GPU coil whine/noise when launching Cinema 4D

Ronald McGlynn
Ronald McGlynn
  • Updated
Problem Starting Cinema 4D causes a high-pitched buzzing or whining sound from inside the computer case or speakers.
Solution The noise is GPU coil whine triggered by the AI-assisted Asset Browser search initializing at launch. Removing the mxai folder disables the feature and stops the noise.

Why this happens

The AI-assisted Asset Browser search runs entirely locally on your machine, with no external servers involved. The processing happens on your GPU's Tensor Cores, which are dedicated AI compute cores separate from the CUDA cores used for 3D rendering. On some systems, this initialization workload creates a power draw pattern that causes audible coil whine from small components inside the GPU or power supply. 

How to disable AI search

  1. Close Cinema 4D.
  2. Navigate to the Cinema 4D installation folder:
    • Windows: C:\Program Files\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]\resource\modules\c4d_assetbrowser
    • macOS: /Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]/resource/modules/c4d_assetbrowser
  3. Move the mxai folder to your desktop (so you can restore it later if you want AI search back) or delete it entirely if you do not use the AI-assisted search.
  4. Relaunch Cinema 4D.

Standard Asset Browser search, Watch Folders, and Databases will continue to work normally. To re-enable AI search, move the mxai folder back into c4d_assetbrowser and relaunch.

If you are still experiencing issues after following these steps, please submit a support ticket, and our team will be happy to assist you further.

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