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• High Tech Chat » NVidia card quirkiness Post similar experiences plz
A few months back I got an Asus GTX 260, because an acquaintance needed a GPU that could scale with another (SLI/Crossfire) which he would do and put together a project/presentation on for his graduation project.
So I popped my trusty 4850 out of my own rig, and gave it to him for $50.
Within a few minutes of powering on my system - now loaded with the 260 - I noticed a high-pitched whistling noise coming from the card. Sometimes it's louder, sometimes quieter, but it's ALWAYS THERE.
This isn't the first nVidia card I've had that whistled - my 3rd in fact - but the others had only ever done it while running VERY intensive games, and only during isolated bits of those.
It has been nearly FOUR MONTHS, and I still can't get the manufacture to take the damn thing back, because nVidia officially considers high-pitched whistling to be "Normal Operation"
At this rate I am either going to:
A) Go clinically insane OR
B) Become deaf to that range of sound
Whichever comes first.
Am I just REALLY unlucky? Or does nVidia have anyone else's PC whistling Dixie out of its...rear vent?
So I popped my trusty 4850 out of my own rig, and gave it to him for $50.
Within a few minutes of powering on my system - now loaded with the 260 - I noticed a high-pitched whistling noise coming from the card. Sometimes it's louder, sometimes quieter, but it's ALWAYS THERE.
This isn't the first nVidia card I've had that whistled - my 3rd in fact - but the others had only ever done it while running VERY intensive games, and only during isolated bits of those.
It has been nearly FOUR MONTHS, and I still can't get the manufacture to take the damn thing back, because nVidia officially considers high-pitched whistling to be "Normal Operation"
At this rate I am either going to:
A) Go clinically insane OR
B) Become deaf to that range of sound
Whichever comes first.
Am I just REALLY unlucky? Or does nVidia have anyone else's PC whistling Dixie out of its...rear vent?
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Unfortunately, NV boards are known to make this noise ... most of them do 
In fact, you're lucky when you find a card that doesn't whistle ... (I was with my two 9800 GTX+)
ATI cards does make some noise too ... I heard it with case open on my 4870, but it's a low pitched noise that's usually covered by fans noise or blocked by the case.
In fact, you're lucky when you find a card that doesn't whistle ... (I was with my two 9800 GTX+)
ATI cards does make some noise too ... I heard it with case open on my 4870, but it's a low pitched noise that's usually covered by fans noise or blocked by the case.
Fan noise, I don't have a problem with - my system is sitting pretty in an Antec 1200.
The whistling I'm talking about is so high-pitched that it almost sounds like electricity running through the wiring of old appliances, which is a REALLY annoying frequency, because NOTHING can drown it out - it's like it cuts through all other ambient noise.
The whistling I'm talking about is so high-pitched that it almost sounds like electricity running through the wiring of old appliances, which is a REALLY annoying frequency, because NOTHING can drown it out - it's like it cuts through all other ambient noise.
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It's produced by the VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules) that power the GPU ... nothing can be done to solve this issue, I think that are board design flaws
Some people noticed the the pitch of the sound might change with overclocking or underclocking ... maybe you might want to try if you can find a situation where the noise is less annoying ?
Some people noticed the the pitch of the sound might change with overclocking or underclocking ... maybe you might want to try if you can find a situation where the noise is less annoying ?
I've been running nothing but nVidia cards for about 10 yeatrs. I've never heard a sound, other than the fans. As a matter of fact, I have 6 of them folding in this room and can't hear anything above the slight whoosh of the ceiling fan.
(4X GTX260/216, an 8800 GTS 512, and a GT120M)
(4X GTX260/216, an 8800 GTS 512, and a GT120M)
I know the sound, but all of my gpus are quiet (4x 9800GT, 1x GTX260). They are all MSI brand, and according to the MSI website:
MSI Website:
The box that the gpus come in adds that the high-frequency noise comes from open-wound toroidal coils. They claim that their potted coils eliminate the noise.
That all may be marketing hype, but my cards are quiet.
Ben N1NP
MSI Website:
SSC (Solid State Choke)
SSC is a new generation form-in-all choke. Unlike the traditional chokes, Solid State Choke, which has no sequarate part inside, generate no high frequency buzz noise. Its higher maximum current output is also specifically designed for overclocking.
SSC is a new generation form-in-all choke. Unlike the traditional chokes, Solid State Choke, which has no sequarate part inside, generate no high frequency buzz noise. Its higher maximum current output is also specifically designed for overclocking.
The box that the gpus come in adds that the high-frequency noise comes from open-wound toroidal coils. They claim that their potted coils eliminate the noise.
That all may be marketing hype, but my cards are quiet.
Ben N1NP
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Oh the MSI SSCs ... you'll see my comments about it in next review ... 
i am new to Folding and building my own rig, and i to had this issue... after much reasearch, i found a web site that will help you with that squeeling, and there is a long articl about it too...
Nvidia’s “deadly” flaw and how to fix it – no more squealing!
Hope that helps... also, i am running in SLI just one client for my GPU and use only one card... i get about 9000 ppd on it. I also throw a "Pause to the Cause" and game on my rig too.
(also folding with VMware 3.0, with Ubuntu 9.10 runnin the 6.24R3 -bigadv and all 8 cores on my i7)
Edit by Norcalsteve On 01/19/10 at 20h45
Nvidia’s “deadly” flaw and how to fix it – no more squealing!
