Sparkle 9600GT (passive) buzzes at full load

[TheZeroorez]

At full load, the Sparkle 9600GT (Cool-pipe version) slightly buzzes/beeps, in proportion to the fps the card gives.

Just so you guys know when buying this passive card: It is not silent while gaming. In case that's something you want, the Sparkle 9600GT is NOT your way to go, HD3850's neither I heard btw.

For the rest, a great card. Actually, I game with headphones on, so only overclocking and running ATiTool for days is a hell right now.

[fjf]

My sparkle 8800gt coolpipe does that too; running atitools buzzes up-and-down annoyingly.

[TheZeroorez]

Yea. When playing some adventure, strategy or whatever game set to such qualities that it doesn't get over 40fps or something everything is fine, but when playing some shooters on low detail online.. You really notice it.

[Jipa]

I've noticed a slight buzz from my 8800GT as well. It got louder when I overclocked the card and I can also hear it when I move 720p movie around the screen (wmp window that is). Not really annoying, but the buzz definitely exists.

[tutu]

Thats a shame as this is a sweet looking card! Is this due to the actual card/cooler in use on the 9600GT? Or would getting a bog standard 9600 GT and fitting your own cooler not have that problem?

Any alternatives available? £113 looked pretty good.

On a related note - does the 9600 now do VC-1?

[TheZeroorez]

It's certainly not in the cooler, as this lady is passive

From what I heard it is a common issue in some chipsets, so I bet it has to do with the standard transistors that need to be fit to such a card.

[edh]

My Leadtek 9600GT has no audible whines or buzzes. With the Accelero S2 that I fitted to it it's inaudible.

I can see it being different samples or brands. They do have some different power circuitry.

Have you tried listening in different temperature conditions? It might vary.

[marp]

Yea. When playing some adventure, strategy or whatever game set to such qualities that it doesn't get over 40fps or something everything is fine, but when playing some shooters on low detail online.. You really notice it.

So if you limit the fps to 30-40 something you'd never notice it?

For the price (currently about 100€) this card is a bargain, and
I see no real reason to have more than 30 fps in any game.

[JaYp146]

The same thing happens to me in every 3D application I run, and is barely audible when I move windows around in XP.

Card is a BFG 8800GT OC Edition.

[Cryoburner]

So if you limit the fps to 30-40 something you'd never notice it?

My X1600 Pro emits a slight buzz at framerates well in excess of 100 fps. Limiting your framerate should help to reduce that sound. The best way to limit your framerate is to simply enable vertical sync in those games that experience framerates consistently above your screen's refresh rate. If you're getting 300fps in a game, but your screen only refreshes at 60Hz, then the vast majority of those frames aren't even being displayed. Just note that vertical sync isn't usually good for more demanding games, where the framerate often drops below your refresh rate. If a frame takes slightly longer than one screen refresh to render, it will wait until the next refresh, effectively cutting your framerate in half. If a game doesn't have the option for VSync in its settings, you can either force it in your video card's control panel, or use a utility like ATI Tray Tools to create a profile for the game with it enabled. One thing to note is that ATITool's 3D view seems to override any forced VSync, which makes sense, since you wouldn't be able to test a card properly otherwise. : )

I see no real reason to have more than 30 fps in any game.

I take it you don't play competitive multiplayer first person shooters very often, do you? Playing an FPS at 30 frames per second would really limit one's ability to effectively aim and move. Even less competitive games will appear noticeably smoother at 60 frames per second or higher. A game should ideally run at the fastest rate that your screen is capable of displaying it at.

[Sendorm]

Lets see.
"competitive multiplayer". competitive is the magic word here. When it all comes done to "playing on own server could give you a great advantage just because your ping is 0ms while other guys are playing with 30ms." we are talking competitive. That 30ms could give you the edge.

30fps means 33ms between each frame. 60fps means 16ms. You see what I am getting at.
Higher fps is always better. If you have the reflexes and the experience to discern 30ms.

[Mikey]

AFAIK it's a sparkle issue.

My passive sparkle 8800GT does it, but i can't hear it with the case lid on.

[marp]

The best way to limit your framerate is to simply enable vertical sync in those games that experience framerates consistently above your screen's refresh rate.

If a frame takes slightly longer than one screen refresh to render, it will wait until the next refresh, effectively cutting your framerate in half.

Possibly in the worst case. Maybe it's better to use something like Reforce instead.

I see no real reason to have more than 30 fps in any game.

I take it you don't play competitive multiplayer first person shooters very often, do you? Playing an FPS at 30 frames per second would really limit one's ability to effectively aim and move. Even less competitive games will appear noticeably smoother at 60 frames per second or higher. A game should ideally run at the fastest rate that your screen is capable of displaying it at.

Well, I play a little 2142 on my laptop, which can be frustrating at times. The 100ms pings could be one of the problems, the 10-20fps my x1600 can produce might be another. But the biggest problem is likely that I just suck too much. When my gaming HTPC is built, I will know for sure.

Btw, how wide is the Sparkle? Will it fit in a Xclio2 case... how about 188af?

[Immortals]

In case that's something you want, the Sparkle 9600GT is NOT your way to go, HD3850's neither I heard btw.
.

I have a 3850. I hear no buzzing whatsoever and my pc would be amongst the quietest even among the zealots around here. Admittedly i have never tested it whilst gaming (with speakers turned off). It is an ASUS branded card with orignally with reference cooler but the replaced by an S1.

[Kaleid]

I've found out that the quickest way of getting cards to "sing" is using an older benchmark such as Aquamark 3 or 3dMark 2001SE

I've heard that with every card since about the time 6800 series were released and not just my own.

[marp]

Ok, as for the Sparkle 9600gt buzzing, would you hear it from within a closed case 2-3m away? If not, good enough for me.

[ermi]

Are there any other models of the 9600GT which are known to have this buzzing/whine noise?

[silo]

the 4670 i was testing did a loud piiiiiiiiiiiiiiii playing crysis with the original turbine. its quiet now with the vf1000.