How to quickly & easily fix coil-whine(coil choke noise)

[oka]

Used akfix 702 glue on RX 580, doesn't seem right

Spoiler: After 5 minutes

Spoiler: After 4 hours

Spoiler: After 14 hours

after 14 hours coil whine is still there, no change, but the glue is not completely dry yet

 

[Yougotonejob]

that's blooming your air has too much moisture it have uneven reaction. the surface kind of "dry out" faster then core.
mine is the same, don't worry about it, does not effect much other then look

 

[lexluthermiester]

Used akfix 702 glue on RX 580, doesn't seem right

Spoiler: After 5 minutes

View attachment 299669

Spoiler: After 4 hours

View attachment 299670

You might have used a bit too much, but that shouldn't affect performance.

 

[oka]

Spoiler: Photo

I can't find the sound source, it seems the main chip is whining. I touched every element on the board while its running and the sound doesn't change

 

[Yougotonejob]

Try capacitor cable mod. It can reduce noise but not eliminate noise

 

[oka]

Try capacitor cable mod. It can reduce noise but not eliminate noise

added 5 1000uf caps to the second 8pin (it's an extension from the main 8pin), no difference

 

[Yougotonejob]

added 5 1000uf caps to the second 8pin (it's an extension from the main 8pin), no difference

that's not good, I don't know what to do next.
maybe physical isolation your pc cage?

 

[Mussels]

Used akfix 702 glue on RX 580, doesn't seem right

Spoiler: After 5 minutes

View attachment 299669

Spoiler: After 4 hours

View attachment 299670

Spoiler: After 14 hours

View attachment 299756

after 14 hours coil whine is still there, no change, but the glue is not completely dry yet

That is a LOT more glue than you need, and if its not dry in a few seconds it's not the right type for sure
cotton swab and acetone time for the excess that leaked out, it can't harm but will reduce cooling if its on topo f something a heatsink/heatpad is meant to touch

Spoiler: Photo

View attachment 299779

I can't find the sound source, it seems the main chip is whining. I touched every element on the board while its running and the sound doesn't change

That's one way to cool it...
make sure you have airflow over the VRM's while you do this so they dont burn up
you need a smaller cooler so you can get closer and listen easier, i guess.

 

[Voodoochild1974]

A forum user recently asked about Coil Whine, which is the noise a choke coil sometimes makes as it operates. This is almost always a video card problem, but can happen on any other computer or electronics components employing a choke in it's circuitry, including motherboards & power supplies.

I have for decades been using a very easy, quick and, most importantly, permanent fix. This fix works 95% of the time to quiet the noise to the point that it is not audible more than 8inches/20cm away. The rest of the time, the noise is barely audible.

A word of caution! If your part is under warranty, you may wish to consider doing an RMA. Many(not all) manufacturers actually want the noisy part back so they can test and analyze it for re-engineering to improve future designs. If your part is NOT under warranty, read on...

What you need:
Any tools required to disassemble the part to access the choke coils in question.
One or more containers of thin liquid cyanoacrylate based glue, commonly known as "Super Glue".

The brand of super glue you choose is not important. The type is. The type must be of low viscosity so it can quickly wick into the empty spaces between the choke coil and the board it's soldered to. The applicator having a narrow tip nozzle is important as it will make applying the glue more precise. See below.

The glue of choice is the proper SuperGlue brand, but I also use the brand that can be found at Harbor Freight.
View attachment 291994

For this newest example, I'm using a Sparkle GeForce GTX560 2GB which has been noisy.
View attachment 291987View attachment 291988

This card only has 5 main choke coils so sealing them will be easy.
View attachment 291989

In this photo you can see how I'm applying the glue directly into the gap. Please note, the glue needs to be applied at multiple place around each choke housing shell, not just in one spot.
View attachment 291990

This photo shows how the glue has wicked itself into the gaps.
View attachment 291991

And here are two angle of the choke near the top of the card.
View attachment 291992
View attachment 291993
Notice how I've used a generous amount of glue to allow the wicking action to reach maximum effect.

It's important to use enough glue to completely wick the entire edge of the choke. Then you let it cure for at least an hour(while super glue sets in seconds it still needs an hour or two to fully cure).

Once cured the fix is complete and you're good to go! Put everything back together and enjoy.

Important EDIT:
After two reports and some research it has been discovered that the Loctite brand superglue found in many retail stores is a hybrid glue that has a consistency which falls inbetween gel types and the fluid types. As a superglue it seems like a good choice.
However in this use-case-scenario, it is NOT recommended as it is not as fluidic as normal liquid superglue types and will not wick into the spaces between the choke coil housing and PCB!

EDIT: I have redone portions of this guide to give more details, info and better photo's. Thank's to the Mods for granting a perma-edit button so I can do running updates to this thread!

