Is a noisey PSU a worry ?

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Buckster

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• Feb 14, 2008

• #1

I have a Tagan U22 Dual-engine - 700W

20A for 4 12V rails ...

under normal operation fine .. but in 3d mode where GFX requires a large load it becomes very noisey

with a 8800GTS it made a noise like a siren - see this youtube for type of noise

that was with ATI Tool, with games it made a quietish chirping

with a 3870x2 it doesn't make that siren noise, but it makes quite a load chirping noise, like a fan with dodgey bearings, you can hear it over all the case fans etc.

now I've heard that either

(1) its a sign the PSU is being over-loaded - therefore time to get a new PSU before it goes pop

(2) its just the design of the switched mode PSU - the noise is annoying but normal

any ideas please ? changing the PSU is about £120 so its not a small amount of money -but if I have to I'll do it.

cheers, Mark.

 

=ACID RAIN=

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• Feb 14, 2008

• #2

Weird!

I would think it might be inductor noise, but that is usually a constant sound. It almost behaves like some sort of resonating interference. This is a first for me. I wonder, does the fan spin up higher under load, or is it a constant rate?

 

OP

B

Buckster

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• Feb 14, 2008

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• #3

hi thanks for reply

it is weird it realy is - the siren (I thought i'd trud on one of my sons toys !) - was with my GTS. The chirpiing sounds like a loud fluttering like something turning on and off very quickly.

a friend suggested it could be "chopping" noise from the Switched mode design - but I'm not sure what that should sound like !

seems to be stable, just don't want it to keel over one day and take out the rest of my PC !

I'm pretty sure the fan doesn't spin up - whatever is chirpiing it's not the fan

ps youtube video is not mine - but exact same noise mine made with the GTS

I can RMA - but since RMAs always take a few weeks at best - I'd have to get another PSU in the meanwhile

 

=ACID RAIN=

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• Feb 14, 2008

• #4

I would RMA if you can't find a solution in the next few days. Let them know exactly what the problem is, maybe the engineers will be interested if this starts to become a real issue.

If it was out of warranty I would say let's open it up (carefully) and see what the capacitors look like, ie. bulging etc. However if you can RMA then don't sweat it.

 

Pandam00nium

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• Feb 15, 2008

• #5

You can always call(or e-mail) the PSU manufacturer as well to see if they can assist you on whether or not thats a big issue. It does sound weird though.

 

=ACID RAIN=

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• Feb 15, 2008

• #6

They may say it's fine, but I still wouldn't want to use it. I don't care if it nets me an extra 100 watts, I STILL wouldn't want to use it. That's annoying!

 

OP

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Buckster

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• Feb 16, 2008

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• #7

thanks very much - I'll RMA it - and choose a new PSU in the meanwhile ...

not sure what to choose yet

 

Automata

Destroyer of Empires and Use

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• Feb 16, 2008

• #8

Buckster said:

thanks very much - I'll RMA it - and choose a new PSU in the meanwhile ...

not sure what to choose yet

Click to expand...

Corsair HW520 or HX620 are recommended power supplies around here

Modular, solid, quiet, cheap.

 

OP

B

Buckster

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• Feb 16, 2008

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• #9

thanks modular would certainly be a bonus ! even with a cavernous case like the Elcipse 62 I have - hiding all the current PSU cables is a right pain !

would the HX620 be enough for

Q6600 @ 1.5Vcore
4 gig RAM
3xHDDs
3870x2

or should I be looking more at 900W rated PSUs, Corsair, etc ?

 

Automata

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• Feb 16, 2008

• #10

Buckster said:

thanks modular would certainly be a bonus ! even with a cavernous case like the Elcipse 62 I have - hiding all the current PSU cables is a right pain !

would the HX620 be enough for

Q6600 @ 1.5Vcore
4 gig RAM
3xHDDs
3870x2

or should I be looking more at 900W rated PSUs, Corsair, etc ?

Click to expand...

I run about that much on mine, it hasn't flinched yet. Not sure what the power draw on your video card is compared to mine since I'm overclocked heavily (and I don't know ATI that well). Also, add a 7800gt to the mix that I just put on.

edit: Comparing your specs to mine, I'd say we would be about even on wattage if I am guessing the GPU power draw correctly.

 

OP

B

Buckster

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• Feb 17, 2008

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• #11

thanks guys

I'm tempted to get one of the Thermaltakess or Corsairs after reading up more now

what do people reckon?

TX750 @ 90 pounds
Thermaltake Toughpower 850 @ 100 pounds (not sure it has a 8 pin PCI-E Power conn though ?)
Thermaltake Toughpower 1200 (cheaper than 1000 in the UK) @ 145 pounds (which definately seems to have 8 pin PCI-E power)

?

cheers, Mark.

 

JamesXP

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• Feb 17, 2008

• #12

TX750 no question that 1.2KW equates to like 300$

 

OP

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Buckster

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• Feb 17, 2008

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• #13

thanks

actually HX series would be better for me - much difference between HX and TX quality wise? (would prefer modular so as to not hide lots of cables)

and am I right in thinking the Corsairs don't come with a 8 pin PCI-E power cable ? I have a 3870x2 that I'd like to overclock in the future.

yes 300$ does seem overkill for a PSU !!!

 

JamesXP

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• Feb 17, 2008

• #14

And the TX750 and HX620 are good PSU's one's built be SeaSonic the other by Chennel Well Tech.