220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their PC emits a…

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  The power supply's internal fan bearing

  Why it's wrong here

  A failing fan bearing in a power supply typically produces a grinding, rattling, or buzzing sound, not a high-pitched whine. These noises result from increased friction and wear within the bearing mechanism, often indicating imminent fan failure. Furthermore, such a sound would usually be present whenever the fan is actively spinning, regardless of the system's electrical load, which contradicts the load-dependent nature of the reported high-pitched noise.

• ✓

  The power supply's coils are vibrating due to electrical load

  Why this is correct

  This is the correct answer. Coil whine is a high-pitched sound originating from electromagnetic vibrations within the inductors (coils) of a power supply unit (PSU) or other components like GPUs. These vibrations occur when the electrical current passing through the coils changes rapidly, especially under varying or heavy electrical loads, causing the coil windings to resonate at audible frequencies. The specific frequency and intensity of the whine often correlate directly with the system's power draw and the switching frequencies of the PSU's internal components.

• ✗

  The GPU fan is hitting a wire

  Why it's wrong here

  If a GPU fan blade were hitting a wire or any other obstruction, the resulting sound would typically be a distinct clicking, ticking, or scraping noise. This intermittent sound occurs as each fan blade makes physical contact with the obstruction during its rotation. It would not manifest as a continuous, high-pitched whine, which is characteristic of electromagnetic phenomena rather than physical interference with moving parts.

• ✗

  The hard drive is failing mechanically

  Why it's wrong here

  A mechanically failing hard drive typically produces distinct clicking, grinding, or scraping sounds, often indicating issues with the read/write heads or platters. These noises are usually constant or occur during read/write operations, but they do not manifest as a high-pitched electrical whine. While hard drive activity is a form of load, the specific sounds of mechanical failure are fundamentally different from the electromagnetic vibrations of coil whine.

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