I've been dealing with a buzzing noise from my PC for a while now, and I can't seem to figure out what's causing it. The sound happens even when I'm just browsing or not doing anything super intense, but it definitely gets louder when I'm gaming. I know the fans ramp up under load, but this buzzing sounds odd to me, and since my components are still under warranty, I want to get to the bottom of this. Here are my specs:
- **Case:** DarkFlash DLX21 Mesh Cristal Templado USB-C/3.0
- **Storage:** WD Purple 3.5" 2TB SATA3
- **CPU Cooler:** MSI MAG CORELIQUID C360
- **Motherboard:** MSI MAG B560M MORTAR WIFI
- **Monitor:** ASUS TUF Gaming VG249QM1A 23.8" 270Hz
- **CPU:** Intel Core i7-11700K 3.6 GHz
- **PSU:** Thermaltake Smart RGB 700W 80 Plus
- **Extra Fan:** Tempest Fan 120mm ARGB
- **GPU:** Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 GAMING OC 12GB
- **RAM:** Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB
- **Storage:** Kingston A400 SSD & KINGSTON NVMe 250GB
I even have a video showing the buzzing along with temperatures and voltages, but I'm hesitant to share it. I suspect it could be coil whine or maybe something with my HDD or PSU. Since I have warranty, I'd like to know if I should be seeking a fix for this noise. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like it might be coil whine, which is pretty common in some components and usually isn't harmful. If you're hearing it mostly when the PC is under load, that’s often when coil whine shows up. You can usually tell if it's coil whine by the pitch—it generally has a higher frequency and isn't a constant buzz. If it’s not causing any performance issues and your temps are normal, it might just be something you have to live with.
Opening up the case and cleaning out the fans is definitely a good step. Sometimes dust or debris can get caught in them and create odd sounds. Just make sure you hold the fans still while you're cleaning—free spinning can damage them. However, if you've cleaned them multiple times and the buzzing persists, it may not be the cleaning that's causing it.
I've done that already! Cleaned all the fans a few times, but the buzzing is still there. Do you think I should just look into other components instead?
Yeah, I found a lot of forums discussing coil whine. It's frustrating, but at least it doesn't mean something's broken! I guess trying to isolate where the sound is coming from can help too, like if you notice it more from the GPU or PSU.