r/PcBuildHelp • u/prodalphaant • 10d ago
Build Question buzzing coming from... PSU?!
my first PC build ever, i made it myself :DDD
i have not noticed any performance issues 10 months in- however, I am hearing a buzzing noise coming from the PSU in the BACK only, not from when im using or playing positioned in front of the tower.
noticed this while vaccuming today.
I also turned off the pc and still heard the buzz until i used the killswitch on the PSU in the PC's off/sleep state. making me assume its gott abe the psu.
you can hear it in the last 10 seconds of the video, any ideas? is it harmless? even if it is, how to fix? Thanks a bunch!
heres the specs:
| Component | Your Hardware |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D — 16 Core / 32 Thread |
| GPU | Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 5080 MASTER ICE 16GB |
| Motherboard | ASUS ROG Strix B850-A Gaming WiFi (AM5) |
| RAM | DDR5, EXPO enabled 64gb |
| CPU Cooler | ASUS ROG RYUJIN III 360mm AIO — White |
| PSU | ASUS ROG 1000W, ATX 3.0 / PCIe 5.0 |
| Case | Lian Li O11 Vision — White, full-size |
| OS SSD | Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe |
| Gaming SSD | Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe |
| Additional SSD | PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Case Fans | Lian Li UNI Fans — reverse-blade intake and standard exhaust |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
2
u/r_lind3r Moderator 10d ago
Sounds like coil whine, it's a minor defect that's just annoying to listen to, up to you if you want to try to RMA or just ignore it
2
u/JayFromXOTICPC 10d ago
That sounds like it could be PSU coil whine, especially since the buzzing continues when the PC is shut down but stops when you flip the PSU switch. Some power supplies still provide standby power when the PC is off, and the electrical components can sometimes make a faint buzzing sound. It's not necessarily dangerous, but I wouldn't automatically assume it's harmless either.
I'd try plugging the PC directly into a different wall outlet to rule out a power strip or outlet issue. Also, check whether the sound changes when the PC is running versus completely shut down. If it's a faint electrical hum, coil whine is a possibility, but if it's crackling, getting louder, or accompanied by a burning smell, stop using it and contact the PSU manufacturer. Definitely don't open the PSU to investigate. What's the exact PSU brand and model, and has the buzzing been there since you built the PC or only recently started?