GTX 260 Core 216 SSC Squeal :(

[intarweb]

So, I just got my shiny new card, and I've noticed it has what some claim is a common issue; squealing. Okay, nothing new there, and yes I know this has been covered several times. However, I've done a bunch of searches and am simply unable to find sufficient answers to two specific questions, so I made a thread :)

First, description of circumstances: happens during the usual stuff; high FPS and whatnot. At lower FPS, I can hear a lower pitched buzzing if I put my ear up close to the case that isn't there when a game isn't running. I don't know if it happens in all games; I just noticed it happened when I bothered to check for it. I don't know if the lower pitched sound is normal since it seems to be rarely mentioned. The low pitched sound is not particularly loud, and I doubt I would have noticed except for I was already listening for the squeal and this particular phenomenon seems to just scale with FPS (e.g. lower FPS = low frequency, high FPS = high frequency). Anyway, I suppose someone can comment on whether that alone is normal to begin with.

Now, the two questions:

1. What are my realistic chances of getting a non-squealing card if I RMA this thing? I ask because, other than the squealing, I actually really like the card, and I haven't been able to find any sort of real specific response about the frequency of this problem in order to help me weigh my options. Those options being, essentially, live with it, RMA it for a new one, or return it and get something else. Everything is running smoothly, temps are good, and fan noise is pretty good. In terms of sheer performance, it seems like a great card, but the squealing is really bugging me as it's decently loud (well, relative to my fairly quiet computer anyhow).

2. Where is the squealing supposed to be emanating from, really? I noticed that the capacitors and chokes on the end nearest to the PSU connectors is claimed to be the source of the sound on some sites, but when I try to locate the sound on my card it seems louder towards the end nearest to the display outputs. I don't see any caps/chokes on the side on the few blurry pictures I've managed to find of these boards uncovered, but I do see what looks like regulation, some d/a circuitry, and I guess a bus controller or something of that sort (not sure at the moment; haven't looked it up). I looked up a video on youtube where someone had a squealing card, and his *seemed* like it was coming from the area mine is, but people seem to consistently blame devices on the other end of the card.

Thanks for any help!

[kindred]

I've just bought a gtx 260 and apart from the fan being slightly louder than my 8800gts, I have no squealing noise whatsoever. Just the typical wooshing noise. What speed is your fan running at. Try downloading evga precision utility and setting your fan to a lower setting if its bothering you, but check your temps to make sure it's not over heating.

[Tho Jo Smale]

My 8800 GTX made the sound as well.....especially during ATItools artifact testing....I think it is normal.....card ran great for over 2 years, died.....then Evga(great company that they are) replaced it with a 9800GTX+

I wouldn't worry.....like I said....card made the noise from day 1 and still lasted for more than 2 years......running games everyday.

[weevil]

I can hear a lower pitched buzzing if I put my ear up close to the case

It may be coming from your computer's switched-mode power supply, a coil probably

The extra load perhaps has sent a coil singing, or something else could be physically touching the case and causing resonant buzzing

Try switching from say 60Hz monitor refresh rate to another refresh rate, and also to lower screen frequencies, (line output transformer test) - see if it makes a difference to the sound. Turn the monitor off and listen. Only to help break the problem down are these tests, not for permanent settings

What make of card? Try the card manufacturer's user forums for more focused help, EVGA has very good after-sales support in my experience

A singing coil can be quietened by potting the coil - which should already be potted of course: using cold-cure resin, lacquer or similar setting compound. If no luck fixing this and no RMA possible I mean

[intarweb]

Thanks for the replies! :D

kindred - It's not fan noise; it's coming from what sounds like maybe a regulator on the side of the card nearest to the display outputs.

Tho - Yeah, it does seem it will last despite the problem; it's just I'm sensitive to high frequencies so it's driving me a bit nuts >.<

weevil - It doesn't appear to be my PSU causing the noise as it's very localized around the card itself and scales with FPS. It almost sounds like maybe it's what looks like the digital supply making noise and hence the scaling with frequency. The card brand is eVGA.

Thanks again for the help, guys!

[intarweb]

I guess I'm also considering switching to an HD4890 to resolve the problem. I haven't really kept up on driver quality recently and don't know about how support for CUDA/PhysX APIs should factor into my decision, but Anandtech and some others seem to suggest at least the latter issue isn't that important. I'm happy with the drivers so far on this card; have had remarkably smooth operation, actually. However, the 4890 is a faster card overall it seems. Just wondering about thoughts on that choice as I'm trying to weigh the issues between what seems like a good card with good drivers so far and some neat perks versus a faster card with DX10.1 (which seems to be gaining some support?); I don't know on the drivers yet! >_>

I also called eVGA and asked what the chances of me getting another squealing card is, and the tech support guy appeared to suggest it was low. However, I guess I'm feeling a bit nervous about it because I tried a Superclocked before this and it had the same problem >.<

[Dazz]

I have had this problem on most of my nVidia cards tends to happen mostly with 3D games that are running at insaine frame rates, like Divx video for intros or main menus where the fps is over 500.

[intarweb]

Does your current card do it?

[Dr.Nick]

tbh I think its the PSU that causes the cards to squeal. I noticed it on my bros PC when I gave him my GTX280. With his old Corsair 620w it squeals like a pig but is totally silent with a Corsair 850w. I even RMAd the 620w but it still did it...
Just sharing my findings...I could be wrong but that is how I got rid of it on my bros PC.

