Does your PC make a noise when scrolling up and down?
The reason for this coil whine. Don’t worry tho, this is pretty common and is completely normal.
Plus, it won’t do any harm to your PC either. It’s just annoying and that’s all. If you don’t want to go through all the trouble fixing it, use headphones!
In this post, I’ll go over why your PC makes noise when scrolling and how to fix it.
Fed up with that annoying whine when you scroll on your PC? This guide explains coil whine, the culprit behind the noise, and offers solutions to get your PC running silently.
Your PC makes noise when scrolling because of the coil whine.
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Coil whine is a common electrical issue that happens in lots of electronic devices like PCs, laptops, and game consoles.
It comes from coils vibrating inside components such as power supplies and graphics cards.
When these coils vibrate, they make a high-pitched buzzing or whining sound, kind of like a mosquito or a bunch of bees buzzing around.
Why Does Coil Whine Happen When Scrolling?
While we’ve established coil whine is an “electrical issue,” let’s explore the physics behind it.
Inside your PC’s power supply, graphics card, and even some motherboards, lie transformers and inductors.
These components contain coils, essentially tightly wound wires that create magnetic fields when electric current flows through them.
Imagine these coils like tiny springs. Perfect current flow keeps them stable.
However, when the power draw fluctuates, like during scrolling or gaming, it’s like rapidly pushing and pulling on those springs.
This creates physical vibrations in the coils.
Now, these vibrations wouldn’t be a problem by themselves. But here’s where the “whine” comes in.
The coils have a natural resonant frequency, like a tuning fork.
When the vibrations from fluctuating power draw hit this resonant frequency, the coils amplify the vibrations, turning them into audible sound waves.
Think of a kid on a swing. If they push themselves at just the right rhythm, they can swing really high.
Similarly, fluctuating power creates vibrations that resonate with the coils’ natural frequency, making the sound much louder and turning it into that high-pitched whine you hear.
What Causes Coil Whine In PCs
4 main things can contribute to coil whine in PCs.
These are:
● Powerful graphics cards
● High-wattage power supplies
● Poorly designed or cheap components
● Vibration or resonance within the PC case
High-end graphics cards, especially those with powerful GPUs, are more prone to coil whine because of their increased power draw and heat generation.
Power supplies that are overkill for the components in the PC can also cause it.
This can also happen if your power supply or graphics card is low quality.
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Apart from that, the case itself, and the way components are mounted within it, can sometimes contribute to coil whine.
Other Reasons
If the noise is more of a clicking or grinding sound, it could be your hard drive struggling to read data. This could be a sign of a failing drive.
It’s also possible that the noise is simply your computer fans working harder when you scroll because the graphics card or CPU is under slightly more load.
Sometimes it could be a grounding issue in your case or with a component.
It’s unlikely, but possible. This will create a buzzing noise.
How To Stop PC Making Noise When Scrolling
Now that you know the reason, here are a few things you can try to reduce or get rid of the annoying noise:
Undervolt Components To Reduce Power Draw
Reducing the voltage supplied to components like the GPU will make noises less noticeable.
When parts run on less power, they produce less heat and don’t get as strained, which might make that noise quieter.
However adjusting the voltage can be tricky, so it’s smart to do some homework and try it out carefully to avoid making your system unstable or slower.
Adjust Fan Speed
Increasing the fan speed on your graphics card or power supply can sometimes reduce the noise. This works by lowering the overall heat and vibration in your system.
Cooler components experience less stress and vibration, which equals less coil whine.
You should be able to tweak fan speeds through your PC’s BIOS settings or with software provided by the component makers.
Upgrade Components
If your PC is using a budget power supply or graphics card, consider upgrading.
Investing in a quality power supply or graphics card will also help cut down on coil whine
Premium components like these are designed to minimize vibrations and resonance, which are what cause coil whine in the first place.
Dampen Vibrations Within The Case
Try adding rubber grommets or silicone mounts to your components inside the PC case.
These help reduce vibration and resonance. It’ll isolate the parts and stop those vibrations from spreading all over your system.
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Wrapping Up
Coil whine is not a serious issue and doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your PC.
But it is annoying. The easiest workaround for this is to wear some headphones.
That said, if the whining keeps getting worse, sticks around for a long time, or comes with other weird issues, it might hint at a bigger problem like a failing component.
Severe Coil Whine and Warranty
While coil whine is generally harmless, in rare cases, it can be severe and very distracting.
If you have a new PC with a particularly loud coil whine, especially if the noise progressively worsens, it’s worth checking your warranty terms.
Many manufacturers offer replacements for excessive coil whine under warranty.
Here’s what to do:
● Consult your warranty documentation: This will outline the warranty period and process for requesting a replacement.
● Contact the manufacturer’s support: Explain the issue and provide details like the noise level, when it occurs, and any troubleshooting steps you’ve taken.
● RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization): If the manufacturer agrees to a replacement, they’ll likely provide an RMA number to return your PC for repair or replacement.
Important Note: Warranty policies can vary depending on the manufacturer and specific situation. It’s always best to check your warranty terms before proceeding with an RMA request.
FAQs
SSD Noise When Scrolling
SSDs can’t make any noise when you scroll because they have no moving parts, unlike HDDs. So the noise is probably coil whine or fan noises.
GPU Noise When Scrolling
GPUs make noise because of coil whine. It’s caused by vibrations in the coils inside the GPU as electricity flows through them.
