PSU buzzing, and framerate drops badly as PSU "buzzing" hesitates?

[Markles]

So yeah... Here's my specs to start things off...

Windows 10 OS
Intel Core i5 4670 @ 3.40GHz Processor
32 GBs of RAM
ASRock Z97 Killer Fatal1ty Motherboard
MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti Gaming 6 Graphics Card
Just rocking a regular 1TB Harddrive
Corsair CX750M PSU

I've always had a "buzzing" going on inside my PC, and used to assume it was my old GPU. After replacing it with my MSI, I just recently found out my PSU seems to be the true buzzer under load. Apparently, it always has whenever I'm playing games... But recently I've noticed that GTA V is the only one I'm having issues where the "buzzing" hesitates (stops buzzing for a split second, off and on), and each time it hesitates my framerate takes a hit... The game pauses every time the PSU's noise pauses...

I was using a Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 and 8GBs of RAM for the longest time, and just assumed these were my issues... Used to have a problem with ram shortage and framerate issues after about half a year owning the game.
Immediately after upgrading to 32GBs of RAM and my 980 Ti, GTA V was flawless. 60 fps all day with graphics on Ultra, minus AA.
Today I flip the game on, and my game acts worse than it did when I had a lesser GPU and Ram... This was when I realised that my PSU was making the noise.

I have reason to believe the game itself is in question though, because I can play all my other games with highest details such as Rise of the Tomb Raider at a capped 60 fps, and my HEAVILY Modded (over 400 mods) Skyrim game with an insane ENB and keep a steady 40+ fps.
The PSU still buzzes, but only in Skyrim does it hesitate every-so-often. Not enough to assume there's an alarming issue... The fact that game even plays with all those mods in sync is amazing in of itself.

With GTA V, it's now unplayable.

Any ideas as to why?

Is my Power Supply slowly going on the fritz?


On a side note, I rolled back my driver... no help.

[Talkie Toaster]

Are you sure it isn't coil whine from the GPU?

Usually when a PSU starts to die you'll get all sorts of weird goings on like crashes from unstable voltages to components and whatever. You should probably try some of the basic stuff such as finding out when windows last updated (mine updated today and stopped my pad from working - Win10) and other stuff like if you have Razor equipment disable the drivers/software.

You can also go into device manager and disable the audio devices such as NVIDIA HD Audio under Sound, Video and Game Controllers as it seems to cause stutter for a lot of people.

[Markles]

Yes, it is coming from my PSU... Held a tube to it and my ear to make sure... lol

I forgot that Windows did have an update... might have something to do with it.
Also, I read in another thread that I should disable the HD Audio... I did... Helped just a tad, but not nearly enough.

[Talkie Toaster]

Erm yeah maybe, without seeing what you have in that list it's hard to say though. I'd personally just disable all the audio devices in the list and unplug all USB's from the PC to test the game though. Obviously you wanna leave your keyboard and mouse plugged in - at least then you rule all of the above out in one go.

[Markles]

Well the only things on the list is nVidia HD Audio, nVidia Virtual Audio Device (which is also disabled) and Realtek HD Audio... Should that be disabled too?

[Markles]

Well, I uninstalled my drivers, and did a fresh new install, ignoring the Beta Video Drivers like I should have from the beginning.
Started off hopeful...
Literally raced my way from the top of the map, where I started, down into the city, and was butter smooth... Thought that I actually fixed my issue...
That is until I hit the city... It was immediately unplayable from that point on.

Power Supply sounded like it was working overtime, It's literally like my power to the graphics card is just flipping on and off once every second... But no crashes, no black screens, nothing.
Hell, the FPS counter isn't even showing that there's a framerate drop.
My Graphics Card is literally like a week and a half old... I never did any manual overclocking... Is it possible that it's turning into a potato, or should I continue pointing my finger at the Power Supply?

[p0rt]

You have a 980 ti connected to a junk psu. If its under warranty try return it because no psu i've ever used has buzzed. I wouldn't want another cx series psu. See if the store will give you store credit and add a few extra $ for a higher quality psu. See what they have available and look up power supply reviews for those models. Pick the best you can afford.

[DutchEC]

It's definitely your PSU. You're getting performance drops because your components are being throttled by your PSU crapping out. Doesn't matter if it only happens in GTAV.

Originally posted by Markley454:

Well, I uninstalled my drivers, and did a fresh new install, ignoring the Beta Video Drivers like I should have from the beginning.
Started off hopeful...
Literally raced my way from the top of the map, where I started, down into the city, and was butter smooth... Thought that I actually fixed my issue...
That is until I hit the city... It was immediately unplayable from that point on.

