Issue with GPU/PSU causing PC to crash/buzzing noise

[Timmie]

Hey there,

 

I'm having an issue and need some advice.

I currently have the following setup:

 

Windows 10 64bit

OCZ ModxStream 700w

Gigabyte sniper g1

i5 4670

Sapphire dual x 280x

Asus xonar DG

 

These are all issues that occured over time and did not exist for over a year.

The issue is that no matter what audio source is used, there's a buzzing noise. Originally this issue was only from the front audio ports and from the motherboard. That's the reason the sound card was bought.

The 2nd issue is that when the GPU goes above a certain load for a certain period, the entire PC crashes.  (Screen turns a certain color or has stripes). If it stays below this load there's no issue at all.  It seems to me like when the GPU starts using a certain amount of energy the PSU can't handle it and it crashes. 

 

The crashing issue was there before the buzzing noise from the sound card and this seems to get worse. The buzzing noise increases when the GPU starts to get under a bigger load.

 

Things that i've tried:

 

Different graphic card (nvidia 970) the pc does not crash.

Tried without sound card (crashing still happens)

Reinstall of windows 10 to exclude driver issues (Fixed nothing)

 

What I want to know:

 

Do you guys think it's an issue with the GPU or is it an issue with the PSU when it comes under to big of a load? I'm not able to test with a different PSU right now.

 

Thanks for any help

[UnlimitedTMD]

what PSU do you have? You`ll always find background noise when you`re using an audiocard, a external DAC or AMP would`ve been better. 

Also watch your temps while under load, they may be waaay too high

[glitchmaster0001]

it could be a power problem or it could be the GPU itself that has problems 

[Timmie]

9 minutes ago, UnlimitedTMD said:

what PSU do you have? You`ll always find background noise when you`re using an audiocard, a external DAC or AMP would`ve been better. 

Also watch your temps while under load, they may be waaay too high

The PSU is OCZ mod stream 700w

Temperatures are not an issue. 

The buzzing noise was not there before on the sound card and only started recently. There has always been a buzzing noise on the motherboard ports. 

[Timmie]

8 hours ago, glitchmaster0001 said:

it could be a power problem or it could be the GPU itself that has problems 

No offence, but this is not something that helps me. I've already stated it's a problem with either the PSU or GPU in the opening post.

I'm trying to figure out which one of the two it is.

[UnlimitedTMD]

4 minutes ago, Timmie said:

No offence, but this is not something that helps me. I've already stated it's a problem with either the PSU or GPU in the opening post.

I'm trying to figure out which one of the two it is.

Is the buzzing noice only apparent trough your speakers/headphones? Or is it audible without them turned on? If it`s only trough audio devices, maybe try turning the sound all the way on on windows, than on your speakers/headphones. That way that the source audio is `pure`

[Timmie]

41 minutes ago, UnlimitedTMD said:

Is the buzzing noice only apparent trough your speakers/headphones? Or is it audible without them turned on? If it`s only trough audio devices, maybe try turning the sound all the way on on windows, than on your speakers/headphones. That way that the source audio is `pure`

It's only apparent through the headphones/earphones. Sometimes it's there with 0% gpu load, but it usually begins after a gpu load of 60% or more. The buzzing noise is always there when it's not trough the sound card. I've tried what you've suggested but that did not help, it's definetly a hardware issue. 

[UnlimitedTMD]

Just now, Timmie said:

It's only apparent through the headphones/earphones. Sometimes it's there with 0% gpu load, but it usually begins after a gpu load of 60% or more. The buzzing noise is always there when it's not trough the sound card. I've tried what you've suggested but that did not help, it's definetly a hardware issue. 

I`m afraid that`s a pretty normal issue, background noise becomes pretty apparent trough audiodevices. If you really care that much about sound, get an external DAC/AMP.

I also have this problem and bought a Fiio E7 which helped greatly, but also use as portable device, maybe get something else.

[SuicideAnomaly]

Before purchasing a potentially unnecessary piece of hardware, refer to this helpful guide:

 

[Timmie]

The buzzing noise from the soundcard wasn't there before, it worked fine for over a year. It wasn't untill the crashes started to occur that the buzzing noise from the sound card happened. I will take a look at the link you've suggested, but I highly doubt it has anything to do with my soundcard since it also still happens when the sound card isn't there. 

 

Could you guys take a look at the crash issue combined with the buzzing noise (They must be related). Am I wrong to think it's a PSU/GPU issue? 

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[rhyseyness]

So it sounds like your buzzing noise is caused by interference from other electrical signals in the case.

When the GPU is under load, the interference is increased as all the components draw more power and are processing more data.

You MAY be able to reduce the interference by moving the soundcard to a PCI slot further away from other components (mainly the GPU).

 

As for the crashing, the fact that when you used a different video card the problem goes away suggests that the video card is the issue.

HOWEVER it could be because you used a less powerful card, hence the PSU wasn't under as greater load.

That PSU should be able to handle either of those cards no problem though, so I'm leaning towards GPU.

Hope this helps

[glitchmaster0001]

12 hours ago, Timmie said:

The buzzing noise from the soundcard wasn't there before, it worked fine for over a year. It wasn't untill the crashes started to occur that the buzzing noise from the sound card happened. I will take a look at the link you've suggested, but I highly doubt it has anything to do with my soundcard since it also still happens when the sound card isn't there. 

 

Could you guys take a look at the crash issue combined with the buzzing noise (They must be related). Am I wrong to think it's a PSU/GPU issue? 

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

if you tried with a different GPU and it didnt crash then you most likely found the culprit. does the screen turn pink of theres a bunch of colored lines on the screen? 

[Timmie]

Thanks for the responses.

 

I've decided to buy a new PSU eventhough it's most likely the GPU. 

I will update this topic when i've installed the new PSU.