Noise level issue

[Yoola]

So I have Gigabyte R9 280 Windforce3 OC 3GB and it's getting pretty loud lately. I tried pulling it out and cleaning it but it doesn't help. I'm sure it's GPU because I tried specifically stress test individually CPU and GPU and CPU (FX 8320) even with stock cooler isn't even close noisy as GPU when loaded. I'm also pretty sure those aren't stock fans that came with Zalman Z1 case because they're new as well as the case. 

 

What can I do to decrease the noise? Undeclocking is out of range. 

 

Full PC specs:

AMD FX 8320

Gigabyte R9 280 Windforce3 OC 3GB

ASRock 990FX extreme3

2x4GB HyperX Fury 1866MHz DDR3 

Thermaltake SmartSE 730W modular

Samsung 850 120GB SSD

 Zalman Z1 case

(no HDD #yolo)

 

 

[Spectrez]

what type of noise are you experiencing? 

 

have you tried explanding the elimination process further and unplugging/Stopping fans around the case to find the component making the noise.

 

the culprit is typically (atleast in my experience) old fans on either the Gpu,psu or the case fans (especially the psu)

[Yoola]

It sounds like the fans want to spin more but they're already limited.

 

It's definitely GPU, it gets very warm on the left side of the case also, in same level as GPU.

 

Shall I drill the vents on the left case side panel and maks room for GPU to exhaust?

Shall I risk and try to replace thermal paste on the GPU itself?

[Yoola]

Ok now I isolated everything. GPU tops out at 60°C (140°F) and fans top out at 3100rpm. But weird thing is that even when CPU isn't loaded at all (I'm stress testing GPU with AIDA64 stability test) fan get's over 5600 rpm. I guess it's CPU than? 

 

Tbh, I have case opened and it's really hard to distinguish where noise is coming from, but seems like CPU now. But why do fans go so high when CPU is sitting at about 20°C?