What Is Coil Whine and How Can It Be Fixed?

By: Author James Smythe

Posted on 15th August 2023

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Coil whine refers to the high-pitched noise emitted by electrical coils when they vibrate as current passes through them. This phenomenon is most commonly associated with computer components, especially graphics cards, power supplies (PSUs), and sometimes motherboards or other electronic devices.

The vibrations arise due to the magnetostrictive properties of the components' materials, where the materials change shape slightly when exposed to a magnetic field. In many electronic components, there's an oscillating current, which means there's an oscillating magnetic field, and that's what causes the vibrations. When these vibrations reach the audible frequency range, we hear them as a whine.

Many users on Reddit have stated that coil whine is present in all GPUs to varying degrees. Unfortunately, it is a function of high-frequency switching electronics. However, if the buzz is easily audible under a moderate load, then I would not regard this as acceptable.

Coil whine in itself is not harmful to PC components. While it can be annoying, it doesn't signal that the component is failing or under undue stress.

However, here are a few things to consider:

Remember, while coil whine can be annoying, it's not generally indicative of a faulty or failing component, and it doesn't typically impact performance. If you're unable to reduce or eliminate the whine and it bothers you, you might also consider using noise-cancelling headphones or setting up your PC in a location where the noise is less noticeable.

I am a UK tech blogger and have been in the industry for over 10 years now, running Mighty Gadget and its sister sites and contributing to other sites around the web. I am passionate about all tech, including mobile, wearables, and home automation. I am also a fitness fanatic, so I cover as much fitness tech as possible.

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Posted on 15th August 2023

Categories Guides / How To, Hardware