EVGA GTX 970 Coil Whine even after a RMA

[drade]

Hello TPU,

I bought a EVGA GTX 970, first card had a pretty bad coil whine. None at idle (not playing video games or watching movies).

So I rma'd, great customer service on their end.

Received another video card. Same problem.

I am curious, could my four year old Thermaltake 775w toughpower be the culprit?

Considering buying a newer power supply, but I really don't want to. Never had an issue with previous cards.

Suggestions?

 

[the54thvoid]

It could be your PSU 'amplifying' the problem but I've seen numerous posts about coil whine from 970's (as well as lots of other cards from both vendors). Unfortunately, it is luck of the draw. High fps will cause massive whine (Unigine credits screen is awesome for it) so using v-sync can mitigate it.

Some brands offer specific components to reduce it but even then - no guarantees.

 

[drade]

Hmmm. Do companies do an exchange? Like if I wanted to upgrade to another card by sending in the current RMA and paying difference? Never had a card with this issue !

 

[erocker]

I am curious, could my four year old Thermaltake 775w toughpower be the culprit?

Absolutely. Put things under load, open up your case and see where the noise is coming from.

 

[Freezer]

Get a multimeter and check the rails on the PSU. Is your computer connected to a surge protector? If not, it ought to be. I'm not too sure about the PSU though, I see it has AP 0.95 but doesn't mention anything about over-voltage, over-power protection, under-voltage protection, and short circuit protection. I'd suggest calling Thermaltake and request a detailed spec sheet, because their site mentions very little. So it's quite possible you could be noticing some feedback from the PSU. I'd also place your GPU in a different computer with a different PSU. Personally, I have a CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W and it's still kicking since I bought it when first came out and the rails read like it came out of the box. Has an AP 0.99 and everything I just mentioned. It's important when looking for a PSU that it ought to have an AP of 0.99 and what I previously mentioned. TX Series PSU's are beasts.

If the GPU is an EVGA they'll replace it as long as it's under warranty.

Actually EVGA customer service is going down hill. I use to be able to speak with a tech about an issue and if it resulted in an RMA they'd have the RMA completed. They'd then discuss the shipping options along with the other features they offer. I was able to barter them into an upgraded shipping option since I forgot to register my product, all they wanted was the original receipt and CC info to make sure I was the original owner. After all that all I had to do is check my email and print the shipping/packaging slip and then mail the item. EVGA support isn't as nearly as helpful anymore, the customer has to do all the leg work and it takes a while just to do the paper work and navigate the site versus a well trained tech would take them less than 5 minutes to get all the paperwork done.

 

[Vayra86]

You can use some glue on the coils to remove most of the coil whine.

But I would understand you may not want to open your PSU or take of GPU cooler to do so.

 

[Icarus]

Most coils are covered on these cards, so glue won't help.

I also don't think the PSU has much affect on it either as I had a few cards that whined and tried three different PSU's (new and old, single and multi rail) and it made zero difference fwiw...

 

[Freezer]

Oh, lol, resonance frequency... duh.

The GPU is operating at a frequency which is affecting the metallic compounds of the coils and causing the vibrations (aka: whine, pitch). Glue makes sense, but not really a solution.


Edit:
Just found this link GTX 970 Whine while looking up the card. Seems that resonance is quite common with this card. Imho poor design and someones not doing their maths.

 

[stoudtlr]

I also don't think the PSU has much affect on it either as I had a few cards that whined and tried three different PSU's (new and old, single and multi rail) and it made zero difference fwiw...

I used to agree with that, but I've had a Titan X for a couple weeks that whined extremely loud under load. The PSU is a 7 year old ABS Tagan BZ 800W (that and my CM Stacker 830 are the only things I kept from that build) and it should be plenty for the new card, but coil whine just wouldn't stop no matter what I tried so I replaced it today with a EVGA Supernova 1000W P2. Absolutely 0 coil whine now. Can't really explain it. 3 different graphics cards in that PC 8800GT in SLI, GTX 470, and now a GTX 960 for the kids and had no issues with any of the 3 setups. Just didn't like this Titan for some reason.

OP, maybe it is your PSU?

 

[Daemmon]

People always rolls their eyes when I tell them certain PSU+GPU combos can create a lot of coil whine, and none is to blame. How much and how the power is draw from the card, and how is the power delivered from the PSU are the most important factors, but there are SO many that the chance is always there even on top notch PSUs+GPUs.

Considering this, most GPU manufacturers won't consider a GPU faulty for coil whine, and they may have 0 whine on their tests. There is also a chance that your 970 came from a bad batch, a lot of 970/980 have coil whine issues (Gigabyte ones seem to suffer it a lot, not their 960 tho).

