Asus Maximus VII Gene VRM buzzing

[bbalex]

Hi,

I have an Asus Maximus VII Gene (M7G) motherboard, and was planning to use it for a silent build. The other relevant components are a Corsair HX750i semi-passive PSU, an Asus GTX 970 STRIX semi-pasive graphics card, a i7 4790K CPU, and a SSD (no mechanical HDDs anywhere).

Unfortunately, the build is not at all silent, and the fault seems to lie with the motherboard. I'm writing this post hoping for an answer to know if what I am experiencing is normal with this type of motherboard with its very complex VRM circuitry, or it might be just my sample that is faulty. I can still return the motherboard and get a full refund, which I would do if this is typical to this type of motherboard. If I try to have the motherboard replaced under warranty instead, I lose the right to request for a refund (that's the law where I live), and would be stuck with a noisy motherboard that I can't use if what I receive will have the same issue.

The problem lies in a (loud) buzzing sound coming from the motherboard VRM.

I did not notice it at idle, or when running CPU stress tests like Furmark CPU burn, Intel PDT, Intel XTU, or Prime 95. However, I suddenly noticed it when starting Tomb Raider. This was with the STRIX installed. Then I tried different versions of 3DMark, starting with 3DMark05 (from 2005), with and without the STRIX installed (using the iGPU video output when the STRIX was not installed).

When using the iGPU output only (not the STRIX), the buzzing is present with the CPU stress tests in the 3DMark 2003 / 3DMark 2005 suites, but not when running the video parts of the benchmarks. It also does not seem to happen when running the video tests in 3DMark 2011, or the FireStrike test in the latest 3DMark.

Using the STRIX suddenly makes the buzzing more likely to happen, probably because the load increases on the motherboard VRM.

With the STRIX, the video benchmarks in 3DMark 2003 probably put no pressure, since there is no sound (the CPU stress test still causes buzzing). But in 3DMark 2005 / 2006, there is suddenly a loud buzzing that was not there in the iGPU-only scenario. Same thing in 3DMark 2011 - all the video benchmarks are causing the motherboard VRM to emit that pulsating buzz. In the latest 3DMark, FireStrike also causes this. And it's impossible to play Tomb Raider - the buzzing is easy to hear, it's louder than the STRIX fans, and the change in volume based on game load is very distracting.



The buzzing is clearly related to gaming load - it suddenly stops as soon as the load is stopped (like stopping the video benchmark). It's also clearly related to the VRM switching frequency set in the BIOS. The pitch of the buzzing changes when using 1000Khz instead of 300KHz, for instance. But it happens no matter the chosen switching frequency; setting it manually, or leaving it on auto with/without spread spectrum - it makes no difference.

I tried disabling the processor turbo mode, I tried setting all CPU cores to a fixed multiplier, nothing helped.

All of this is happening with the framerate capped at 60 fps, by enforcing Alternate Vsync in the nVidia Control Panel, so it's not an issue of running at 200-300 fps.

As I said, this buzzing happens on CPU gaming load when using the integrated GPU (so without the STRIX), but with the STRIX on it's worse. Not only it happens in scenarios where it did not happen before (the video benchmarks), but the STRIX itself emits a buzzing in sync with the motherboard buzzing - it's like the VRM on the STRIX is somehow automatically linked to the VRM on the motherboard.

Btw, I tested all this with the components out of the case, to make sure it was not the motherboard that was the only one buzzing, but the STRIX too. All testing was carried out not in a case, but on an open-air bench, to easily find what was wrong. There were no case fans running, no mechanical parts anywhere - in other words, no other sources of noise.

Under load, the motherboard sensors report 33 degrees C for the motherboard, max 38 for the VRM (this under Prime95, because when gaming it's barely warm when touching it), and the CPU never goes above 60 degrees C either (it's 40-50 when gaming). So, it does not look like an issue caused by high temperatures.

And just to make sure I'm not misunderstood - I am not speaking about noise in audio line outputs (I don't even have the audio add-on card installed as I don't need it). It's a noise coming from the VRM area around the CPU and traveling through air. 😉



So, this is my problem - gaming is impossible: the buzzing is louder than the fans of the GPU card, and it can suddenly change in volume based on what's on the screen.


I bought the Gene because it was the highest end mATX motherboard, with the best VRM specs and because of that lowest temperature during operation. But what's with the buzzing ?! Is this typical to this kind of multi-phased VRM circuitry ? I mean, a run-of-the mill simpler, cheaper motherboard, does not buzz like this! Is this unit faulty, or is this to be expected from this type of VRM ? I would think that this would be noticeable by others if it's typical to the VRM, but then most don't try to run a system in an open-air case either (the community of really silent system builders is quite small, after all).

So, is this normal? Are others experiencing the same buzzing from their ROG motherboards? Is anyone from Asus around here that can clarify this?

[dnji]

I have a similar problem with my VII Hero. Though, I can only hear high pitched squealing while running Prime95 28.5 small FFTs from the CPU/VRM area, but I didn't notice it yet in other situations. I can live with the noise, but I didn't expect it from this board, so it's just kind of worrying I guess. I'd like some input on this too.

[Melkor]

Hello, I was having similiar issue with M6F, in my case buzzing happened even in web browser when I moved my mouse or scroll. More noticeable at mouse polling 1000hz, less at 125hz but it was still there.

Have You tried disabling CPU spread spectrum, C-states in UEFI just to see any change? Also if You're using Balanced Power Plan in Windows just test if there is any change with High Performance as it also helped me once. Another time it was buzzing at High Performance plan which was fixed when changed to Balanced so You have to try the one which You're not using currently.

[Iron]

i can confirm that!

but if you ask me its a cpu issue imho

had same buzzing on 2 ASRock MB that died on RIP

so i switched to hero, but still buzzing without v-sync enabled. My first suggesting that´s only a RTS Games issue failed, on FPS same. I tested different amd and nvidia´s, more solvent more buzzing. But notice, its the VRM on MB, not my GFX Cards!! And the fact is, people playing on same CPU/MB/GFX with 1000fps and over without that buzzing, usually they report about buzzing on their GFX platine! I switched every hardware, tried other RAM, PSU, still buzzing. Bios changing ended into fragile system, but buzzing didnt stop. My next plan was to RMA cpu, but idk what to tell my seller...

[Iron]

*bump*