PSUs and noise...

[Red Squirrel]

I often hear meantioning of PSUs and noise (reviews, forum threads etc) but what noise is this? I never actually heard a PSU make noise other then if it's about to blow like a Emachine PSU I was playing with, it made this liquidy high pitched sound as if there was something boiling, but other then that, I never had one make noise, 486 AT PSUs to "recent" ATX generic 250 watt ones. I have not yet to own or work with a newer 400Watt etc one, so is it only the higher powered ones that are known to noise? Electronic noise bugs me like crazy such as high pitched sounds,high pitched AC triangular waves (not like a transformer) etc... So just wondering if it's just the newer more powerful ones that make noise. I have good ears to hear high pitched stuff, in fact I've heard stuff pass the 20Khz range. So if that's the case I'll make sure to get a low noise one when I want to upgrade my 250Watt one. I want to put a cold cathode light in my PC and I have a feeling it will suck up too much juice.

 

[TrailerParkKing]

I can't comment too much here, because i have never heard the "poer source" of a psu make noise, but I do know that my Thermaltake Pure Power 480's fan do get relatively noisy when they are at full bore...... this is an interesting topic....... curious to see what everyone posts.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah forgot about fans, as some PSUs have two fans so it's double the fan noise of the ones I was mentioning that only have one. But still, 80mm fans usually don't make that much noise. Especially ones that come with a PSU.

 

[JimRaynor]

I don't think you've been listening carefully enough. Maybe you are thinking that the noise is coming from somewhere else. But if you buy like a fortron and have it running next to another power supply you will hear a difference.

 

[josedawg]

I believe the noise most people speak of is the fan(s) that are inside the psu's. Not only is the rotation of the fans making noise, but also the vibration that it emits (slight vibration from 1 and even greater from 2 fans, on the case) that makes the noise. While its not an earth shattering vibration, its small enough so it creates a low amount of noise.

 

[h07sp07]

Still there has to be another source of noise. I had an Enermax 350w, removed the fans and installed my panaflo Ls. I disconnected them from the thermal control so that it was not psu operated. Still, the PSU was a loud beast.

If I were to describe it in words... it is a distinct "humming" noise.

With my silverstone, however, I am almost sure almost all of the noise emanates from the fan. If I shut the fan off, the supply is near dead silent.

 

[josedawg]

Originally posted by: h07sp07
If I were to describe it in words... it is a distinct "humming" noise.

Sounds like the PSU vibrating off the case. It would create a low humming.

 

[jjlsevil]

Thats electrical hum at 60hz.