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220-1201 Practice Question: That their computer emits a loud, high-pitched…
A user reports that their computer emits a loud, high-pitched whine when under load, but is silent at idle. The system is stable. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse a load-dependent high-pitched electrical noise with a mechanical fan failure, since both occur under load but only coil whine is stable and purely tonal.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The power supply or GPU is experiencing coil whine due to electrical resonance.
Coil whine is a high-pitched noise caused by electrical resonance in inductors or capacitors, typically from the power supply or GPU, and it occurs only under load when current draw increases. The system remaining stable and the noise being load-dependent are classic indicators of coil whine rather than a failing fan or hard drive.
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 fan bearing is failing, causing noise only when spinning faster.
Why it's wrong here
A failing power supply fan bearing typically generates a grinding, rattling, or buzzing sound due to friction and wear within the mechanical assembly. This noise is distinct from a high-pitched electrical whine and would likely persist or worsen with fan speed, but its character is fundamentally mechanical, not an electrical resonance.
- ✗
The CPU cooler fan is unbalanced and vibrating against the case.
Why it's wrong here
An unbalanced CPU cooler fan would primarily cause a low-frequency hum, vibration, or a rattling noise if it physically contacts other components or the case. This mechanical imbalance results in a distinct vibrational sound profile, which is fundamentally different from the high-frequency, electrical resonance-induced whine described.
- ✓
The power supply or GPU is experiencing coil whine due to electrical resonance.
Why this is correct
Coil whine is an audible high-pitched sound originating from inductors, such as those found in power supplies or graphics cards, when their coils vibrate at resonant frequencies due to varying electrical currents. This phenomenon, often more noticeable under high load or specific frame rates, is a result of magnetostriction or piezoelectric effects and is generally considered a normal, albeit sometimes annoying, characteristic rather than a sign of impending failure.
- ✗
The hard drive is making noise as it reads data during gaming.
Why it's wrong here
Hard disk drives produce characteristic mechanical noises like clicking, whirring, or scratching as the read/write heads move across the platters and the motor spins. These sounds are directly tied to data access operations and are distinct from a consistent, high-pitched electrical whine that fluctuates with system load, which is not a typical operational sound for an HDD.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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