[Product Information] High-Pitched Noise (Coil Whine) on MSI Notebooks
Answer
This article explains why a high-pitched, high-frequency noise — commonly known as “Coil Whine” — can sometimes be heard from an MSI notebook, and confirms this is a normal physical phenomenon rather than a hardware defect. Refer to this article if you hear a thin, high-frequency sound coming from the notebook that is not produced by the speakers or the cooling fans, especially during CPU- or GPU-intensive tasks such as gaming or video editing.
This article applies to all MSI notebooks
What Is Coil Whine?
When current passes through an electrical inductor (a coil), the coil vibrates at a frequency related to the current flow. When that vibration falls within the range of frequencies audible to the human ear, it produces the thin, high-pitched sound known as Coil Whine.
What Causes Coil Whine?
Coils are present in components such as the GPU, the power supply circuitry, storage drives, and the motherboard. When Coil Whine occurs, the vibration noise is usually emitted by high-power components, particularly the CPU or GPU. Coil Whine is typically easier to notice during CPU- or GPU-intensive tasks, such as gaming or video editing, since current flow through these components increases under heavier workloads.
How to Reduce the Chance of Hearing Coil Whine?
How noticeable Coil Whine is depends on the listening environment and individual sensitivity to high-frequency sound — it is easier to notice in a quiet environment or for people more sensitive to high-pitched tones. MSI works to minimize this noise across its notebook lineup; however, Coil Whine is a physical phenomenon common to electronic components in general and cannot be completely eliminated by any notebook manufacturer.
Common Questions (Q&A):
Does Coil Whine only happen on MSI notebooks?
No. Coil Whine can occur on any electronic device that uses coils or inductors, including desktop graphics cards, power supplies, and other manufacturers' notebooks. It is a characteristic of the underlying electronic components, not something unique to MSI hardware.
When am I most likely to notice Coil Whine?
Coil Whine is typically more noticeable during CPU- or GPU-intensive tasks such as gaming, video editing, or benchmarking, and in quiet environments where background noise does not mask the sound.