Noise on CPU usage

[ronikh]

Hey guys,
thanks for any help in advance.

I recently started to hear a weird noise from the PC, i think some call it coil noise/coil whine (not sure).
It is very low, but i can't stop hearing it now.
I used to run win8.1 and recently installed win10, and i think it started then.

Specs:

Asus X99a
I7 5820k
8x 4GB DDR4 2400MHZ Kingston HyperX
R9 390 Nitro 8GB
MP500 SSD (OS)
couple of other SSDs and HDDs

Things i did:
* Disconnected all hard drives to make sure it is not a faulty drive.
* Checked all fans
* tried different settings in Power Options (sometimes feels like there is a difference regarding the noise when changing Power plans)
* Upgraded BIOS and all drivers to latest version
* Tried different settings regarding Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology in BIOS, also C1 C3 C6 ...

I just noticed that i hear the noise only when there is CPU usage. if the CPU is on 0%, i do not hear it at all.

Any suggestions guys?

Thanks!

 

[alucasa]

Have you broken up with your girlfriend recently?

 

[ronikh]

Have you broken up with your girlfriend recently?

No sir

 

[alucasa]

In that case, mobo VRM can emit faint humming. How old is the thing anyway?

 

[ronikh]

In that case, mobo VRM can emit faint humming. How old is the thing anyway?

Mobo and CPU are ~a year old .

 

[alucasa]

It can hum. It's generally not a big deal although it does depend on how loud it is. It could depend on OC or just age of components as well as durability of components. It depends on various factors.

I asked the girlfriend stuff cuz depressed people tend to discover things around them. That's all.

P.S. ... Boyfriend then?

 

[erocker]

Keep on topic please.

Are you sure the GPU isn't under load when the noise is happening as well? Usually, GPU's will whine more so than CPU/mobo's. Try to get your ear in there to see where the noise is coming from.

 

[ronikh]

Keep on topic please.

Are you sure the GPU isn't under load when the noise is happening as well? Usually, GPU's will whine more so than CPU/mobo's. Try to get your ear in there to see where the noise is coming from.

yeh, GPU is barely used, i hear it only when the CPU is >1%

 

[95Viper]

Get a tube... like a paper towel tube and use it to localize the noise/hum.
Just be careful not to hurt your ear on the tube or knock something loose in the system.

 

[Hood]

Maybe it's the sound of power coursing through 8 RAM sticks, straining the RAM VRM on your board. Just a wild guess, but it's something you can try without costing any money - just remove 6 or 7 sticks, run in dual or single channel for a while to see if the noise goes away. If it goes away, you may be able to run in quad channel using only 4 of them. I see your board has a digital 4 Phase DRAM VRM, but full population of all 8 slots can still be a strain for any board. My rule of thumb is, use only enough sticks to get dual or quad channel operation, double the density if more total RAM is desired. Many people in reviews and forums have noted problems when running with all slots populated, on every platform, for whatever reason (dead slots, poor power delivery, faulty design, cheap components/materials, increased odds of having at least one bad stick, etc.). Anyway, it's worth a try.

 

[Caring1]

It could be something as simple as the harmonics of the case.
A simple vibration can cause a humming noise.

 

[R00kie]

If its only during CPU heavy task, only thing I can say is that it might be either the VRM around the CPU on the mobo, or the power supply - neither of those should be an issue.

 

[Bill_Bright]

or the power supply

This is what I was going to suggest. You often can tell if it is the PSU by putting your ear up to its exhaust port. If not, the paper tube trick is pretty effective - unless you have a stethoscope laying around.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Try enabling/disable Spread Spectrum in your bios and see if makes a change

 

[Derek12]

It could be

• PSU
• coils on motherboard VRM circuit
• And sometimes video card, mine does that when scrolling or moving windows around.

In any case, unless the system is unstable or the noise is too high, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Have you broken up with your girlfriend recently?

 

[qubit]

Try to get your ear in there to see where the noise is coming from.

A modded stethoscope would really help!

 

[SnakeDoctor]

A modded stethoscope would really help!

