I recently upgraded my GPU to a 9070xt, and I've noticed that the power supply unit (PSU) becomes really loud when I'm playing graphically demanding games like MSFS 24. I have a Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 1200W 80+ Gold Ultra Quiet Fully Modular PSU, and it didn't make a peep when I was using my previous 5060. Now, even with all my case fans turned down, the PSU is the only thing I can hear. Everything else in my setup is brand new, including my Ryzen 7 9800x3d, 32GB DDR5 RAM at 6400MHz, and MSI B850 Tomahawk motherboard. Shouldn't 1200W be more than enough to handle this? What could be causing the noise?
4 Answers
Just so you know, the GF1 1200W is known to be a bit on the noisy side. If you’re pulling a lot of power, the fan is going to kick in and ramp up, especially during intense gaming sessions.
Looks like your PSU tests show it can be pretty loud under load. It might be that the increased power demand from your new GPU is making the fan work harder now compared to your old setup.
Have you checked what case you're using and how the PSU is mounted? If it’s facing up or down, it can affect airflow. Some people find the fan is a lot louder depending on orientation.
For sure, the orientation can make a huge difference in how much noise it makes.
Your PSU has a 'smart fan' switch on the back, right? Make sure that's turned on. It might help manage the fan speed better.
Yeah, it's worth looking into! Make sure the PSU fan is set to face the back of the case if it has ventilation holes there.