by DG » Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:50 am

I did swap it with another psu, but the noise was still there. Mobo or\and video card (gigabyte 6800), don't know exactly. I suspect the video card. The coil noise is all that is left and it very annoying for me, after i put so much effort, time and money just do get here...

BenW · Post by **BenW** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:40 am

I'd guess its coming from the mobo. Get some foam and cover the side panel and top of the case.

As vertigo says the sound can fill a room and sound like its coming from everywhere, doubt you'll ever pinpoint it

DG · Post by DG » Tue Aug 16, 2005 6:13 am

Yes, i plan to do that (see here: http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=24605). If i use foam, what thickness should it have? What density? Open or closed cell?

IsaacKuo · Post by **IsaacKuo** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:36 am

Just to make sure--unplug your computer monitor. The coil noise in my main workstation is dwarfed by my CRT's coil noise.

DG · Post by DG » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:52 am

Yes, i know this. The noise is 99% coming from right under the video card, on the mobo (Abit NF7 2.0, btw: http://www.sweclockers.com/html/recensi ... 0_stor.jpg) or from the video (can a video card have coil noise?!

). I know this because i've put my ear there and is far louder than if i put my ear above the video card. The noise is present when the video card is in use (prime95 for cpu doesn't produce the noise). It's a buzzing\whining noise. The psu also emits a low hum (and that's not from its fan), but it isn't very loud and i think some damping and a muffler should take care of it.

Post by **NeilBlanchard** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 5:36 pm

Hello,

The stuff that seems to be on the coils, etc., in most devices that I have looked at seems to be some sort of hot glue. Maybe you could try some of that?

BrianE · Post by **BrianE** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 5:42 pm

I'm pretty sure I've read posts in the past about people using silicone rubber caulking (like the GE brand stuff) on the coils to suppress their vibrations. I don't believe they completely cover the coils (they need cooling), they just lay a single bead around them.

DG · Post by DG » Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:39 pm

Yes i know of this solution, but i'm afraid it will void the warranty. Also, it seems strange to me that when it buzzes, if i press the coil with my finger, nothing happens (just for the record, i've pressed ALL the visible coils on the mobo and nothing...

). Anyway, the noise is definitely coming from there.