PSU ticking / buzzing noise under certain loads

[Walkure]

Having an issue where the PSU makes occasional ticking noises under certain workloads depending on the GPU.

 

When browsing through the web / watching videos etc, it does a faint tick every once in a while, but when playing a game (I'll use Overwatch as an example), it depends.

 

When in-game browsing through the menus (the menu interface caps at 60fps) its the loudest, it'll buzz / tick often. But if I play it under full load the ticking completely goes away.

 

Is this normal or should something be replaced? My PSU is a Super Flower Leadex Gold 650w, with the GPU being a Gigabyte 980ti Xtreme Gaming.

 

 

[PCGuy_5960]

CPU?

[Walkure]

i7-4770k @ 4.2ghz 1.2v

[PCGuy_5960]

1 minute ago, Walkure said:

i7-4770k @ 4.2ghz 1.2v

With the 980 Ti and a 4770K overclocked, you are pushing it fairly hard.... I think that it is probably dying and you should replace it, but @STRMfrmXMN can probably help more than I can in this issue...

[Walkure]

1 minute ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

With the 980 Ti and a 4770K overclocked, you are pushing it fairly hard.... I think that it is probably dying and you should replace it, but @STRMfrmXMN can probably help more than I can in this issue...

Appreciate all the help I can get

 

I was using a R9 290 before this though, and the PSU never made any sort of noise then.

[PCGuy_5960]

1 minute ago, Walkure said:

Appreciate all the help I can get

 

I was using a R9 290 before this though, and the PSU never made any sort of noise then.

Remember, PSUs degrade over time and that 290 was drawing around 300W on its own.... This noise could be a sign of degradation....

[Walkure]

1 minute ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

Remember, PSUs degrade over time and that 290 was drawing around 300W on its own.... This noise could be a sign of degradation....

How fast do they degrade though?  Cause this PSU is only around 3 months old.

[PCGuy_5960]

2 minutes ago, Walkure said:

How fast do they degrade though?  Cause this PSU is only around 3 months old.

3 months old 

Does it sound like a Grasshopper? Because if it does, that isn't an issue (it is coil whine which is perfectly normal)

If it is making weird noises, you should RMA it, just to be on the safe side...

[Walkure]

1 minute ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

3 months old 

Does it sound like a Grasshopper? Because if it does, that isn't an issue (it is coil whine which is perfectly normal)

If it is making weird noises, you should RMA it, just to be on the safe side...

omg I had to youtube that up  Yes it does sound something like that, so I suppose it's perfectly normal?

[PCGuy_5960]

1 minute ago, Walkure said:

omg I had to youtube that up  Yes it does sound something like that, so I suppose it's perfectly normal?

Coil whine is perfectly normal! For both PSUs and GPUs! You shouldn't worry... If you are concerned, you can RMA it, but IMO, you are 100% fine!

[Walkure]

2 minutes ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

Coil whine is perfectly normal! For both PSUs and GPUs! You shouldn't worry... If you are concerned, you can RMA it, but IMO, you are 100% fine!

Alright, cheers for the super quick help 

 

I made this rig as silent as I could so the only noise I heard was that grasshopper noise we discussed about haha, thanks!

[PCGuy_5960]

2 minutes ago, Walkure said:

Alright, cheers for the super quick help 

 

I made this rig as silent as I could so the only noise I heard was that grasshopper noise we discussed about haha, thanks!

Np. Glad I could help! 

[STRMfrmXMN]

5 hours ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

With the 980 Ti and a 4770K overclocked, you are pushing it fairly hard.... I think that it is probably dying and you should replace it, but @STRMfrmXMN can probably help more than I can in this issue...

 

4 hours ago, Walkure said:

Appreciate all the help I can get

 

I was using a R9 290 before this though, and the PSU never made any sort of noise then.

A 4770K and 980ti are not pushing 650W. I'd bet you have an issue elsewhere. The Super Flower you have is a very good PSU.