What is coil whine?

Coil whine is a high pitched sorta whistling noise than can be produced by electronics, particularly electromagnetic coils when current is passed through them.

This phenomenon is particularly common on graphics cards and power supplies, and often more noticeable as they are found in otherwise quiet environments, but any component with electromagnetic coils can be affected.

• Coil whine is caused by the vibrations of the electromagnetic coils when they are subjected to electric currents. These vibrations correspond to the frequency of the current running through them; the higher the frequency, the more they produce a high-pitched sound that can be perceived as a fairly infuriating whistling noise.
• Coil whine can occur when the PC is under a specific load, such as resource-intensive video games or intensive tasks. It can also be heard when the PC is idle but certain components are still working.
• Hearing coil whine therefore depends on the individual and their auditory sensitivity to the frequency of the current passing through the coil. When hearing loss occurs with age, the high frequencies are the first to be affected, so sensitivity to coil whine is reduced. Therefore we recommend aging as the cheapest solution to coil whine.
• As a physical characteristic of electronic components, coil whine is normal. It does not necessarily indicate a fault or problem.
• Although the noise can be unpleasant, it does not affect performance or reliability.

So is coil whine normal? Yes, but in rare cases it can be a sign of a problem, such as a poorly connected cable or a badly worn electromagnetic coils (which could occur after several years of use).

If you have any questions or concerns about your CORSAIR power supply's coil whistling, please create a ticket with our support team.