High pitched hissing noise.

[Bio-Hazard]

First off let me say that I'm extremely pleased with the performance of this board.
Next comes a problem that I just started noticing recently, there's a high pitched noise hissing noise that's coming from somewhere on the mother board every time I put the system under heavy load. It's not coming from any of the fans because I already tried turning them all off for a short period and the noise is still there under load. The part that worries me the most is after a short period of time under full load with the noise getting more constant, I can smell what seems to be electronics running extremely hot.
The system does function properly and there haven't failures of any sort and is rock stable, it even OC's like a champ with great temps (extreme water cooling). There's excelant air flow over the board with 3 x 120mm fans blowing fresh air over the board and 2 x 120mm exhausting the hot air out of the mother board side of the case, and nothing seems to be running hot, except for the slight smell and the noise that is.

I just opened a ticket for the problem today as the noise seems to be getting worse lately.

Here's the number.
94949 06/07/2007 MB-N680-ILT9

I can't send the board back to the retail outlet as it's a contest prize for here at Bjorn 3D.

Thanks for your help,
Bio

[XJnine]

Check out the EVGA forums, there are many threads covering this issue. Unfortunately it's very common to the 680i motherboards and there is nothing wrong with your board. It's some of the power circuitry that makes that noise under load. I can make the noise when I run ATITool and the noise actually fluctuates a bit as the cube rotates.

[werty316]

I had a buzzing sound coming from the back of my PSU one time which I think came from the transformer but I wasn't quite sure as it came and went at random times.

This can't be the case in your situation since motherboards don't have transformers.

I have never heard of anything cases where a motherboard would make any kind of noise nor do I know what component would even do that.

Lets hope it isn't anything serious :icon_tiphat:

[Bio-Hazard]

I've heard of this problem on the early 680i boards on several other forums, but this is the first I've heard about the problem on the LT boards. I'm not sure what is causing it, but it's 100% coming from the board it's self. As you know, my PSU is on the back half of the case and this noise is coming right from the board. When I stick my head down there it's really easy to hear it, just can't tell which component is causing it.

[werty316]

Found a few thread that could relate to your issue. Give 'em read if you want.

http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=33581
http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=55373

[Bio-Hazard]

That's some that I've read, or like those anyways. The [H] has several more going with some folks going through several RMA's already. I've only read about the EVGA branded boards though, none from XFX or BFG and none from the LT series, but I guess they are starting to pop-up as well now.

One reason I just started noticing it now is that we just switched on the AC and now when I OC I have the radiator fans set on low, before I always turned them up on high due to the warmer room temp. Nice and cool in here now, and silent as well.

[Bio-Hazard]

Already got my answers back from XFX, the board needs to be RMA'd. To bad, I'm going to miss this board, but anyway, thanks for the quick responce to my problem, that's what I call great customer service........:)

[Kougar]

Did they give any specific reason that it must be RMA'd, as in potential failure? I ask out of curiosity as I actually can cause my motherboard to do something similar.

If I overclock beyond 3.5ghz something near the center of the board will start a very high pitched intermittent buzz from around the video card area. It only occurs once I overclock past 3.5GHz and then load down the CPU/GPU though, at idle it will go away. Likewise it never did pose any stability issues, but in my case I did not smell or spot any hot components... it only made the noise.

Glad to see that XFX is taking good care of ya, they are really working hard to keep that spotless reputation going strong. :icon_tiphat:

[westy87]

Reputation counts for most things in the IT business lol

[Bio-Hazard]

Did they give any specific reason that it must be RMA'd, as in potential failure? I ask out of curiosity as I actually can cause my motherboard to do something similar.

If I overclock beyond 3.5ghz something near the center of the board will start a very high pitched intermittent buzz from around the video card area. It only occurs once I overclock past 3.5GHz and then load down the CPU/GPU though, at idle it will go away. Likewise it never did pose any stability issues, but in my case I did not smell or spot any hot components... it only made the noise.

Glad to see that XFX is taking good care of ya, they are really working hard to keep that spotless reputation going strong. :icon_tiphat:

This is about all they had to say about the issue.
If there is some type of flaw in the manufacture of this motherboard, that may be causing a hissing, we`ll need to go ahead and get that board replaced.

From some of the threads on other sites, they seem to think it'srelated to some caps. I'm not a electrical engineer or anything close, so I really can't say one way or another. But there is something that is being pushed way to hard. I never noticed the problem with my MSI board, but I'll be checking it out this morning, I've got everything all swapped out already, so I'll find out soon enough............:jawdrop:

[slugbug]

I've heard of bad capacitors causing that whistling noise.

[xfxsupport]

It is very possible the noise is due to a capacitor. Good to see the group got you taken care of while I was out of the office. Please keep us posted on how it goes.


