PSU making whining noises in games

henners · Post by **henners** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:09 am

Hi,

Whenever I load games my computer makes weird spacey noises that whine through the speakers! When i go near the back of my pc it sounds like its coming from the PSU.

Specs:
3200+ 64bit AMD
7800GS Gainwards 512mb graphics card (AGP)
2GB RAM
160GB HD
300GB HD
Edirol PCI soundcard with breakout box
USB Steering wheel
24inch Widescreen Dell monitor
DVDROM+CDRW

Thinking about getting new PSU - would a quiet 300Watt one do? I've read a lot of threads but aren't sure which would suit me best - maybe a Seasonic S12?

Thanks,
Henners.

DanW · Post by **DanW** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:16 am

sounds like it's interference on the motherboard, I presume you've got on-board sound? (though looking at it now, you're not using it)

What motherboard have you got?

henners · Post by **henners** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:22 am

It's an asus k8v deluxe. Yeah I have an onboard sound setup but I think it is disabled (I'll need to check that though). The sound is only present in games so I thought it was psu related.

DanW · Post by **DanW** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:46 am

It could be graphics card related.

What kind of noise is it and what PSU have you got?

henners · Post by **henners** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:19 am

I'll try and record it. I'll get back to you on the psu too - thanks for the help by the way.

henners · Post by **henners** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:23 am

I couldnt record it. It does sound very much like feedback and it changes note on different screens (in games). My PSU is a Nexus 400W PSU.

henners · Post by **henners** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:41 pm

Hi,

Sorry to bump it but I think the whining is pretty much down to the PSU. The thing is it happens when the sound card isnt turned on. It happens a lot in certain games and I can hear it when i put my ear to the PSU. Its a Nexu 4090. I think its a coil whine noise.

I did try a stock antec PSU with 330w or something but that made a similar noise - do I need more powerful PSU?

Henners

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 2:24 pm

Its a Nexus 4090. I think its a coil whine noise.

I did try a stock antec PSU with 330w or something but that made a similar noise - do I need more powerful PSU?

It could be the PFC coil, the Nexus 4090 only has passive power factor correction, try a PSU with active PFC (e.g. Seasonic S12).

henners · Post by **henners** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:14 pm

Which power rating would be a good choice for my system (I think the AGP card would be the main source of power usage).

Henners.

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:19 pm

A quality 300w unit will be fine (eg Seasonic S12-330/380).

henners · Post by **henners** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:02 am

I'm only worried it will happen with another one as i also tried the stock antec amb psu which made the same sound.

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:15 am

Buy it from a shop with a good returns policy, that way if the new PSU also whines you can take it back. It's very rare for a Seasonic to whine.

nici · Post by **nici** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:35 am

As far as i know all the PSUs you mentined have passive PFC or no PFC at all, depneding on where you live. As already mentioned the cils in the PFC circuitry can whine. I had a Nexus nx-4090 myslef at sme point, and it whined horribly.

Though it could also be your graphics card. All my cards, both ATI and nVidia, have whined under load. That's with several different mobos and PSUs. Damping foam really helps against this, it works better for high frequency sound. A PSU is more open to the outside of the case than a GPU though.

henners · Post by **henners** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:06 am

the problem is that the whine transfers through my speakers so its amplified - its OK when I'm racing or shooting but in the quiet bits it sounds like there is a ghost in my room

well - i just ordered one for Â£15 - couldnt complain at that price. I'll let ye know...

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:37 am

the problem is that the whine transfers through my speakers so its amplified

is the sound still present even when the speakers are turned off?

i just ordered one for Â£15

you got a Seasonic S12 for Â£15?! where from?

henners · Post by **henners** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:46 am

It is present when i turn the soundcard off (breakout box thingy). but when speakers off it goes (apart form if you put head near PSU).

Got it from Amazon (other sellers). Its probably the wrong one or something

nici · Post by **nici** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:40 pm

Oops. I read the whole thread before posting, but i have a very short memory