Question:

What could be the cause of a high-pitched noise from my computer when running certain games?

I have a Windows 10 PC with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER graphics card and an i7-9700K CPU. Sometimes, when I play games like Slime Rancher 2, my computer emits a loud and continuous EEEE sound that stops only when I switch to another window. This does not happen with every game, and I am not sure what triggers it. How can I diagnose and fix this problem?

Answer:

A high-pitched noise from your computer can be very annoying and distracting, especially when you are trying to enjoy a game. There are several possible causes for this problem, and some of them are easier to fix than others. Here are some of the most common ones and how to deal with them:

• Coil whine: This is a phenomenon where some electrical components, such as the power supply, the graphics card, or the motherboard, vibrate at a high frequency and produce a squealing sound. This can happen when the component is under heavy load, such as when running a demanding game. Coil whine is not harmful to your computer, but it can be very irritating. To reduce coil whine, you can try the following:
• Update your drivers and BIOS to the latest versions.
• Enable V-sync or limit your FPS in the game settings to prevent your graphics card from working harder than necessary.
• Replace your power supply with a higher quality or higher wattage one.
• Use rubber washers or spacers to isolate the component from the case and dampen the vibration.
• If the coil whine is coming from your graphics card, you can try to adjust its voltage or clock speed using a software like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X1.
• Fan noise: This is a more common and obvious cause of noise from your computer. Fans are essential for cooling your system, but they can also generate a lot of noise when they spin at high speeds. This can happen when your computer is overheating, or when the fan is dirty or faulty. To reduce fan noise, you can try the following:
• Clean your computer regularly and remove any dust or debris that may block the airflow.
• Check the fan curves and settings in your BIOS or software like SpeedFan or HWMonitor and adjust them to a lower or quieter level.
• Replace your stock fans with quieter or more efficient ones, such as Noctua or Be Quiet fans.
• Install a fan controller or a water cooling system to regulate the fan speed and temperature more effectively.
• Hard drive noise: This is a less common but more serious cause of noise from your computer. Hard drives are mechanical devices that store your data, and they can make a clicking or grinding sound when they are failing or corrupted. This can happen due to physical damage, age, or malware. Hard drive noise can indicate that your data is at risk of being lost or corrupted, so you should backup your important files as soon as possible and replace your hard drive with a new one. To reduce hard drive noise, you can try the following:
• Run a disk check or a defragmentation tool to scan and repair any errors or bad sectors on your hard drive.
• Use a software like CrystalDiskInfo or HDDScan to monitor the health and performance of your hard drive and detect any signs of failure.
• Upgrade to a solid state drive (SSD), which has no moving parts and is much faster and quieter than a hard drive.

These

are some of the most likely causes of a high-pitched noise from your computer when running certain games. By following the suggestions above, you may be able to diagnose and fix the problem, or at least make it more tolerable. However, if the noise persists or worsens, you may need to consult a professional technician or contact the manufacturer of your computer or component for further assistance.