Hi
Could you also use engineering silicon? I have a 4090 with coil whine; as far as I know, the blame is either the caps or the 70a inductors. Looking at this photo https://www.techpowerup.com/review/msi-geforce-rtx-4090-suprim-x/images/front_full.jpg take it the caps are on the far right, round silver/blue, but unsure about inductors?

Does the sealant go around the base only?

Thanks

 

[Mussels]

Hi
Could you also use engineering silicon? I have a 4090 with coil whine; as far as I know, the blame is either the caps or the 70a inductors. Looking at this photo https://www.techpowerup.com/review/msi-geforce-rtx-4090-suprim-x/images/front_full.jpg take it the caps are on the far right, round silver/blue, but unsure about inductors?

Does the sealant go around the base only?

Thanks

around the base only, hoping to be absorbed inside a little
that base is a shield for both EMI and vibration - and they come loose.

Heres one smashed apart from google, to help visualise it

You're hoping to

1. Seal the air gap the noise leaks out of
2. stop vibration
3. both

 

[lexluthermiester]

Could you also use engineering silicon?

You mean engineering silicone? Maybe? I've never used it. Have a link to the stuff you're talking about?

 

[Voodoochild1974]

You mean engineering silicone? Maybe? I've never used it. Have a link to the stuff you're talking about?

https://cpc.farnell.com/chip-quik/egs10c-20g/silicone-adhesive-sealant-20g/dp/SA03781 The problem is https://www.igorslab.de/en/msi-gefo...quid-x-in-test-with-water-stays-no-eye-dry/3/ I think the caps are the NVVDD and there is a lot of them. I also think that they are within an outer shell, so at best, you might seal the shell base but that's is? TBH,

around the base only, hoping to be absorbed inside a little
that base is a shield for both EMI and vibration - and they come loose.

Heres one smashed apart from google, to help visualise it

View attachment 300594

You're hoping to

1. Seal the air gap the noise leaks out of
2. stop vibration
3. both

https://www.igorslab.de/en/msi-gefo...quid-x-in-test-with-water-stays-no-eye-dry/3/ Looking at this, is it the NVVDD that are the caps? The problem is there are two small ones inside each.

 

[lexluthermiester]

https://cpc.farnell.com/chip-quik/egs10c-20g/silicone-adhesive-sealant-20g/dp/SA03781 The problem is https://www.igorslab.de/en/msi-gefo...quid-x-in-test-with-water-stays-no-eye-dry/3/ I think the caps are the NVVDD and there is a lot of them.

That stuff will not harm anything on a video card. Not sure how well it will seal any gaps as there will be no wicking action involved.

 

[SourTurtle]

Hello, appreciate the effort you've put into this post. I have a 4090 FE with bad coil whine. Already RMAd once and got a brand new one still with coil whine. Tried the card in a completely different system and with multiple different PSUs, but coil whine persists.

Would you mind showing me what parts I need to apply glue to? I'm thinking it's all of the things that say "LR22" but want to be sure. If those are the right things, how do you get glue on the top and bottom with such narrow space between them?

PCB images located here: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-founders-edition/4.html

 

[Voodoochild1974]

That stuff will not harm anything on a video card. Not sure how well it will seal any gaps as there will be no wicking action involved.

Once the warranty is up, I am going to give this a go. What glue did you settle for as your number 1 go-to? Thanks

 

[lexluthermiester]

What glue did you settle for as your number 1 go-to?

The super glue posted in the OP.

Hello, appreciate the effort you've put into this post. I have a 4090 FE with bad coil whine. Already RMAd once and got a brand new one still with coil whine. Tried the card in a completely different system and with multiple different PSUs, but coil whine persists.

Would you mind showing me what parts I need to apply glue to? I'm thinking it's all of the things that say "LR22" but want to be sure. If those are the right things, how do you get glue on the top and bottom with such narrow space between them?

PCB images located here: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-founders-edition/4.html

The chokes that need sealing are highlighted in red.

 

[Voodoochild1974]

The super glue posted in the OP.


The chokes that need sealing are highlighted in red.

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure you did not find anything better since then. Cheers for the help.

 

[SourTurtle]

The super glue posted in the OP.


The chokes that need sealing are highlighted in red.View attachment 300879

Awesome, thank you so much. Is glue needed on all 4 sides? Some of them are so close together I'm not sure how I'd reliably get in there.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Is glue needed on all 4 sides?

Yes, completely surround the parts on all sides so that the glue can completely seal the gaps between the choke and the PCB.

 

[ozzy]

Hi, and thanks to @lexluthermiester following this topic for quite sometime .I have a Strix 4090 oc with very bad coil whine but as I see the success rate is very low so do you think does it worth the effort and voiding warranty?

 

[Kursah]

Topic stickied. Past due for it, and apologies it took so long.

Thanks for @lexluthermiester's and the community's efforts. Please keep it going folks!

 

[lexluthermiester]

Hi, and thanks to @lexluthermiester following this topic for quite sometime .I have a Strix 4090 oc with very bad coil whine but as I see the success rate is very low so do you think does it worth the effort and voiding warranty?

