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"Intense" is the best word I can use to describe it because I'm not sure what it is, whether it's RAM, GPU or CPU.
If I pan the camera in unity:
A high pitched noise issues from the computer. The picosecond I start panning the sound starts. Stops the picosecond I stop panning.
If I start an infinite loop:
2.0.0p247 :016 > x = 1
=> 1
2.0.0p247 :017 > while x < 2 do
2.0.0p247 :018 > puts 'huzzah!'
2.0.0p247 :019?> end
huzzah!
huzzah!
huzzah!
An identical high pitched noise can be heard. I don't think it's the GPU due to this simple experiment. Or any monitor-weirdness (although the sound does sound like one of those old CRT monitors if you're old enough to be young when those things were about) The CPU? Or maybe my SSD? It's my first SSD and the first time I've heard this noise.
Should I be worried? Regardless, what's causing this sound? I can't think what would cause such high frequency vibrations.
I built the PC myself. Not enough heat paste on the CPU? Too much? Just no idea what's going on.
Info:
CPU Type QuadCore Intel Core i5-3570K, 3800 MHz (38 x 100)
Motherboard Name Asus Maximus V Extreme
Flash Memory Type Samsung 21nm TLC NAND
Video Adapter Asus HD7770
1It could be the CPU fan going – None – 2014-05-30T15:32:00.877
@Starkers: What CPU model do you have? It could be the voltage regulator which is either on the motherboard or the CPU. It can be down to bad capacitors but it's not always an indicator of a problem, I have heard it a lot on laptops and it was definitely not the fan. – James P – 2014-05-30T15:33:05.587
Its likely the fan. – Ramhound – 2014-05-30T15:33:16.777
1@bobSmith1432 Don't think so. The millisecond I start panning the sound starts. Stops the millisecond I stop panning. Could it speed up and slow down that quickly? Or is the fan given a signal to speed up the second you do something intense and that signal is causing the motor to make that noise for some reason? – Starkers – 2014-05-30T15:33:55.070
@Starkers: Try changing your Power Plan to High Performance, it may reduce the amount of voltage changes. – James P – 2014-05-30T15:36:58.800
@James QuadCore Intel Core i5-3570K, 3800 MHz (38 x 100) – Starkers – 2014-05-30T15:39:16.550
@Starkers: Did you check if it was set to High Performance? Some people have reported that this can reduce the noise because of the reduced power management. – James P – 2014-05-30T15:51:27.323
@James I see http://technewspedia.com/intel-details-the-integrated-voltage-regulator-in-their-cpus-haswell/ about built in voltage regulators on a cpu.. Is that with a coil? in which case I suppose maybe indeed it could whine
– barlop – 2014-05-30T16:09:04.697@barlop: The voltage regulator was moved to the CPU on the Haswell models, but he has an Ivy Bridge CPU so it would be on the motherboard instead. – James P – 2014-05-30T16:17:27.643
@James thanks for the info, but do the voltage regulators on a haswell have coils? And do the ones on the motherboard have coils? Would there be vibrations leading to high pitched noise even without coils? (i'm not an electronics geek so excuse my ignorance). – barlop – 2014-05-30T16:18:59.430
@barlop: To be honest I'm not really sure of the details. It seems that voltage regulators on motherboards often have "chokes" which are basically coils, but I suspect that the system on Haswell could be quite different because of the miniaturization. There is an interesting article here: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/Everything-You-Need-to-Know-About-The-Motherboard-Voltage-Regulator-Circuit/616
– James P – 2014-05-30T16:38:35.267That's the computer gritting it's teeth and bearing down hard to pass a difficult lump. A little Ex-Lax might help. (Seriously, it's "coil whine" or something similar, usually associated with the graphics card. Not a problem -- in another 10 years your ears will ring so bad you won't notice it.) – Daniel R Hicks – 2014-05-30T16:38:44.523
@DanielRHicks Haha yeah the older a human gets their upper-limit of audibility diminishes. One thing to look forward to! – Starkers – 2014-05-30T17:14:46.280
10In a picosecond, light travels about a third of a millimeter. You must have some pretty accurate equipment measuring this. ;) – Tim S. – 2014-05-30T19:14:42.707
1I remember a computer that made a strange buzzing noise, I removed everything and only left the mobo, connected to a monitor. When I removed the fan, the CPU was clogged with thermal compound. I proceeded to clean it all and the noise stopped. Does anybody know why was this??? – arielnmz – 2014-06-01T00:01:04.627