Hope that helps... also, i am running in SLI just one client for my GPU and use only one card... i get about 9000 ppd on it. I also throw a "Pause to the Cause" and game on my rig too.
(also folding with VMware 3.0, with Ubuntu 9.10 runnin the 6.24R3 -bigadv and all 8 cores on my i7)
Edit by Norcalsteve On 01/19/10 at 20h45
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Interesting ... it tends to confirm some of my observations too (yes, I know, the review is late).
P.S : you should consider running another GPU client on your SLI setup (it might not be necessary to disable SLI anymore to do so with latest drivers).
P.S : you should consider running another GPU client on your SLI setup (it might not be necessary to disable SLI anymore to do so with latest drivers).
Squealing in electronics is mostly coming from coils with loosely wound wires, but even power semicondutors can produce sharp noises when used in fast switching applications.
I already noticed that more than 30 yrs ago when working with Triac switches making dimmers and disco-light switching circuits ...
Here in Europe we have 50Hz mains frequency, and even with that low base frequency, the relatively fast switching made the Triac semiconductor housing tick unexpectedly loudly.
The higher the currents (equals heavy duty use) and the faster the switching speed, the higher the noise.
In a closed case, some soft dampening matting (glued to the insides of that casing) could bring big reductions in noise too, but the encapsulation of coil wiring and other noisy parts with sticky stuff (that never hardens completely) will dampen the high-pitched noise coming from them.
You could also use boat-varnish to do that. I 've worked for a maker of car alarm/anti-theft units that where almost dipped in that varnish. That was more for protection from the elements than for noise dampening, but it demonstrated that the electronics kept on working as normal after being heavily coated with that stuff !
That 's my 2 cents on the subject ...
.
I already noticed that more than 30 yrs ago when working with Triac switches making dimmers and disco-light switching circuits ...
Here in Europe we have 50Hz mains frequency, and even with that low base frequency, the relatively fast switching made the Triac semiconductor housing tick unexpectedly loudly.
The higher the currents (equals heavy duty use) and the faster the switching speed, the higher the noise.
In a closed case, some soft dampening matting (glued to the insides of that casing) could bring big reductions in noise too, but the encapsulation of coil wiring and other noisy parts with sticky stuff (that never hardens completely) will dampen the high-pitched noise coming from them.
You could also use boat-varnish to do that. I 've worked for a maker of car alarm/anti-theft units that where almost dipped in that varnish. That was more for protection from the elements than for noise dampening, but it demonstrated that the electronics kept on working as normal after being heavily coated with that stuff !
That 's my 2 cents on the subject ...
.
____________________
co-Mod Team 734, Folding with 2x GPU XFX9800GTX+ 24/7
co-Mod Team 734, Folding with 2x GPU XFX9800GTX+ 24/7
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In the case of nVidia's noise, the root source is still a mystery to me : those who read the review the GT 240 will understand what I mean 
The "SSC"s on the card in the review look different than the ones on my MSI cards. I looked at the pics of my cards for reference, but the heatsinks hid most everything. On my cards, you can see the coil windings through the potting material.
The card in the review is also the first MSI card I have seen (or noticed) that was not RED. That sounds silly, but are the red cards different?
Maybe I have just gotten very lucky to get quiet cards.
Ben N1NP
The card in the review is also the first MSI card I have seen (or noticed) that was not RED. That sounds silly, but are the red cards different?
Maybe I have just gotten very lucky to get quiet cards.
Ben N1NP
n1np:
Maybe I have just gotten very lucky to get quiet cards.
Ben N1NP
Or maybe you've lost your high frequency hearing
My 8800gt's use to make a lot of racket but they seem to get quieter with age....
Maybe I have just gotten very lucky to get quiet cards.
Ben N1NP
Or maybe you've lost your high frequency hearing
My 8800gt's use to make a lot of racket but they seem to get quieter with age....
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n1np> the card I used for the review is an "overclocker's edition" using "military class" components ... that's probably why you didn't recognize the card.
All details about this "military class" designation can be found here : http://us.msi.com/xtremecool/military.aspx (I just found that link ... I should include it in the review).
All details about this "military class" designation can be found here : http://us.msi.com/xtremecool/military.aspx (I just found that link ... I should include it in the review).
"Weedacres":
I wouldn't rule that out as a possibility.
Apparently my cards are not "Military Class" according to that link, though the boxes for the "N260GTX Twin Frozr" cards say "military Class" right on the front?
Anyway, I'm not here to argue, just keep folding
Ben N1NP
EDIT: I should have added that the 260's are marked "OC Edition" and my 9800GTs are the factory overclocked "OCv2" model.
Edit by n1np On 02/09/10 at 01h04
Or maybe you've lost your high frequency hearing
I wouldn't rule that out as a possibility.
Apparently my cards are not "Military Class" according to that link, though the boxes for the "N260GTX Twin Frozr" cards say "military Class" right on the front
?Anyway, I'm not here to argue, just keep folding
Ben N1NP
EDIT: I should have added that the 260's are marked "OC Edition" and my 9800GTs are the factory overclocked "OCv2" model.
Edit by n1np On 02/09/10 at 01h04
• High Tech Chat » NVidia card quirkiness Post similar experiences plz
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