The solution to the Geforce Squealing!! Finally!

oscar3d · Post by **oscar3d** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:23 pm

These guys finally solved the problem of the Geforce Video Cards Squealing!! I'm glad to know that this wasn't a PSU problem at all. It's on the video cards using old analog circuitry. This applies to all Geforce models, and hopefully eliminate that nasty noise while you're playing top notch games.

http://theovalich.wordpress.com/2008/11 ... squealing/

I wanted to share with you the good news, as this has been now officially tackled.

Cheers

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:40 pm

The idea of using nail polish or hot glue has been around for a while. It doesn't actually solve the problem, it just limits how much it can vibrate so it isn't as noticeable. It is kind of like mass loading case panels, it doesn't make the components any quieter, it just makes it so we can't hear them as much.

spookmineer · Post by **spookmineer** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:38 pm

Ch0z3n wrote:it doesn't make the components any quieter, it just makes it so we can't hear them as much.

That's like putting an exhaust on an open exhaust port of an engine and running it. The engine is still as noisy but we can't hear it as much?

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:12 pm

Huh? I'm just saying that it isn't fixing the problem, just covering it up.

tehcrazybob · Post by **tehcrazybob** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:07 am

Actually, that pretty certainly qualifies as fixing the problem. You're restraining the parts so that they can't vibrate and therefore don't make any noise in the first place. Your example of mass-damping a case is a flawed analogy, because sealing the coils doesn't block the transmission of the noise, it blocks the source. A much better analogy would be unplugging all the fans and hard drives in your computer so they can't make noise any more.

Ch0z3n · Post by **Ch0z3n** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:36 am

"After putting the card back in the system, we turned Folding@Home back on and saw that squealing was almost gone and we only had a CPU and PSU fans on (OCZ Vendetta + Thermaltake Toughpower). It is not a 100% solution, but with all the fans back in the system, the board continued to fold and rock in games."

It is a band-aid on an inherently flawed design. Almost gone means they are still vibrating, just not as much. Also, the physical casing around them probably goes a good way towards disrupting the high frequency sounds.

No, tehcrazybob, your analogy isn't any closer than mine was, by yours the best way to keep the card silent is to never put it in the system. If you were bypassing the noisy coils and capacitors somehow, then it would make more sense. But, you are just dumping glue on them.

tehcrazybob · Post by **tehcrazybob** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:46 pm

The point I was trying to make was the distinction between blocking noise transmission, like panel damping, and blocking the vibrations which actually cause the noise, as in this situation. Whether or not it worked well is another point entirely; what's important is that you're actually stopping the source of the noise instead of trying to block it from reaching the user.

spookmineer · Post by **spookmineer** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:43 pm

Ch0z3n wrote:Almost gone means they are still vibrating, just not as much.

And that is exactly what we want. If a speaker cone doesn't vibrate as much, the volume is lower.
Sometimes a band aid or gaffa tape does the trick.

It doesn't matter if components are getting more quiet by making them more quiet, or covering up the noise they make, the end result is all that counts.

I reacted to your statement "it doesn't make the components any quieter, it just makes it so we can't hear them as much" because it is common practice here, and effective: e.g. rear fans are favorable over front fans, because we can't hear them as much.
"Modding" existing hardware where flawed to make it more quiet by any means is all we (can) do. If mass loading panels or dripping glue on components makes a PC more quiet, that is solving the problem (the problem is the noise coming from the PC, not the noise a piece of hardware makes itself).