VGAs that don't have electrical buzzing, whining, squealing.

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:30 pm

With all of the new graphics cards to come into the market lately, it's definitely time for an upgrade from my 8600GTS. The 8600GTS was devoid of any annoying electrical noise.

The problem is, I have tried the cards below, and each one has had electrical noise:

1. An OEM (Nvidia) 8800GT 512MB
2. Sapphire HD 3850 100216L
3. GeCube HD 3870 GC-HD3870XTG4-E3R
4. XFX 8800GT 256MB PVT88PUDF4

I've read in different places the state the sources of the noise as inductor coils, power section FETs, high speed memory access, and clock speed. I've tried to select different cards looking at the physical layout of the card and specs, and I've been burned every time. I would just get another 8600GTS, but with current pricing, that wouldn't make any sense. I also wanted to step up my performance over the 8600GTS.

If anyone has any cards that outperform an 8600GTS without the annoying electrical noise, please list the model and manufacturer of the card.

Thanks!

rei · Post by **rei** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:15 pm

It's not the video cards by themselves, but rather the arcane mixture of the card, motherboard and PSU.

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 4:50 am

rei wrote:It's not the video cards by themselves, but rather the arcane mixture of the card, motherboard and PSU.

This is true, but I'd still like to know if anyone else is having this experience, or is it only me.

I also thought about one of these:

http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/vi ... =3&id=2435

It has a redesigned power section, which I believe is the culprit of the noise (on the 4 cards I mentioned).

Joe Public · Post by **Joe Public** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:09 pm

I have a MSI 8800GTS (old G80 based one). Can't hear any coil buzz/whine from it. Of course, it's not a desirable buy any longer. (Mobo is P5B-E)

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 5:00 am

Thank you for your reply Joe. With the exception of your card, I guess everyone else's cards whine too.

moogaloo · Post by **moogaloo** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:10 am

Hmm that model seems to be cheap in the uk for a 8800GT 512MB

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Qu ... ationKey=0

Does the Zalman VF700-ALCU cooler mean it is quiet? Or should I be looking at the more expensive passive heatsink thingys?

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:59 pm

moogaloo wrote:Hmm that model seems to be cheap in the uk for a 8800GT 512MB

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Qu ... ationKey=0

Does the Zalman VF700-ALCU cooler mean it is quiet? Or should I be looking at the more expensive passive heatsink thingys?

I have no interest in the Zalman at all. The thing that will maybe eliminate the whining is the 3-phase power section and Gigabyte's "Ultra Durable 2" board design. It will use the same capacitors and inductors on their ds line of mainboards. I haven't had any of those to whine (although others have).

Of course I could be completely wrong about that. You're talking to a guy that just bought an 8600GT to replace an 8800GT because he knew for sure that it didn't exhibit any electrical noise. I don't really game that much, but it would've been nice to have the extra juice, just in case I decided to use it one day. For the mean time, I'll make due with my whine-free 8600GT.

FWIW: An Accelero S-1 with a 500RPM Slip Stream is as quiet as it gets for active cooling on an 8800GT. Temps never topped 58C in ATITool.
With the same fan, Thermalright's HR-03GT topped out at 68C.

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:21 pm

The Gigabyte GV-NXT512HP is now available on the egg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814125081

I just pulled the trigger. Hopefully my theory proves to be correct.

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 6:50 pm

Add the Gigabyte GV-NX88T512HP to the list of whining VGA cards. At this point, I've given up on the possibility that there is a current generation card that doesn't whine. The "Ultra Durable" caps and chokes did nothing to reduce the electrical noise associated with running the card in 3D mode. The extra phase of power regulation didn't help either.

I guess I'm stuck with my 8600GT if I don't want any whine.

WR304 · Post by **WR304** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:31 am

If you just want an upgrade from an 8600GTS why not get a Nvidia 7900GTX?

They're dirt cheap second hand, a lot faster than a 8600GT and don't whine.

When you say the card is whining is that only 3D mode?

My 8800GTS 640mb is bad in 3D mode (2,500 FPS on the Soldier of Fortune: Payback menu screens is loud

) but running in 2D mode, when underclocked, it's not noticeable.

If it's only 3D mode it should be possible to live with that?

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:29 pm

WR304 wrote:If it's only 3D mode it should be possible to live with that?

Nope. My computer is noiseless except for the graphics card. Plus the squeal is rather annoying.

nd4spdbh · Post by **nd4spdbh** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 5:55 pm

most newer cards out nowadays use a digital PWM for their power regulation... it comes with the territory to hear squeeling unfortunatly.

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:34 pm

nd4spdbh wrote:most newer cards out nowadays use a digital PWM for their power regulation... it comes with the territory to hear squeeling unfortunatly.

It seems like every new card I've tried has done it. I thought custom designed power circuits would resolve this issue, but it didn't. It sucks, because the price/performance ratio and other features of the new cards make buying an older card pointless.

I've ordered one more card. If this one squeals, I officially tap out. I'll have two cards for sale afterwards.

Lawrence Lee · Post by **Lawrence Lee** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:38 am

I bet if you changed your PSU or motherboard, your list will change.

jwoolen01 · Post by **jwoolen01** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:10 am

Lawrence Lee wrote:I bet if you changed your PSU or motherboard, your list will change.

I've tried it in several different setups. No change.

If you can site examples of whine free setups using an 8800GT, 8800GTS, HD3870, or HD3850, I'm all ears.

WR304 · Post by **WR304** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:58 am

Lawrence Lee wrote:I bet if you changed your PSU or motherboard, your list will change.

Have a look at qstoffe's original thread about whining 8800 graphics cards:

viewtopic.php?t=37899

You see people suggesting glueing components to stop the whine, but I don't know if anyone has successfully quietened an 8800 card by doing it?

It seems that all you can hope for is that the next generation of cards don't have the same problems as these ones do.