PC Grinding noise narrowed down, please advice

[kokotas]

Hello LTT, I need your help!

 

This is a new rig recently built, specs are below:

Cpu: Intel 10900K (SP 81)

Mobo: Asus Maximus Apex XII

GPU: Asus tuf 3080

OS drive: 970 Evo Plus nvme 500GB

PSU: Seasonic 750W Prime Ultra Plat

Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster AE-7

Cpu cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360

Fans: x7 Arctic Bionix P120 pwm

Ram:G.Skill Trident z RGB 2x16GB B-dies

Case: Lian Li o11 Dynamic XL

 

So this is most perplexing for me as I have never bumped upon something like that before. Thing is the noise source is kinda difficult to isolate. Here is a sample so you can get the idea:

https://vocaroo.com/Pur5vPAzuPa

 

Now I have managed to find the exact reason which causes this noise. With that said, I'm still lost as to where it's coming from. Is sound like it could be coming from the psu, the gpu, the pump or even the motherboard itself.

So here's what's happening. Whenever I play a video using NVIDIA Cuvid as the video decoder I get this super loud grinding noise. If I change the decoder to DXVA2 (Copy-Back) then the noise is almost inaudible. In both cases the noise gets louder if I go full-screen.

 

I'm worried because after sticking my ear next to the open case for a few minutes, I'm 80% sure the sound is coming from either the pump or behind the pump... Weird thing is the using prime95 or furmark doesn't produce any such noise, at least continuously like when playing back videos.

I would appreciate any insight that will help me isolate the issue and contact the respective support team.

 

One more thing to notice is when the noise abruptly subsides for a second before it starts again, this translates to frame dropping or stuttering in the video.

 

Ok, last thing I can do to demonstrate the issue. Hoping for the right person to see this and provide an answer:

(kindly turn up your volume) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMfTrvrAid0&feature=youtu.be

 

Final attempt at finding help:

disabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the CPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:

https://vocaroo.com/dwlzrjzvaob

re-enabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the GPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:

https://vocaroo.com/dxSvJircyHa

BTW I manually stopped the pump fan, gpu fans, psu fan and that didn't affect the noise. At this point, I think it's the pump or the PSU... I swear the sound comes from the pump. Or is it possible for the motherboard itself to make such a noise?

[boggy77]

from the recording, sounds like a fan is catching. i would say gpu fan based on your description of when it happens.

one way to test is installing msi afterburner and playing with the fan speed and see if you manage to get it to make the noise at some fan frequency.

[kokotas]

I'm running the msi overclocking scanner right now and I think I hear what seems to be the same noise but at lot lower level. Also it comes at short intervals instead of continuous. Any thoughts?

 

Edit: seems there two different noises as well. One is like a high pitched buzz or mechanical hd drive sound (but I have non connected) and the other is the the fan catching grinding kind of sound.

[kokotas]

Ok, last thing I can do to demonstrate the issue. Hoping for the right person to see this and provide an answer:

(kindly turn up your volume) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMfTrvrAid0&feature=youtu.be

[kokotas]

Final attempt at finding help:

 

disabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the CPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:

https://vocaroo.com/dwlzrjzvaob

 

re-enabled hardware acceleration for HEVC, loading the GPU, alternating between window mode and full screen:

https://vocaroo.com/dxSvJircyHa

 

BTW I manually stopped the pump fan, gpu fans, psu fan and that didn't affect the noise. At this point, I think it's the pump or the PSU... I swear the sound comes from the pump. Or is it possible for the motherboard itself to make such a noise?

[truescot]

it is totally possible it's the pump, i had a similar noise when the pump on my old h80i was on it's way out, very unlikely to be the motherboard, could be a fan in the psu(if it has one) as it also sounds like a fan with a broken bearing

[kokotas]

I guess I will remove the pump header from the mobo for a short time and see if that fixes the Sound? Would it be ok since the load will mostly be on the gpu? 

[kokotas]

So I kind of isolated the issue to gpu and psu. Thing is this very bizarre reaction can only be triggered with specific software or should I say renderer.

By using megamix lav filters pack, and setting up as:

Potplayer
Madvr renderer with 4k profile
Lav video decoder, using nvidia vivid

Playing back a big video file like 4k to 5k, 10bit hvec.

This causes the gpu to reach 90% utilization and that's the only scenario that I get that noise. Furmark was normal. Playing the same video with mpc-be and default renderer and settings, again no noise.

My conclusion is madvr and the specific software setup causes a very high power draw from the gpu which causes that noise from some part of the system, most likely the gpu itself.