 

[m6tzg6r]

Stupid MSI, i swear some moron is in charge over there atm. Anyway, ive heard of so many 970's having whine, the video cards i use are MSI Lightning, and why? Because they have no whine, guaranteed.
Ive had 580, 680 and now 780 Lightnings, and all whine free. Coil whine can be eliminated, its just bull that every company dosnt do what it takes to eliminate whine, its as if they dont care if a card whines or not.

If MSI sold a Lightning of the 970 they could market it as COIL WHINE FREE, and all the people getting a card from another brand that has whine, well they all will go to MSI next wont they and grab a Lightning. But MSI decided a Lightning isnt necessary for the 900 series. They said the gaming card was cool and quiet enough, but the Lightning has more benefits then just having lower temps then the gaming edition, the fact it is coil whine free is the #1 reason there should be 970 Lightnings.

I hope MSI wake up and start doing a better job then just making Gaming Edition cards as their best model, then some other cheaper variants under that.

Lightning or GTFO.

 

[m6tzg6r]

When i had a MSI 780 Gaming Edition it had whine, also a MSI 780Ti Gaming had it as well. And when the cards whined the PSU would also whine.
But as soon as i put my Lightnings in, stressed them, they made no whine, and the PSU now made no whine as well.
So that shows how a GPU can cause PSU whine, but could a PSU cause a card to whine? Maybe, but i dont think ive experienced that. The GPU is always to blame ive noticed personally.

 

[rtwjunkie]

My fiance's MSI GTX 970 Gaming 100ME has been coil-whine free. And I checked the user reviews before we bought, and none of them had an issue.

So there may be some truth to special editions, like this and the lightings mentioned by @m6tzg6r getting more personal attention or the like.

 

[Countryside]

Not a 970 but on topic one of my 7950 whines like a pig between the fence but only in Stalker and Rome 2 Total War menus.

 

[nictgsf]

My EVGA 970 used to whine when playing the opening videos of Far Cry 4 (strange I know). What cured it was overlocking with a little extra voltage. After that it was silent! Even when I removed the overclock! Didn't need much, only 15Mv and gone!

 

[Icarus]

I used to agree with that, but I've had a Titan X for a couple weeks that whined extremely loud under load. The PSU is a 7 year old ABS Tagan BZ 800W (that and my CM Stacker 830 are the only things I kept from that build) and it should be plenty for the new card, but coil whine just wouldn't stop no matter what I tried so I replaced it today with a EVGA Supernova 1000W P2. Absolutely 0 coil whine now. Can't really explain it. 3 different graphics cards in that PC 8800GT in SLI, GTX 470, and now a GTX 960 for the kids and had no issues with any of the 3 setups. Just didn't like this Titan for some reason.

OP, maybe it is your PSU?

Luck of the draw I guess. Seems totally random to me from all I've read, seen and experienced so far...

 

[TC-man]

Apparently, it's a luck of draw. I have returned two GTX 970s; an Asus Strix GTX 970 and a Gigabyte GTX 970 ITX/mini because of coilwhine. The returned Strix GTX 970 suffers from some heavy coilwhine (including ticking, buzzing). So I have exchange for a Gigabyte G1 gaming GTX 970 which has way less coilwhine, almost negligible. On the other hand, my G1 gaming GTX 970 doesn't have Samsung videomemory, but the "lesser" Hynix. I guess, I can't have it all...

 

[Cvrk]

 

[erocker]

I've had coil whine on several cards. Never has been an issue.

 

[jaggerwild]

Go read how many people replaced PSU at EVGA Forums only they didn't need to, unless yours stays on 24/7?

 

[SASBehrooz]

Coil whine is NOT an issue . My Asus 970 Strix has coil whine . so what . and i dont RMA it because of coil whine.

 

[Countryside]

There will always be some sort of coil whine, until its not very loud, your GPU is fine.
Sad thing is that even the smallest coil whine is very annoying to most people.

 

[Shou Miko]

well, i guess i most be lucky never really had some hardware with coilwhine myself, but my dad use to have a netgear router that had coilwhine, he couldn't hearit, but i could and it gave me a bad headaches everytime i was in his living room, we swapped it out and with another one and it was gone.

 

[Icarus]

Coil whine is NOT an issue . My Asus 970 Strix has coil whine . so what . and i dont RMA it because of coil whine.

Coil whine is an issue for cards being advertised as quiet! Especially the 0db option ones that stop the fans at idle. I'd rma it in a heartbeat if it was loud enough to hear over ambient, and you all should too.

 

[erocker]

Meh. More cheap open box and refurbs for the rest of us then.