When getting a exhaust pipe fixed they use a hosepipe on the ear to find the hole , just a thought

 

[ronikh]

Maybe it's the sound of power coursing through 8 RAM sticks, straining the RAM VRM on your board. Just a wild guess, but it's something you can try without costing any money - just remove 6 or 7 sticks, run in dual or single channel for a while to see if the noise goes away. If it goes away, you may be able to run in quad channel using only 4 of them. I see your board has a digital 4 Phase DRAM VRM, but full population of all 8 slots can still be a strain for any board. My rule of thumb is, use only enough sticks to get dual or quad channel operation, double the density if more total RAM is desired. Many people in reviews and forums have noted problems when running with all slots populated, on every platform, for whatever reason (dead slots, poor power delivery, faulty design, cheap components/materials, increased odds of having at least one bad stick, etc.). Anyway, it's worth a try.

I tried leaving just 1 stick, didn't make a difference.

This is what I was going to suggest. You often can tell if it is the PSU by putting your ear up to its exhaust port. If not, the paper tube trick is pretty effective - unless you have a stethoscope laying around.

Tried that, but i can't hear anything around the PSU, but more around the CPU area.

Try enabling/disable Spread Spectrum in your bios and see if makes a change

I disabled it but it didn't help.


I also tried different v sync settings in AMD radeon settings, didn't help.
I hear the noise on every mouse scroll in a browser, every click on the desktop, every refresh on the screen (for example when task manager is opened and it refreshes every second)... but only when there is CPU usage.

Thanks again guys.

 

[Aenra]

You haven't mentioned what cooling you use, so before you get down to the only remaining possibility (VRM), let me try something stupid

Did you recently move the entire case? To clean it, change something, anything that made you move it after a long period of it standing still? If yes, try checking each and every screw inside the case (fans too).

 

[ronikh]

You haven't mentioned what cooling you use, so before you get down to the only remaining possibility (VRM), let me try something stupid

Did you recently move the entire case? To clean it, change something, anything that made you move it after a long period of it standing still? If yes, try checking each and every screw inside the case (fans too).

I have a pretty simple cooler Arctic freezer i32 and a Seasonic 1200W Gold PSU.
I have moved the case, removed some HDDs and cleaned it, i always do. I will check all the screws as you said.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Tried that, but i can't hear anything around the PSU, but more around the CPU area.

Then I suggest you CAREFULLY touch the center hub of the CPU's cooling fan just for a second. This will momentarily change the rotation speed of the fan. If it is the fan making the noise (a common problem as bearings naturally wear), the pitch of the noise will change too, then quickly return to the previous pitch as the rotation speeds returns to normal RPM.

 

[ronikh]

Then I suggest you CAREFULLY touch the center hub of the CPU's cooling fan just for a second. This will momentarily change the rotation speed of the fan. If it is the fan making the noise (a common problem as bearings naturally wear), the pitch of the noise will change too, then quickly return to the previous pitch as the rotation speeds returns to normal RPM.

Hey, i actually tried that yesterday on all fans (apart from the gpu), same noise continues. Could it be related to Cpu power saving?

 

[Bill_Bright]

Could it be related to Cpu power saving?

It is not due to some feature - though some feature might aggravate it. If you have a sore thumb and you poke it with a stick, is the stick the problem? No.

If the sound is not coming from any moving part (like a fan or drive motor) or coming through the speakers, then it IS a faulty component. Now that does not mean it is going to fail completely tomorrow. It could have a normal lifespan of many years. If you cannot isolate the source of the noise through pinpoint listening, then you are going to have to put up with it until the device fails completely (if it ever does).

You might try breadboarding your computer. That is, carefully take everything out of the case and assemble your computer on a large "unfinished" breadboard or plain (no print or labels) cardboard. Then you get the motherboard and other components out of the cavernous echo-chamber of the case interior. Just be sure to take the necessary ESD precautions to prevent static build-up in your body. I generally keep frequent contact with the power supply's metal case when breadboarding.

 

[P4-630]

You might try breadboarding your computer.

The what!?
Didn't seen this word yet before.

Learned something today!

 

[64K]

The what!?
Didn't seen this word yet before.

Learned something today!

Old school builders talk.