I have a GTX 1080 in a PC that's about nine years old, and over the past four days I've noticed a faint, muted helicopter-like sound while playing newer games. The computer was thoroughly cleaned in March, and the GPU averages around 57°C during gaming. The noise isn't loud, but it becomes noticeable after roughly an hour of play. I disabled the GPU and ran a benchmark to confirm the sound is coming from the graphics card. The card has never been repasted. What could be causing it?
2 Answers
The most likely cause is a GPU fan bearing starting to wear out. As the card heats up, the bearing can become noisier and produce a rhythmic whirring or helicopter-like sound. Check whether the noise changes with the fan speed. If it does, inspect the fans for wobble or vibration and consider replacing the fan assembly or the card if replacement parts aren’t available.
57°C is a perfectly normal temperature, so overheating itself probably isn’t the issue. It could still be a fan bearing, a slightly unbalanced fan, or vibration being transferred into the case. Coil whine is another possibility, although that usually sounds more like a high-pitched buzz or squeal rather than a low helicopter sound. Since the card is several years old, the fans may simply be wearing out even though the temperatures look fine.
The PC has been cleaned regularly, but the graphics card has never been repasted or otherwise serviced. The noise is subtle and definitely sounds more mechanical than electrical.
I confirmed that the sound follows the GPU, and it only becomes noticeable after the card has been running for about an hour.