Loud "humming" from new GPU (VIDEO)

[Juusuhako]

This card is already being RMAd for a new one, but I would like to hear as many opinions as possible.

The card is an EVGA 780 with their ACX Cooler. I've read about many having different issues with this cooler (mainly rattling/humming). The video shows the fan speed at 79%, 89% and 100% (where it is very noticeable, to me at least).

Thing is, I've also been told by quite some (on a Danish forum) that they found it normal, but seriously... to me it is unbearable. What do you guys think?

(100% fan speed at 0:40 incase you wanna skip the other 2 speeds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo6CnwZITSU

 

[Dicehunter]

That sounds messed up

 

[Juusuhako]

That sounds messed up

Oh, then its not just in my head.

 

[Chewme]

Probably a bad fan bearing. I had a similar issue with my old gtx560ti, one fan was noticeable louder than the other, especially on higher rpm's.

 

[Warchild]

correct.

Its the Fan. I had this happen as well and that is the reply I was given in my local store. They replaced the card without delay.

 

[Juusuhako]

Okay. It seems the ACX cooler uses different bearings: Bearings

Not that it should be the problem (im sure they would've discontinued them if it happened with every card), I guess I was just unlucky.

 

[QuietOne]

Mine sounds nothing like that, I have an ACX cooler.

 

[Captain Shiny]

Okay. It seems the ACX cooler uses different bearings: Bearings

Not that it should be the problem (im sure they would've discontinued them if it happened with every card), I guess I was just unlucky.

Yes I suspect for a while now that many retailers cheap out on the bearings. I had two of the same gigabyte cards which started to rattle always after a few months and I hear stuff like that way too often lately. All this points towards sleeve bearings cause those are prone to failure, especially if you orientate them in a horizontal position, which most graphics cards are. Also sleeve bearings are initially quieter than ball bearings (which might get them good reviews on their cards) but wear out much faster than ball bearings. I'd really love to see someone dissecting those fans and see if ball bearing fans get mixed with sleeve bearing fans randomly or are even used exclusively on some cards cause that would be a HUGE point of failure.

 

[JR23]

I had one that was so bad you could hear the bearings rubbing when turning the blades round with your fingers, when it was brand new out of the box. They are poo and i'm extremely relieved to have two FC780 Classy blocks on my shelf.

JR

 

[Captain Shiny]

Man, I was actually right:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7392/the-geforce-gtx-770-roundup-evga-gigabyte-and-msi-compared
No wonder, so many GPU fans crap out so quickly. I wonder why this isn't mentioned more prominently - sleeve bearings are absolutely NOT suited for graphics cards and it's not that you can easily swap out a non reference cooler for an aftermarket one these days. Man, that is just plain and utter shit!

Edit: Just to make this clear - I don't mean the ACX coolers in this case - these use ball bearings and should generally be fine. So you propably were just unlucky with this model. It's just that I found out about this while doing research for your case.