XFX Support

[Bio-Hazard]

Sure will, I hope to get the package off to the post office today sometime.......;) That's about the fastest and closest place to ship things from out here where I live, even that is over a 30 mile round trip though.

[Bio-Hazard]

Got this message today from XFX support;
Your recent returns ref: XCR1695 has recently completed the testing process with the following status: {I3F000224 = FAULTY}. A technician will be in contact shortly to discuss completion of this returns. If you have any queries regarding this test result - please send a message to the support team. Thank You. XFX Support Team
LOL...I already knew that..............:) So the RMA process goes on to the next step.

LOL.......I've got a good idea, I'll just take a 8800GTS 320 in a swap for the MoBo............:) Like that would ever happen..............:(

[Schwarz]

My asus striker extreme does the same noise.
Really annoying i must say.

[Bio-Hazard]

Check with the maker, they will more than likely RMA the board. My replacement board should be here in the next week or so...................;)

[Schwarz]

As far as my board its doing the noise when i'm on a webpage and I scroll up or down a page.
I'm oced to 3.7GHz too so thatmight be why :p

[Bio-Hazard]

Mine was doing it at all OC's and stock under load. If your's is doing it at stock clocks, I'd question the board.

[Schwarz]

I don't know if it does it at stock.
But now I put my PC back to 3.3GHz ... I was having crashes at 3.7 sadly though I do not know why since I had been running at 3.7 for a while without problems...
Anyways...

[Bio-Hazard]

Well, last week I got a message through the XFX support system saying that they were going to send out a replacement board.

07/06/2007] thanks for your confirmation about your RMA replacement. We`ll be getting your replacement card sent out very shortly, and as soon as it`s ready to go, you`ll be updated through this ticket with tracking information.

Bit I still haven't heard as to when they intend on shipping the replacement board out. This is begining to take a whole lot longer than I would have thought in the begining. Good thing I had a replacement board of my own already or I might have been really upset by now.

[darkorb]

still havent gotten my prize either :P

mushkin already sent their replacement too!

[Bio-Hazard]

I just got notified today that the replacement board shipped today.

[Schwarz]

My new striker doesn't do anymore hissing noise.
I'm happy I finnaly got everything to work now...
Well almost.
I only have one stick in and one videocard and no sound card.
I'll leave it on while I go get myself a nice cup of Green Tea Latte.
Its weird but its really good

[Bio-Hazard]

Got my replacement board today, but it's not the SN that the tech support guy said it would be in the support ticket, I hope that it's a good board and that someone didn't screw-up and ship out a bad one.

[Schwarz]

I noticed that when running a single card I can't hear the hissing noise but with 2 cards in SLI i can hear it...
Maybe the SLI bridge...
I'll try to see what it does when I take it off...

[peti1212]

I do not think it would be the SLI bridge. In my opinion it might be an overload for somekind of a electronic component on the motherboard. I'll ask my dad today, since he is an Electronic Engeneer, and he might know might cause the problem. It is not posible to tell what but at least what might cause the problem. My dad works with robot controllers like the ones that take out bombs from buildings, but not with motheraboards or video cards. I'll let you know when I find out something about it.

[werty316]

I get a hissing noise from my PSU when my 7900GT is running a 3D app and the noise is gone when a different video card is installed http://planetsmilies.net/confused-smiley-17722.gif

[peti1212]

Ok, I talked to my dad and he says that it must be the PSU, because if it is overloaded or if it is not designed for the load that your PC has it oscillates. Basicly he says that if you keep you computer running like that for a long time then you might damage your PSU or other part of you computer. I would contact the company that makes your PSU or maybe the motherboard company. Hope this helps, I am trying to help as much as I can. :icon_tiphat: :smile:

[werty316]

I don't know about that as having two 7900GS cards in SLI running a 3D app doesn't make my PSU produce any hissing sounds and I am pretty sure two 7900GS cards in SLI would make a heavier load on my PSU more than one 7900GT.

[Bio-Hazard]

If I had to guess, I'd say that it was a cap on the 7900Gt causing the problem. Sort of like what happened to my MoBo, I'm not exactly what was the matter with my board I RMA'd, XFX just said that it was faulty, but that sort of sound normally comes from a bad/weak cap.

[Bio-Hazard]

Just a little update on my board, I heard back from customer support and they are checking back with the RMA department to see what the deal is with the board seeing as the SN's don't match with what they said that they were going to ship out to me. Until I get a conformation back saying that the board is good, I'm going to hold off installing it in my system, it's just to much of a pain in the butt uninstalling and reinstalling boards all the time with all this water cooling gear.

[Schwarz]

Yah I know what you mean Bio.
It is such a pain to reinstall my *(&(*& Mach II GT.
Gotta take out the board clean it up, reaplply my sealant and all.
Make sure its well installed bah...