XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog Weird Noises

[Nomadd]

Nomad have you tried contacting the manufacturer? For things like this which are so random its probably better of going direct to the manufacturer as they will likely know of the issue and just replace it.

No, I haven't tried BFG. It's also not like the problem is random - it shows itself EVERY time you fire up Crysis. You don't even need to get as far as the opening menu, as it's making a racket whilst the animated logo's of EA, nVidia, Intel and Crytek are spinning across the screen at start-up.

TBH, my main concern was if I ever had to sell the card second-hand, in order to finance the purchase of a newer future generation card. I could just see me eBay'ing it to someone in good faith, but then they hear the same racket I hear and then start wanting their money back as they consider it faulty - even if the retailer and manufacturer claim "the noise is normal."

As all these cards are made in the same few factories, it's very hard to guess at a model that wouldn't make any noise; the only thing the 'badge adders" normally change is the cooling fan, and of course that isn't the source of the noise...

As I bought the card brand new, I contacted Scan the following day after it arrived for a replacement/refund. It just peaves me that although Scan's RMA service was excellent at picking the card up, I'm still going to get thumped for return postage (and the original postage) which is probably £30 approx. inc. VAT as they consider it "no fault" - which is exactly what I thought they'd say. Still, I'd rather be down £30 than live with a card that: is noisy, could get worse, and could be very tricky to sell second hand. Also, when the card arrived from Scan it was just in shrink-wrap, so the BFG box containing it had been damaged; again, another point that would make a second-hand sale more tricky, especially if the new owner thought that the box damage had something to do with the noise. I mentioned all of this in the RMA and the notes enclosed with the card when I returned it to Scan.

Guess I'll just see what refund I get next week from Scan. And then just put the whole experience down to bad luck.

Nomadd

[Nomadd]

So is the problem down to bad design, Cheap components or are they not put together properly.!!!

I'd say ALL three. Oh, and insufficient testing before they leave the factory.

Still, guess we now know why the latest range of 8800 cards are so cheap!

Nomadd

[Nomadd]

YouTube - BFG 8800GTS 512MB OC - Noise

WOW!!!!!! Bingo. Bingo. And Bingo. Good find, my man.

That is EXACTLY the racket I get in EXACTLY the same places with EXACTLY the same card in EXACTLY the same game. I couldn't have shown the problem better myself!

Still, Scan's "test team" consider that "no fault"!!!!!!!

...And I was informed by telephone to them that I would have to pay all postage costs for the card - both original and return.

If there is a Scan person reading this thread PLEASE WATCH - AND LISTEN - TO THAT VIDEO. Then tell me if you would be happy with that noise from your new graphics card; I'm not, and I've been working with computers for 30 years, so I've heard a few noisy systems in my time. And would you be happy to be told "no fault" when the card was returned for testing? Would you be happy trying to sell that card second-hand in a few months? Nope, thought not.

Cheers,

Nomadd

[Derek_dm]

WOW!!!!!! Bingo. Bingo. And Bingo. Good find, my man.

That is EXACTLY the racket I get in EXACTLY the same places with EXACTLY the same card in EXACTLY the same game. I couldn't have shown the problem better myself!

Still, Scan's "test team" consider that "no fault"!!!!!!!

...And I was informed by telephone to them that I would have to pay all postage costs for the card - both original and return.

If there is a Scan person reading this thread PLEASE WATCH - AND LISTEN - TO THAT VIDEO. Then tell me if you would be happy with that noise from your new graphics card; I'm not, and I've been working with computers for 30 years, so I've heard a few noisy systems in my time. And would you be happy to be told "no fault" when the card was returned for testing? Would you be happy trying to sell that card second-hand in a few months? Nope, thought not.

Cheers,

Nomadd

Yes the same here but it also does it with other games as well but not as bad

[Nomadd]

Yes the same here but it also does it with other games as well but not as bad

Yep, that's true for me also.

Nomadd

[Adywebb]

I suppose its going to rest on whether Scan consider the noise a 'fault' or a 'characteristic' - a term often used by car manufacturers to cover niggles they don't want to deal with or justify a recall.

I do note on that YouTube vid the poster has posted an update:

EDIT: I already solved it! The problem is that anytime you go 1000+fps you will notice that your GC whines. In order to do solve this problem, just go to your Nvidia's control panel and enable your V-Sync

Has anyone tried this?

[rabbid]

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbMhAPlLAeg"

Ouch that is some unbearable squealing
I hope u can sort this out

[4qman]

i skim read this thread.

many cards are known to have a winning noise which increases under load. as said above its down to using cheaper capacitors.

there is a method where using hot glue can stop the noise, I have read many times people getting a replacement card to find it does the same. Other than this id bear it.

