That unpleasant little whistling sound has a name: coil whine. This electromagnetic phenomenon isn't new. Generally, the processor is the source, but it can also originate from the graphics card or other components of your computer. The phenomenon is quite widespread and well-known to the general public, yet manufacturers don't seem to be making any improvements.
In reality, the noise isn't that loud, especially if you're using your computer with headphones or earbuds. However, for those who bought a supposedly silent setup with semi-passive heatsinks—that is, heatsinks that only turn on when your components get hot to cool them down—coil whine can completely ruin your investment!
In this article, we will explain where this noise comes from and see if there are any solutions.
Here is an explanatory video about Coil Whine :
Why is the coil whine being heard?
To make the explanation understandable to everyone, it needs to be simplified; my apologies to those very familiar with the subject. In your graphics cards and processors, two components are likely to be the culprits: the inductor and the capacitor.
In practical terms, for the coil, when current passes through the copper wire, micro-vibrations can be created. This is what generates the audible phenomenon. For the capacitor, imagine very rigid, closely spaced, and very small sheets of metal. When current passes through them, they will also begin to vibrate, which will also generate the unpleasant noise. It is these vibrations that create the sound.
What you need to understand is that this phenomenon happens all the time! However, most of the time, the noises are outside the frequencies perceptible to our ears. The higher the current voltage (so, in cases of heavy use, for example, when you play video games), the closer the noise will be to what you can hear, and the more noticeable it will be.
You might think that this noise damages your components, your coil or your capacitor? Not at all, the noise is certainly annoying, but it has no influence on the stability of your components.
Is it possible to prevent coil whine?
If you're reading this article, it's probably because of this answer.
You're going to be disappointed… For consumers, it's very difficult to stop this phenomenon. Manufacturers don't focus much on the issue, quite simply because it represents a higher cost for them. There are a few possibilities, such as blocking the coil with resin or silicone, but these measures are temporary and don't work in the long run.
Unfortunately, we'll just have to pray we don't end up with a bad graphics card or processor!
A few tips:
However, there are a few tricks to reduce the noise produced:
- If it occurs during a video game session, many internet users have noticed that enabling Vsync or Gsync reduces the noise, or even eliminates it completely.
- Others have observed that coil whine diminishes when the computer is used intensively and for extended periods. In fact, the high-pitched whine only occurs at the beginning of their gaming sessions.
And what about customer service?
You might think that if the problem is there, the manufacturer can replace your component? Not so simple…
In reality, there's no consensus among retailers. Some consider this problem "normal," and believe all manufacturers have this issue. They refuse to take back your equipment. Others agree to cover it, provided the coil whine is "pronounced.".
In the case of distance selling, you always have the option to cancel for at least 14 days (it's the law). This remains the simplest way to test your graphics card and be sure it will be replaced
Furthermore, if you purchased a product with a highlighted feature that it would be quiet, any manufacturer should normally take back your equipment if the noise is actually bothersome.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, coil whine can occur randomly. It's not your fault, nor the manufacturer's. You might experience this problem with a graphics card, buy the exact same model again, and then not have it anymore!
The only hope is that, over the years, manufacturers will improve their production processes. Currently, the only viable option is to test the product during the return period. This way, you're 100% guaranteed a refund if there are any problems. Otherwise, you'll have to fight with customer service if your component is still under warranty!
