HAHAHAHAHAHA THIS IS GREAT

[supraway]

I just noticed something. When I am casually using my computer, it makes little noise besides my 4 fans. But, as soon as I start running Prime 95, I get a light hum from something (possibly my PSU or HSF). I wonder what it is. Without Prime 95, pffffff, with Prime 95, buzzzzzzzz.

I CAN CONTROL THE SOUND OF MY COMPUER USING A TOTALLY UNRELATED PROGRAM!!?!?!?!?

[supraway]

...I'll reply to my own post. I figured it out. My 300 watt power supply increases it's fan voltage depending on power consumption. Interesting, huh? Gotta love those A1 psu units.

[mrpcman]

that would help. I love those PSU's.

[Hoot]

The Pulse Width Modulator that controls the +5 and +3.3 volts regulation also contributes to the +12V output, but it is keyed to the +5V. It will change the amount of drive arriving at the transformer as a function of the +5V load. It increases the drive or decreases the drive to try to maintain the +5V at the same value. It does not monitor the +12 and consequently, the +12V is jumping all over the place as it "rides along" on the +5V effort. Mostly what you will notice is a change in fan speeds since they run off of the +12V and most fans develop the majority of their speed in the region between +11 and +12. Because of that, a small change in the +12 will generate a noticiable change in the fans. When that happens, the message your PSU is sending you is that it is working its ass off trying to meet the +5 needs of your system. If you monitor the +5 output and it starts falling off as you increase the load, below 4.9-4.95, you have hit and are exceeding the capacity of the PSU and it's time to think of a higher wattage unit, in the interest of life expectancy.

Hoot

[supraway]

Wow.... my way of explaining was much more simple, but yours is much more in detail.