[Derek_dm]

Yes tried the v sync thing and it still does it maybe its not as loud I cant be sure really but its still their.

It was worth a try though

[Derek_dm]

i skim read this thread.

many cards are known to have a winning noise which increases under load. as said above its down to using cheaper capacitors.

there is a method where using hot glue can stop the noise, I have read many times people getting a replacement card to find it does the same. Other than this id bear it.

Each to their own personally I dont feel I should have ti put up with it and I dont see why I should void my warranty because the card wasnt made properly in the first place.

If their is a fix for this then let XFX do it before they sell them.

[4qman]

Derek what i am saying is there is a chance you will get a card returned that does it also. Its the reference design of the PCB and the capacitors used.,

I fully agree you are more than entitled to a replacement, like buying a new car to find the exhaust blows you would take it straight back.

Just a lot of these cards do have this problem, hope you replacement doesn't

[Derek_dm]

Derek what i am saying is there is a chance you will get a card returned that does it also. Its the reference design of the PCB and the capacitors used.,

I fully agree you are more than entitled to a replacement, like buying a new car to find the exhaust blows you would take it straight back.

Just a lot of these cards do have this problem, hope you replacement doesn't

I hope so too m8 and just to be sure I wont be getting another XFX card.

If you look at all the problem cards so far on various forums etc all are licensed manufactured not the approved sub contracted cards that are made by Asus and Msi etc

It might be a case of you get what you pay for. Those Licensed makers Like BFG and XFX leadtek etc possibly cut corners with the components they buy.

Who know until someone says they have one of those cards

[Nomadd]

there is a method where using hot glue can stop the noise, I have read many times people getting a replacement card to find it does the same. Other than this id bear it.

Yep, I'd thought of that. Problem was, if it didn't fix the noise, I'd be stuck with the card - I couldn't return it to Scan with big blodges of glue on it.

As regards "bear it", well, just have a listen to that video: it's a bit beyond bearable. True, Crysis is the worst it gets, but in Half-life 2 (+ episodes) it makes noises as you move around certain sections of the game; it's really hard to ignore it once you know it's there. And, of course, there's the potential pain when you come to sell it: I wouldn't be happy taking a card like that second-hand, I'd just consider the original buyer was getting shut as it was faulty. I don't want to risk that sort of hassle further down the road.

Nomadd

[Derek_dm]

Let us know how you get on with Scan Nomadd.

I havent asked for an rma yet but I will. I thought maybe someone from Scan would have given us there views on this matter but maybe not.

I contacted XFX to see what thay had to say and surprisingly they didnt reply to my email.

I have also tried to post on the XFX forum a couple of times but all the posts are checked by moderators before they are posted and none of my posts have yet to be allowed which is strange. All I wanted to ask was XFX aware of this problem.

I thought the whole point of having a forum was to discuss things but maybe not if your trying to hide the fact that the service or components you produce are not up to the job.

[Nomadd]

Let us know how you get on with Scan Nomadd.

I thought the whole point of having a forum was to discuss things but maybe not if your trying to hide the fact that the service or components you produce are not up to the job.

Yep, I'll let you know how I get on with Scan - although all I'm expecting at best is a refund for the cards cost and me getting hit for postage - twice.

The whole "forum" thing really, REALLY annoys me - which is why Hexus is the only computer hardware forum I post on; the guys are very fair around here. See my sig. for a forum that censors anything that would affect it's "sales." Still, if you do wander over for a READ (i.e. don't waste your time posting) you will see a couple of threads in the Graphics section of OC UK where other GT/GTS users are having the same "squealing" problems. But if Scan and other retailers don't see this as a "problem", then it's us the customers who are getting stung.

Seems to be luck-of-the-draw thing with these cards and the racket they make. Shame on you, Nvidia, shame on you.

Nomadd

[Derek_dm]

Well I finally got a reply from XFX

Surprisingly it seems everything else is at fault except the graphics card.

Hi, thanks for your message, did you make any hardware or software changes, move the PC or notice any unusual messages on start-up when the problems began? Have you noticed any sudden increases in GPU, CPU or mainboard temperatures? Any sudden increase in CPU, memory or disk drive activity? Please ensure you have up-to-date mainboard BIOS and chipset drivers installed before the graphics driver. Avoid overclocking the CPU, PCI-E (or AGP) bus, ensure you have adequate case ventilation and check for viruses. If these measures do not help, please try an uprated PSU. Please let us know how you get on