Please keep in mind that many people try this and don't chime in with a success story, which is ok. Kind of expected that. Usually people chime in when they have issues or need help. Most of the time, this fix works well. It's not always perfect and sometimes it doesn't do much, which can indicate a motherboard or PSU problem. Be happy to help you with tips or pointers. Just chime in.

Spoiler: Photo

View attachment 299779

I can't find the sound source, it seems the main chip is whining. I touched every element on the board while its running and the sound doesn't change

Forgot to respond here, sorry. As mentioned above, you might be having a motherboard or PSU issue. Motherboards and PSUs both have choke coils in/on them and they can resonate as well. Motherboards are easy to work on, but PSU's require careful work. If anyone would like me to add some PSU examples to the the original post, let me know and I'll dedicate some time to it.

 

[Voodoochild1974]

A forum user recently asked about Coil Whine, which is the noise a choke coil sometimes makes as it operates. This is almost always a video card problem, but can happen on any other computer or electronics components employing a choke in it's circuitry, including motherboards & power supplies.

I have for decades been using a very easy, quick and, most importantly, permanent fix. This fix works 95% of the time to quiet the noise to the point that it is not audible more than 8inches/20cm away. The rest of the time, the noise is barely audible.

A word of caution! If your part is under warranty, you may wish to consider doing an RMA. Many(not all) manufacturers actually want the noisy part back so they can test and analyze it for re-engineering to improve future designs. If your part is NOT under warranty, read on...

What you need:
Any tools required to disassemble the part to access the choke coils in question.
One or more containers of thin liquid cyanoacrylate based glue, commonly known as "Super Glue".

The brand of super glue you choose is not important. The type is. The type must be of low viscosity so it can quickly wick into the empty spaces between the choke coil and the board it's soldered to. The applicator having a narrow tip nozzle is important as it will make applying the glue more precise. See below.

The glue of choice is the proper SuperGlue brand, but I also use the brand that can be found at Harbor Freight.
View attachment 291994

For this newest example, I'm using a Sparkle GeForce GTX560 2GB which has been noisy.
View attachment 291987View attachment 291988

This card only has 5 main choke coils so sealing them will be easy.
View attachment 291989

In this photo you can see how I'm applying the glue directly into the gap. Please note, the glue needs to be applied at multiple place around each choke housing shell, not just in one spot.
View attachment 291990

This photo shows how the glue has wicked itself into the gaps.
View attachment 291991

And here are two angle of the choke near the top of the card.
View attachment 291992
View attachment 291993
Notice how I've used a generous amount of glue to allow the wicking action to reach maximum effect.

It's important to use enough glue to completely wick the entire edge of the choke. Then you let it cure for at least an hour(while super glue sets in seconds it still needs an hour or two to fully cure).

Once cured the fix is complete and you're good to go! Put everything back together and enjoy.

Important EDIT:
After two reports and some research it has been discovered that the Loctite brand superglue found in many retail stores is a hybrid glue that has a consistency which falls inbetween gel types and the fluid types. As a superglue it seems like a good choice.
However in this use-case-scenario, it is NOT recommended as it is not as fluidic as normal liquid superglue types and will not wick into the spaces between the choke coil housing and PCB!

EDIT: I have redone portions of this guide to give more details, info and better photo's. Thank's to the Mods for granting a perma-edit button so I can do running updates to this thread!

Hi
Sorry, I forgot to post this. Is it the bits that I have highlighted in blue that need done?

Thanks

 

[lexluthermiester]

Hi
Sorry, I forgot to post this. Is it the bits that I have highlighted in blue that need done?

Thanks

All of them, including the ones with the question marks.

 

[Mussels]

Hello, appreciate the effort you've put into this post. I have a 4090 FE with bad coil whine. Already RMAd once and got a brand new one still with coil whine. Tried the card in a completely different system and with multiple different PSUs, but coil whine persists.

Would you mind showing me what parts I need to apply glue to? I'm thinking it's all of the things that say "LR22" but want to be sure. If those are the right things, how do you get glue on the top and bottom with such narrow space between them?

PCB images located here: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-founders-edition/4.html

You dont get glue on 'top and bottom' of them

Generic example image


you want it to make a seal around the bottom only, some of it will soak up onto the coil (the wick effect) and help a little more. That doesnt always work, not does it always need to be done - thats something you can't predict.

Only two sides are visible in this image, but the red line is where you'd glue - for close together parts, you'd have to simply get the glue in between them, but you do not want to drip it down from above all over the sides, the glue is only to help seal them up - it's not a paint job.

Edit: Better explanation, you only want the superglue at the PCB height, where PCB meets the box over the choke. That little box IS the noise abosrber they ship with.

They look like this inside,to help imagine that better - you're just reducing some high frequency vibration with this, by holding it in place against the PCB better, hopefully with an airtight seal to trap the noise in. If you cant reach that side to get glue there? Then noise probably cant get out either.