It is predictable that it got worse in the city. More cars, npcs and objects so more CPU load and more power the PSU is struggling to provide.

[Bob the Boomer]

I had this with my old pc yrs ago, the only way i got around this issue was to replace my monitor even though the noise was coming from the PSU and monitor. It could be due to a capacitor somewhere in your system that is vibrating at a frequency which is clashing with the rest of the components in the system.


Usually this capacitor is either on the PSU, motherboard, or graphics card and you should be able to try a few things to narrow down the issue.

The CPU power saving features in the BIOS can cause the PSU to emit the noise. Try disabling these features to see if there is any improvement. ERP, C1E and EIST (Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology) are few examples of power saving settings, but your motherboard manufacturer should be able to tell you specifically which features your board supports.

Some graphics card drivers can contribute to the sound as well. If the problems seem to get worse when loading a 3D application, try booting your system up into safe mode to see if you can still hear the sound. If the sound goes away, then your problem may be software related. I have found that enabling “vsync” in your graphics drivers options can eliminate the sound.

If the previous steps have not eliminated the sound, then you may want to test the PSU in a different system just to be sure that the sound follows the PSU. If it looks like there is a good chance that the PSU could be causing the problem, then please request an RMA through your PSU supplier

If a replacement PSU gives you identical issues, then chances are that there is something else causing the sound. Keep in mind that the sound can come from the PSU, while the PSU may not actual be the cause of the problem. So it’s important to try to rule out the motherboard and graphics card if possible.

[Markles]

I also have my computer hooked up to my HDTV, and it's no different there.

I've tried disabling C1E and EIST yesterday, but it did absolutely nothing to improve performance.

vsync is already enabled via the nVidia Control Panel.

My MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti G6 was just installed into my system nearly two weeks ago.
Before that, I had a Reference nVidia GeForce GTX 970, and I was getting the same sounds and hesitation. Oddly enough, when I first installed my 980 Ti, gameplay and graphics were stunningly smooth... Wasn't until just days ago, did it resort back to the way it was before I replaced my GPU... Now I'm just getting it with higher fps when it's not tarding out... lol

The PSU doesn't seem to be biased towards anything I throw into my PC.
Wish I had another source for testing the PSU, just to make sure.
I suppose there could be a motherboard issue, but I'm really having my doubts.

I'm going to replace my Corsair CX750M with an AX860 within a week or two, and see if that doesn't fix my issue.

[Ξ Sikon]

I had a Corsair 850 that buzzed for almost a year (I thought it was a case fan. i hit the case, the buzz would stop.) I just RMA'd under warrenty after it completly failed. They replaced it with the AX860. The AX works great, just hope you have a backup PSU because the RMA process took over a month.

[Joe Coffee]

Think you psu is worn out and thats a capacitor buzzing . I just had one slowly get worse never happened before. At first it would make a little rattle buzz sound using the middle mouse scroll then it got louder and louder. I made a video of it its so weird. Or its getting hot for some reason GTAV really gets the heat going inside computer.

[Markles]

Good to see others who have had the same experiences. That "rattle" buzz is exactly what I have... I've even heard the buzzing when moving my mouse around.. Infact as I typed this, I moved up close to my PC, moved my mouse around, and could hear the buzzing... LMAO

Definitely going to make the upgrade soon.

[Talkie Toaster]

I highly recommend the Supernova series from EVGA, they are a higher quality unit than the Corsair AX and come with a 10 year warranty on the high end models.

Any Superflower Leadex platform (like above in the EVGA unit) will be a great quality power supply, the fact they have Platinum and Titanium 80+ ratings kinda speaks for itself, though a mega high end model like that will cost an arm and a leg.

[Rigor Morti5]

Originally posted by Talky Toaster:

I highly recommend the Supernova series from EVGA, they are a higher quality unit than the Corsair AX and come with a 10 year warranty on the high end models.

Any Superflower Leadex platform (like above in the EVGA unit) will be a great quality power supply, the fact they have Platinum and Titanium 80+ ratings kinda speaks for itself, though a mega high end model like that will cost an arm and a leg.

Meh they dont cost that much besides quality psu is investment which usually lasts 5 years or more unlike other parts.

People usually overlook PSU and wonder why all fails another point is quality chassis to get heat out. AND high quality psu and chassis are only parts what you can use 2 years after.
Btw gold is 90+ and plat is 98 i think... At super flower fully modular.

[Grey Fox]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7HsXHqtxrI
hope this helps.