Question:

How to fix the coil whine and audio interference on Gigabyte Aorus B650M pro ax rev. 1.2 motherboard?

I recently purchased a Gigabyte Aorus B650M pro ax rev. 1.2 motherboard and installed it with the following components:

• CPU: Ryzen 7800x3d
• RAM: XPG lancer 2x16gb 6400mhz
• GPU: RTX3080Ti
• SSD: wd blue 500gb
• HDD: wd black 4tb

However, I encountered a serious issue with the motherboard. As soon as I boot into Windows, I hear a loud and annoying noise from both the headphones and the motherboard itself, near the CPU socket. The noise gets worse when the system is under load, especially when the GPU is stressed. I have tried the following troubleshooting steps, but none of them solved the problem:

• Updating the BIOS to the latest version
• Installing different audio drivers
• Resetting the BIOS settings to default
• Lowering the CPU and GPU power delivery settings
• Swapping the GPU with a different model (gtx1080)
• Turning off the RGB lighting on the motherboard
• Using the front panel audio jack instead of the rear one
• Building the system outside of the case on a non-conductive surface

What

could be the cause of this issue and how can I fix it? Is it a faulty motherboard or a compatibility problem with the other components? I appreciate any advice or suggestions from the experts. Thank you.

Answer:

Coil whine is a common phenomenon in electronic devices, especially those with high power consumption and switching frequencies. It occurs when the electrical current passing through the coils or capacitors causes them to vibrate at audible frequencies. Coil whine is usually harmless, but it can be annoying and distracting for the users.

Audio interference is another issue that can affect the sound quality of the headphones or speakers. It happens when the electrical signals from the motherboard or other components interfere with the audio signals, creating noise or distortion. Audio interference can be caused by poor shielding, grounding, or wiring of the audio components.

In this article, we will discuss some possible causes and solutions for the coil whine and audio interference on the Gigabyte Aorus B650M pro ax rev. 1.2 motherboard, based on the user’s description and troubleshooting steps.

Possible causes

• Faulty or incompatible power supply unit (PSU): The PSU is the main source of power for the motherboard and other components. If the PSU is faulty, it can cause voltage fluctuations, ripple, or noise that can affect the performance and stability of the system. Moreover, if the PSU is not compatible with the motherboard or the GPU, it can cause insufficient or excessive power delivery, which can also lead to coil whine and audio interference.
• Faulty or incompatible GPU: The GPU is one of the most power-hungry and noisy components in the system. If the GPU is faulty, it can generate excessive heat, noise, or electromagnetic interference that can affect the motherboard and other components. Moreover, if the GPU is not compatible with the motherboard or the PSU, it can cause power or signal issues that can also result in coil whine and audio interference.
• Faulty or incompatible motherboard: The motherboard is the central hub of the system, connecting and communicating with all the other components. If the motherboard is faulty, it can cause various problems, such as boot failures, crashes, or errors. Moreover, if the motherboard is not compatible with the CPU, the RAM, the GPU, or the PSU, it can cause performance or stability issues that can also manifest as coil whine and audio interference.
• Faulty or incompatible audio components: The audio components, such as the audio codec, the audio jack, the audio cable, or the headphones, are responsible for delivering the sound to the user. If any of these components are faulty, they can cause poor sound quality, noise, or distortion. Moreover, if any of these components are not compatible with the motherboard or the other audio components, they can cause signal or impedance mismatch that can also result in audio interference.

Possible solutions

• Replace or upgrade the PSU: The first and most important step is to check the PSU and make sure it is working properly and compatible with the system. The PSU should have enough wattage, efficiency, and quality to support the power requirements of the motherboard and the other components, especially the GPU. The PSU should also have the appropriate connectors, cables, and rails to deliver the power to the motherboard and the GPU. If the PSU is faulty or incompatible, it should be replaced or upgraded with a better one that meets the system’s specifications and standards.
• Replace or upgrade the GPU: The second step is to check the GPU and make sure it is working properly and compatible with the system. The GPU should have enough performance, cooling, and quality to handle the graphics workload of the system. The GPU should also have the appropriate drivers, firmware, and settings to communicate with the motherboard and the other components. If the GPU is faulty or incompatible, it should be replaced or upgraded with a better one that matches the system’s capabilities and expectations.
• Replace or upgrade the motherboard: The third step is to check the motherboard and make sure it is working properly and compatible with the system. The motherboard should have enough features, functionality, and quality to support the CPU, the RAM, the GPU, and the other components. The motherboard should also have the appropriate BIOS, chipset, and audio drivers to operate the system and the audio components. If the motherboard is faulty or incompatible, it should be replaced or upgraded with a better one that fits the system’s configuration and requirements.
• Replace or upgrade the audio components: The fourth step is to check the audio components and make sure they are working properly and compatible with the system. The audio components should have enough quality, durability, and compatibility to deliver the sound to the user. The audio components should also have the appropriate connectors, cables, and impedance to match the motherboard and the other audio components. If any of the audio components are faulty or incompatible, they should be replaced or upgraded with better ones that improve the sound quality and reduce the audio interference.

Conclusion

Coil

whine and audio interference are common issues that can affect the user experience and satisfaction of the system. They can be caused by various factors, such as faulty or incompatible components, poor shielding, grounding, or wiring, or high power consumption or switching frequencies. They can be fixed by various solutions, such as replacing or upgrading the components, improving the shielding, grounding, or wiring, or lowering the power consumption or switching frequencies. By following the steps and suggestions in this article, the user can hopefully solve the coil whine and audio interference on the Gigabyte Aorus B650M pro ax rev. 1.2 motherboard and enjoy a smooth and quiet system.