Makes sense, I don't disagree with you. Only thing is, I'd argue that the average user hearing their GPU's high pitch buzzing which changes in frequency as the image on the screen changes will probably refer to that as coil whine, even though the sound might be coming from other areas of the board.
Argue with whom? I am not, and have never said or implied the term is not often misused. You are still missing the point.
If you visit a petting zoo and your kid calls the animal she is petting a "goat" when it is really a "sheep", do you let her continue to believe it is a "goat"? Of course not. You "teach" your child the difference between goats and sheep.
If you visit the doctor to complain you have the measles, and the doctor tells you it is chicken pox, are you going to keep saying you have the measles?
It is our job as advisors to educate the OPs and future readers and correct such misconceptions instead of simply perpetuating the falsehood by continuing to call it something it is not.
This is a technical forum. We need to be technically correct in our terminology just to help prevent and avoid these misunderstandings.
it seems I'm not allowed to call it coil whine anymore
Not when it is not!
The vibrations are absolutely coming from the coils. To say otherwise is both ignorant and silly.
If originating on a graphics card or motherboard, I totally agree. HOWEVER, if the noise is coming from the power supply, it could be loose transformer plates buzzing. Or perhaps
capacitors singing.
I suppose it is possible capacitors on graphics cards or motherboards could "sing" but I have never encountered it. I suspect that is because the DC voltages are just too low on those components.
And if what Yougotonejob wrote is true, changing how much the PCB is allowed to flex can also have an impact on the noise.
He never said that. Again, correct terminology prevents misunderstandings. There is a HUGE difference between "flex" and "vibrate". "Flex" suggest something is bending or twisting. "Torque" forces are involved introducing a entire new set of parameters - none of which are good. No PCB, including graphics cards or motherboards should be subjected to any sort of flexing forces.
Flexing should be avoided at all costs. This is exactly why it is critical
standoffsbe the same height. It is why graphics cards mounting screws need to be secure to avoid sagging graphics cards. It is why computer cases need to be "true" (90° bends be exactly 90°) to avoid wobbles and unwanted twisting torque forces on motherboard mounting points.
Again, this is a technical forum. Terminology should be technically correct.
Could the Arctic Freezer III... ...have coil whine ?
Are there any inductor coils in it? If not, then no.
But there are motors and motors have bearings and bearing can make noise. And that is called bearing noise.