Hey everyone! I recently picked up a Gainward GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Phoenix-S to replace my 4070 Ventus 2x, which had a fan noise issue around 75-77% RPM. I'm planning to sell the 4070 once it gets back from warranty, but I've noticed something odd about the new card. It makes a strange, deep noise that doesn't really sound like airflow. It feels like it could be a bearing issue, but weirdly, it only occurs at a specific RPM range. I still have a few days left to return it, but I'm unsure if this is normal behavior or if I should consider sending it back. I've linked videos of both cards so you can hear the difference: my 4070 and the new one. Any thoughts?
1 Answer
The Gainward -s versions, like the Phoenix-S and Phantom-S, tend to have lower-quality cooling and noisier fans compared to their regular counterparts. They’re usually cheaper for a reason, which might be why you're hearing that deep noise. If it's bothering you, I’d recommend returning it for a standard version like the 5070 Ti Phoenix, which should perform better and be quieter overall. Avoid the OC models—those are generally just marketing gimmicks.
I just checked out a friend's Phantom card, and it makes a similar loud noise. Sounds like the Phoenix models aren't much better either.