Hey everyone! I'm reaching out for some advice regarding my old PC setup. I'm not looking to upgrade; I just want to resolve a few issues I'm facing with it. Here's what I'm working with: an Intel i5-4690K CPU cooled by an Endorfy Fera 5, an Asus H85M-E motherboard, and a mixed RAM configuration (16GB from Kingston and 16GB from Patriot). I've got an AMD Sapphire Radeon RX 480 Nitro+ GPU, a 600W Endorfy Vero L5 Bronze PSU, and I'm using the be quiet! PURE BASE 500DX case. Right now, I'm only running 2 fans.
The main problem arises when I play games like CS2 or League of Legends; my GPU starts making an irritating whining noise, which is so loud I have to wear headphones just to enjoy the games. It seems odd since CS2 shouldn't be too demanding for my graphics card. Additionally, I'm dealing with frequent game freezes where both the screen and sound get stuck, requiring a full restart to get back in the game. I just want to understand if the issues could be related to my GPU, the mixed RAM, or something else. Any insight or help would be really appreciated!
4 Answers
Sometimes the whining noise from the GPU can indicate coil whine, which isn’t uncommon. As for the freezing, that could be tied to overheating or even driver issues. It might help to ensure your drivers are up to date and that everything is properly ventilated in your case.
You could pick up a used GTX 1080 Ti for around $150, which should quiet things down. Sure, your CPU might bottleneck it a bit, but it'll definitely improve your gaming experience without the noise. Plus, it handles many newer games surprisingly well!
Have you checked your RAM compatibility? Mixing different brands and speeds can cause issues. It might be worth replacing the RAM with a matching set to see if that solves the freezing problem.
Honestly, it might be time to consider building a new PC. The old hardware can struggle with newer games, especially if you're hearing whining noises from the GPU.
I get that, but I really don’t want to spend 1-2K on a PC I only use once a week for CS2 and LoL.