Sparkle Intel B580 GPU Noise

[FreitasM545]

Hello,

I recently purchased a brand new Sparkle Intel Arc B580 12GB GPU, and so far, I am happy with my decision. I hope Intel continues to develop their GPU line-up, especially with driver updates to improve stability.

However, I've encountered an issue with my card. I'm not sure if it's a software or hardware problem, but it manifests as a physical sound. My B580 produces a repetitive noise every 2-3 seconds, which only occurs when the "Fan & Thermal Tuning" is set to advanced. Additionally, I am experiencing some minor software bugs, such as changing settings and applying them, only to find that I have to quit the program and redo the process to make it work.

Link for a video with the sound
https://www.reddit.com/r/IntelArc/comments/1j624ar/comment/mhn1xec/

I would appreciate assistance in determining whether this sound indicates a physical issue with the GPU or if it's related to a software problem affecting the voltage to the fans. I would love to find a solution for this. Thank you!

[VonM_Intel]

Hi FreitasM545,
Thank you for posting in our Community. Regarding the repetitive noise and the software bugs you mentioned, we’d like to help narrow down whether this is a hardware-related issue or something tied to the fan control software. Could you please confirm:

• Does the noise still occur if you keep the fan profile set to default instead of advanced?
• Have you updated to the latest Intel® Arc™ graphics driver, and if so, does the behavior persist? Or if you have done any other tests, please let me know the details so we don't cover the same ground twice.
• Does the noise continue under different workloads (e.g., idle vs. gaming vs. stress tests), or is it only while adjusting fan settings?

• You mentioned experiencing some minor software bugs, such as needing to quit and restart the program for settings to take effect. Just to confirm, are you using the Intel Graphics Software to change and apply these settings? If so, have you already tried reinstalling the software or updating your graphics driver to check if this resolves the issue?

Additionally, I'd like to delve deeper and verify specifics like the graphics models, precise driver versions, and any system errors. Utilizing the Intel SSU tool will enable me to collect detailed information about your system setup, which could aid in identifying the underlying cause of this issue.

Have a nice day!

Best regards,

Von M.
Intel Customer Support Technician

[FreitasM545]

Hi Von M.,

Thank you for your quick response. I want to start by saying that the issue we discussed is no longer occurring. Yesterday, I experimented with some settings in the Intel Graphics Software, and the repetitive sound issue has resolved itself.

To address your questions:

- The noise only became noticeable when using the Advanced fan tuning mode. Neither the off setting nor the Basic fan tuning produces any noise.

- All drivers are up to date, although they are not WHQL-certified, which I typically avoid. However, I can confirm that they are not causing any issues at the moment. I tested this by shutting down all the case fans using Fan Expert (Armoury Crate) and resetting the tuning parameters. After that, I switched to Basic fan tuning. This required multiple attempts since applying the changes didn't seem to take effect until I completely closed and reopened the program. With 10% increments from 0 to 100, I did not hear any noise, except for some whistling, which is generally considered normal.

- The sound was persistent while idling, but I believe it would disappear under heavy workloads, such as gaming and video editing, since the GPU fans would then spin at higher RPMs. However, I can’t confirm this, as the case fans would mask the sound.

- Unfortunately, every time I try to change the fan tuning parameters in the software, it takes multiple attempts for the changes to take effect. I have to completely quit the program (with no background running) and reopen it, trying again until the changes are applied.

I suspect that the noise was related to the voltage sent to the fans to control their speed. In the video you referenced, other users mentioned similar experiences, noting a certain correlation between the sound and the fan's rotation. After I adjusted the fan curve in the Advanced tuning, the noise completely disappeared. I plan to replicate the sound again to determine if a specific low percentage is causing the noise related to the voltage being sent.

For now, I’m relieved that the sound is gone and can enjoy some peace for the next few days. I will continue this thread if I have any additional information to share.

Thank you for all your help, and please continue to focus on the development of the Arc GPU lineup, drivers, and software. I hope it becomes an excellent product.

Best regards,  

FreitasM545