Edit- rereading your post I have to say he might have had a different squeal as it only did it during game cut scenes or when in the game menus. I didn't do it while actually gaming so we might have had different issues

[intarweb]

tbh I think its the PSU that causes the cards to squeal. I noticed it on my bros PC when I gave him my GTX280. With his old Corsair 620w it squeals like a pig but is totally silent with a Corsair 850w. I even RMAd the 620w but it still did it...
Just sharing my findings...I could be wrong but that is how I got rid of it on my bros PC.

Edit- rereading your post I have to say he might have had a different squeal as it only did it during game cut scenes or when in the game menus. I didn't do it while actually gaming so we might have had different issues

It doesn't squeal while gaming; I can just hear a low pitched buzz that scaled up into a squeal when in the usual cut scenes/menus. I only hear squealing during high-FPS environments like those you just mentioned.

Is this problem caused by Corsair PSUs? (I have one too! :()

[Dr.Nick]

I don't want to tell you that its the psu as I'm not 100% but I do know that moving to a more powerful one fixed it for him. Tbh I don't understand it as the Corsair 620w is more than capable of running the card and everything else in his system but a more powerful one -still corsair- did the trick:confused:

[intarweb]

I don't want to tell you that its the psu as I'm not 100% but I do know that moving to a more powerful one fixed it for him. Tbh I don't understand it as the Corsair 620w is more than capable of running the card and everything else in his system but a more powerful one -still corsair- did the trick:confused:

Interesting. I doubt it was the extra power; I wonder if it's something like noise, inductance, or nominal impedance on the rails. I tried a non-Corsair 600W PSU to no avail, I guess I could try another PSU in the house but I doubt it will make a difference. There is also another user in another thread who has an HX620 like your brother and he is reporting no squealing >.<

[Dazz]

If you have vSync on then it will go away but you will be locked to your max fps of your refresh rate.

[intarweb]

If you have vSync on then it will go away but you will be locked to your max fps of your refresh rate.

Yep, Vsync will stop it but then I have to have Vsync on >_____________>

Maybe I'll just RMA it -_-

[Dr.Nick]

Interesting. I doubt it was the extra power; I wonder if it's something like noise, inductance, or nominal impedance on the rails. I tried a non-Corsair 600W PSU to no avail, I guess I could try another PSU in the house but I doubt it will make a difference. There is also another user in another thread who has an HX620 like your brother and he is reporting no squealing >.<

I don't think it was the extra power either that's why I wasn't sure. If you RMA the card let us know how it goes. Hope that fixes it for you

[intarweb]

So I called up eVGA and they said they send back a "recertified" card which, by their description, sounds like a fancy name for "used". I noticed on a couple forums people claimed to have gotten cards that were kind of beat up looking. Is there anyone here who has experience with this? I'm kind of concerned that such a process will probably *not* solve my problem since it means what I'm getting back is essentially someone else's old card, which could be there in the first place because of the same or similar problem >.<. Also, just seems a bit strange I guess. I'm used to RMA where I get an actually new card afterwards so maybe that's why I'm kind of nervous about it. Maybe also it just seems unsatisfying since it would mean I've essentially paid full price for someone's used card.

[methimpikehoses]

Visiontek sent me a used card from my RMA. :| Seems to be normal practice for some companies.

[intarweb]

Visiontek sent me a used card from my RMA. :| Seems to be normal practice for some companies.

:|

I'm kind of in a bind since the place I got it appears to be out of stock on the card, so I'm not sure how to get a new one again.

[intarweb]

Argh, so it seems normally I could get a new card, but the SSC appears to be unavailable new, so now I may be stuck getting a used "recertified" card :(

[Ywap]

My gtx 285 is also squeling like crazy when vsync is off. Maybe nvidia should/could let you cap your fps in the control panel?

[Koko56]

My gtx 285 is also squeling like crazy when vsync is off. Maybe nvidia should/could let you cap your fps in the control panel?

Well, the squealing can occur during intro films, menus and F@H from my experience.

I have noticed that with a 260 GTX 216 and an 8800 GTX with the 260 GTX having a louder squeal. Some say it could be related to the PSU as when people changed theirs the squealing was said to have gone away, or changing the power cables was also said to have reduced the squealing a bit, though did not make it go away completely.

It's something to do with coils on the video card. Google it and there are ways of making it go away but it involves putting nail polish or hot glue onto the whining component. Though I would not be too keen on doing that.

Look here: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1391838

[Gort]

I have a GTX 295 that just recently started a different behavior: after playing a graphics-intensive game for a few minutes, it'll lock up completely, and squeal from the case somewhere. I've tried lots of drivers, no avail. Just started doing this a week or so ago.

[Dr.Nick]

You will always get a pre-owned card when you rma. The only guys I have know of that send brand spanking new replacements is Logitech(they rock btw). But I'm one for one with evga; the 8800 rma I attempted turned out really bad but overall i'd still rate them at the top.


@Gort. What psu you running that 295 off of? Also what kind of temps are you hittin?

[intarweb]

Blargh. I guess the problem is it's hard swapping out a new card for a used one; it feels weird paying full price for a used card I guess, especially since I have no idea if the previous owner takes as good care of his/her electronics as I do. "Used" has a certain stigma to it, and I think rightly so, even if sellers try to use euphemisms such as "pre-owned" or qualifications like "certified." That isn't to say I don't think eVGA has good support. So far, they've been really kind and responsive, and I respect their staff and think they're good folks. I just really pushed my budget to get the card, so I guess I have some attachment to "new" >________>

[yehuda]

I also have that squealing sound from my Evga 9800GTX.
Whats wierd is that most people I asked can't hear them even if it's really loud (the sound's too high I guess).