Can't figure out if it is the PSU's problem for whine during PC shutting down

[Rwolf]

I recently built a new PC with Thermaltake GF3 1000W PSU. The problem is that during the shutdown process of it, I can hear whine from the PSU. It is not loud, but since the pitch is high, it is very easy to hear. I tried to switch out this PSU with my old one, and the whine disappeared. I also tried to pair this new PSU with my old system, and my old system did not produce such whine during shutting down. Afterwards, I contacted Thermaltake and they send me a new PSU, but unfortunately the same problem stays. I am in the process of returning the PSU.
I wonder why whine only occurs when this PSU is paired with my new system. What could be the root cause? I have a video (https://gumlet.tv/watch/67cd11e23ae6ee3ff9c333d4) to show the problem (might need to turn up the volume).

Here is my PC component list:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Deepcool LT720 85.85 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair Dominator Titanium 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
Storage: Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 5.0 X2 NVME Solid State Drive ($129.99 @ Abt)
Storage: Western Digital WD_BLACK 2 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: Asus TUF GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB Video Card
Case: Silverstone SETA D1 ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24D5MT DVD/CD Writer
Total: $129.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-03-09 04:56 EDT-0400

 

[Bill_Bright]

I wonder why whine only occurs when this PSU is paired with my new system. What could be the root cause? I have a video

I'm not watching the video for several reasons but a main reason is there is no way I can tell from here the source of the noise or how loud it really is - among other things.

Not sure why this only happens with this new TT in your new computer. But swapping a different PSU into the new computer, and trying the new PSU in the old computer (smart troubleshooting technique, BTW!) does effectively narrow it down to the new TT. And two TTs doing the same thing does suggest a design issue with the TT. While possible, it would be unlikely for 2 PSUs to have the exact same manufacturing defect.

Only happening during shutdown suggests it only happens when a specific load is placed on one of the voltages of the PSU. Does it always and only happen at the same point during a shutdown? What about during a Restart?

What I would try to do is determine the source of the sound - that is, does it seem to be coming from the PSU's fan, or a different component inside the PSU or even from elsewhere inside the computer case? I note sounds and vibrations tend to reverberate in cavernous metal cases masking their origins. This might involve taking everything out of the case, re-assembling the computer on a plain wooden cutting/bread board, then see (listen) if it happens again.

The inner cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels makes a great stethoscope and very helpful in pinpointing sound sources.

Note gently touching the center hub of a spinning fan momentarily will temporarily change its rotation speed. "IF" that fan is the source of the noise, changing the rotation speed will alter the pitch/tone of the sound. If the sound does not change, that fan is not the source of the noise.

That said, if noise occurs only during shutdown, it is consistently the same sound, and does not occur during normal use, I'm not sure I would consider it a problem - especially since it has occurred with two supplies.

***

Side note - No way that system cost $129.99.

 

[Rwolf]

I'm not watching the video for several reasons but a main reason is there is no way I can tell from here the source of the noise or how loud it really is - among other things.

Not sure why this only happens with this new TT in your new computer. But swapping a different PSU into the new computer, and trying the new PSU in the old computer (smart troubleshooting technique, BTW!) does effectively narrow it down to the new TT. And two TTs doing the same thing does suggest a design issue with the TT. While possible, it would be unlikely for 2 PSUs to have the exact same manufacturing defect.

Only happening during shutdown suggests it only happens when a specific load is placed on one of the voltages of the PSU. Does it always and only happen at the same point during a shutdown? What about during a Restart?

What I would try to do is determine the source of the sound - that is, does it seem to be coming from the PSU's fan, or a different component inside the PSU or even from elsewhere inside the computer case? I note sounds and vibrations tend to reverberate in cavernous metal cases masking their origins. This might involve taking everything out of the case, re-assembling the computer on a plain wooden cutting/bread board, then see (listen) if it happens again.

The inner cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels makes a great stethoscope and very helpful in pinpointing sound sources.

Note gently touching the center hub of a spinning fan momentarily will temporarily change its rotation speed. "IF" that fan is the source of the noise, changing the rotation speed will alter the pitch/tone of the sound. If the sound does not change, that fan is not the source of the noise.

That said, if noise occurs only during shutdown, it is consistently the same sound, and does not occur during normal use, I'm not sure I would consider it a problem - especially since it has occurred with two supplies.

***

Side note - No way that system cost $129.99.

Thanks! It is a good point that the whine only happens under a specific load. It always happens at the same point during a shutdown. Restart produces the same whine. Additionally, I can also hear the whine during start-up, but the whine was much shorter during start-up, so I just did not mention/ignored it.

I believe it came from some component in the PSU other than its fan. This TT model has a silent mode, which I intentionally turned on. Theoretically, under low load the fan does not work, so I let the computer sit for a while doing nothing and then turned it off, but I could still hear the whine. I also took off my video card to test the process, and the whine does not come from my video card. If pairing my new system with an old PSU produced no whine, can it support that all other parts are not the source of the whine?

I agree that since no whine is heard during normal use, it should not be a big problem. Just want to try my best troubleshooting.

PS: don't worry about the price. I didn't even pay in USD. The total system cost me about $2600 equivalent (tax included, HDD excluded). A lot of parts are not available, so some of my components are sub-optimal.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I note during boots and shutdowns, there are periods where fan speed settings are either unset, or have not been set yet and this typically results in fans spinning at default (typically full) speeds - which of course, produce louder fan noise.

I understand what silent modes are for PSUs. My PSU has it too.

Theoretically, under low load the fan does not work

Umm, no. It should not be based on load but rather temperature. But either way it typically takes a few seconds for the monitoring circuits to sense and understand what is happening and for safety reasons, default to spinning the fans until determined it is safe to power down.

HOWEVER - I don't want to suggest this must be fan noise. It certainly could be coil whine or capacitors singing or transformers buzzing.

And I was not "worried" about the price. Just making an observation.