PSU Buzzing While Gaming (Explained & Solved)

We’ve all experienced it: you’re immersed in a challenging game when all of a sudden your computer begins to buzz incessantly. If you’re like the majority of people, you immediately begin trying to figure out how to stop it.

Unfortunately, your power supply unit usually produces the buzzing noise, and it’s not always simple to stop it.

What causes PSU buzzing while gaming and how to stop it are covered in this article. We’ll also discuss the risks of not fixing the issue and offer you some advice on how to prevent it in the future.

Why Is My PSU Buzzing While Gaming?

When you play video games, your PSU may buzz for a number of reasons, including the following:

Coil Whine

This is a fairly typical problem that frequently causes your PSU (Power Supply Unit) to buzz while gaming. When the unit’s parts rattle, a buzzing noise is made.

When there is a lot of electricity flowing, especially in the inductors, this frequently occurs. It does not, however, indicate a broken unit.

Your PSU Is Incorrectly Positioned

If your PSU interacts with another component, it will probably make a buzzing noise. For instance, if it is placed so that it touches a cable, the interaction will cause it to buzz.

In this situation, try simply moving your unit.

Your Computer Requires More Power

Your gaming computer starts to struggle when your power supply unit (PSU) is unable to supply the necessary power. It is attempting to provide the necessary amount, but failing, as evidenced by the buzzing sound.

Games like Far Cry and Warhammer 2 that are moderately demanding frequently exhibit this.

A Broken Or Impaired Part

There are many internal parts to a power supply unit, so a broken part is probably not going to be visible from the outside.

The buzzing noise suggests that a part needs to be replaced because the parts are enclosed in a casting that shouldn’t be opened.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, take your unit to a technician rather than attempting it yourself.

What Are The Dangers Of A Buzzing PSU?

There are a few instances in which a buzzing PSU while gaming is cause for concern or possible malfunction.

Can Cause Hardware Damage To Your Other Components

Your other components’ hardware may suffer serious hardware damage if your PSU is in reality defective.

People with a defective PSU are prone to have frequent hardware failures (such as new PC fans that keep dying).

Furthermore, a PSU that supplies erratic or excessive power is likely to overload your system components. As a result, avoid buying any used Power Supply Units.

Malfunctioning/Burning Capacitors

Your computer has malfunctioning components if you’ve ever noticed a burning smell or smoke coming from it. When you experience either of these two symptoms while gaming, immediately turn off your device and open the case.

Make sure you carefully examine the motherboard and power supply unit for damage.

Do keep in mind that when it is a capacitor, damages will be somewhat less visible. You may hear a bang when a capacitor is overcharged, which shows that an electrical surge has been stopped.

Look for spots that are comparatively black or discolored to check for a bad capacitor.

A qualified technician can surely replace a dead capacitor, however if you have a buzzing/faulty PSU, the same scenario is likely to happen repeatedly.

So, think about replacing your PSU as soon as you can.

How To Fix PSU Buzzing While Gaming

Now that you are aware of its causes and the risks involved, let’s look at a solution.

Step #1: Find Where The Sound Is Coming From

Simply pry open the side of your case and pay close attention to every component. Start the troubleshooting procedure once you are certain of the location.

Make sure you avoid touching any parts when the case is open as well.

Many gamers are shocked to learn that the buzzing is frequently originating from the motherboard or graphics card rather than the power supply!

Step #2: Reposition and Clean the PSU

Cleaning your PSU is the key to resolving problems caused by dust or wrong alignment.

After turning off your computer, turn the power supply switch and unplug it from the wall. 5 minutes later, open the case.

Next, remove the power supply from the case’s back via its screws.

• Start cleaning the interior of your computer with compressed air (Start at the top and work your way towards the bottom). Blow the air directly onto the fans as soon as you get to the section with the power supply.
• As the fans are being dusted, make sure they are spinning freely. Target the space between the PSU and the location where it screws in.
• If your PSU was installed improperly, make sure it is securely positioned on the case’s base (or the side) where you intend to remount it. Make sure it is firmly fastened into place to prevent movement or rubbing against other parts.
• When you have finished the aforementioned steps, turn on your computer and see if the buzzing still occurs. If it does, start looking into potential problems.

Step #3: Look for Conflicts

By turning off your PC and tracing your finger along the connections while it is off, you may quickly check for conflicts.

Search for wire abnormalities, wire snagging points, and other general obstructions.

If you encounter such problems, bundle your cables and make any necessary repairs using cable management. Check to see if the buzzing problem has been resolved.

Step #4: Watch Your Temperatures

Consider using a temperature monitor if, after carefully inspecting your PSU, its placement, and other components, you are still unable to identify the cause of the buzzing.

Once a temperature monitor has been installed on your computer, you can track the temperatures of your CPU and GPU using a variety of methods.

1. Put a second screen behind the monitor. You can watch it while using full-screen applications on your main display if you do this.
2. During the intervals when the PSU is not buzzing, take note of the temperatures. This will provide you with a baseline measurement of your device’s current level of heat.
3. Note the temperatures as soon as the PSU begins to hum. The buzzing sound is probably attributable to the computer needing extra power and the PSU struggling to supply it if the temperature is greater than usual.

Step #5: Pay Attention to the Timing

For instance, if you only hear the buzzing sound when turning off your computer, it might just be the sound of the capacitors’ power draining.

This won’t be a problem as long as your PSU and computer are in working order. However, it is preferable to have it checked out by a specialist if the buzzing is heard for protracted lengths of time at unpredictable times.

Step #6: Track Your Voltage

Check for any unexpected lags or spikes with a voltage tracker to see if there are any performance increases. If there aren’t, your PSU may have a damaged internal component or be nearing the end of its useful life.

Consider replacing your PSU if you find that the voltage is significantly different from what was anticipated.

Replacement is unquestionably the best course of action in this situation because failure to do so could result in your PSU failing while in use, which could cause other components to catch fire.