High pitched noise when playing games.

[cadence]

Hi chaps, be easy on me as I'm not a huge techie, although know a bit about the innards, as it were. My new PC is very quiet when browsing the web or just doing normal desktop stuff, however on booting up a game (I've tried Crysis, Total War 2, Half Life 2 so far), I get this high pitched sound coming from somewhere. I'm not sure but I have a feeling it's the graphics card. As the PC is only a few days old, am I right to be worried or is that normal? It's quite loud so I'm a bit concerned that it's struggling to cope. I've got a 650w Corsair PSU and the card is a GTX570. Any thoughts?

 

[Gorman]

Is it cap whine?

[video=youtube;C4d23F2jehQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4d23F2jehQ[/video]

 

[cadence]

Thanks Gorman, yes it's very similar to that. I'll double check when I get home tonight though and see if it's coming from the power supply or the GPU by sticking my head inside. The only difference to that vid is that the noise my PC is making is a contant pitch, whereas in the video it seems to be oscillating up and down a small bit. Is this a known issue with Corsair power supplies? Is it serious?

 

[NMEBowen]

its just high ampage osolating through some transistors no really problem it may drop your efficiency very slightly and cause you to get annoyed with the noise it makes but it shouldnt harm your pc in anyway.

 

[cadence]

I not sure what "high ampage osolating through some transistors" really means, sorry. Is that relating to this cap whine that Gorman has referred to?

 

[NMEBowen]

yer psu`s use little switches called transistors along with other electronic componants, these little switches under alot of power can become noisy and if they switch at 50-60 hz (switching 50-60 times a second) will make a high pitch noise. energy in equals energy out in the form of power and heat if you add noise to that also it means the energy made to make that noise is lowering efficiency but it shouldnt damage your pc in anyway.

edit: i think gorman means when he says caps hes refering to capacitors but i doubt they are making the noise as i said its more likely the switches(transistors).

 

[cadence]

Thanks guys, I'll have a closer listen when I get home tonight. I thought it might be the GPU straining a little bit, although the power supply should be ample for that card. At least it sounds like it's not something too serious.

 

[Gorman]

"cap whine" is just a generic term used to describe all sorts of high frequency power draw related annoying noises. If it is an issue for you then i suggest contacting the call centre. As far as the PC goes, its just annoying, not a sign of impending failiure etc, i have returned psu's for this sort of thing before.