Antec Trupower 430W makes squeaky warbling noise when CPU under load.

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Fun

Ok, I went and did some more research in addition, as that site seems to assume a constant value for the power factor. I am getting this:

Watts * (1/PowerFactor) = VoltAmps

Right?


Or, let me be a bit less stupid about that:
Watts / PowerFactor = VoltAmps


And, I edited my post of numbers above, hopefully that's accurate now.

 

[biostud]

For some reason Seasonics 3.3V always seem to be a little on the low side, but it has never given any trouble in tests or for me.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: biostud
For some reason Seasonics 3.3V always seem to be a little on the low side, but it has never given any trouble in tests or for me.

It's dipped down to 3.09, according to the monitoring chip anyway, but the system didn't lock up. Where can I measure the voltage, other than right at the supply? I expect that the voltage might be different by the time it makes it to the components, but that might not be true.


According to MBM5:
3.3V - 3.14V
5V - 4.87V
12V - 11.81V

According to a voltmeter, connected to the ATX plug:
3.3V - 3.29V
5V - 5.09V
12V - 12.12V

I'd still love to be able to measure the voltages on the motherboard, but that would probably be rather risky.

 

[sharkeeper]

Never assume unity power factor because in the real world it doesn't exist.

Never rely on mainboard sensor readings to be accurate. They *may* be relative but that's about it.

Usually it's the 5V bus that sags not the 3V.

In any case: YMMV.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Never assume unity power factor because in the real world it doesn't exist.

Never rely on mainboard sensor readings to be accurate. They *may* be relative but that's about it.

Usually it's the 5V bus that sags not the 3V.

In any case: YMMV.

So basically, the results matter.
MBM5 reports that the 3.3v line dipped to 3.07v, BUT the system is still running fine, which the Antec couldn't manage in its last days. So it looks like the Seasonic is here to stay.

You'd think that, with motherboard technology capable of producing nanosecond-precise clock ticks, they'd be able to make a chip that can do something simplistic, like accurately measuring and reporting a voltage.

 

[sharkeeper]

You'd think that, with motherboard technology capable of producing nanosecond-precise clock ticks, they'd be able to make a chip that can do something simplistic, like accurately measuring and reporting a voltage.

As cheap as it is, it's amazing it even works as good as it does!

DVD players for $15? Ten years ago we were paying $175 for the laser diode alone that is in the damn things! Ten years ago the (writing) lasers did not exist - in 5.6 /9mm package anyways and cost? Over $3,000.00! I do collect (the diodes) from burners though to use in a currency identifying system I designed. Very low budget, high tech as with most things today not defense related.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: sharkeeper

You'd think that, with motherboard technology capable of producing nanosecond-precise clock ticks, they'd be able to make a chip that can do something simplistic, like accurately measuring and reporting a voltage.

As cheap as it is, it's amazing it even works as good as it does!

DVD players for $15? Ten years ago we were paying $175 for the laser diode alone that is in the damn things! Ten years ago the (writing) lasers did not exist - in 5.6 /9mm package anyways and cost? Over $3,000.00! I do collect (the diodes) from burners though to use in a currency identifying system I designed. Very low budget, high tech as with most things today not defense related.

And I remember a time when consumer level dual layer writable DVDs were technically impossible to make.

How cheap are we talking about for the chips commonly used on a motherboard?

 

[sharkeeper]

The most expensive thing is the northbridge chip itself. Other parts are super cheap and are purchased in large quantities. They are off the shelf components, i.e Winbond. When one considers the socket, it's really amazing that you can buy a super cheap integrated solution for under fifty bucks in single quantities. DOA rates are not that bad either even with the cheapies like ECS/PCCHIPS etc.

Just wait until the Chinese enter the automobile market!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
You'd think that, with motherboard technology capable of producing nanosecond-precise clock ticks, they'd be able to make a chip that can do something simplistic, like accurately measuring and reporting a voltage.

Actually, the CPU clock timings have a rather large amount of imprecision in them, believe it or not. But the CPU/system can still handle that, otherwise things like "spread-spectrum" CPU clocking wouldn't work right. That's why so many motherboards and CPUs don't run at exactly X.XX Ghz, but often +/- that by a somewhat large amount. (30Mhz or more)

 

[Fisher999]

Originally posted by: Kvaerner Masa
Just wait until the Chinese enter the automobile market!

Oh how I just can't wait; more lost American Jobs as GM or Ford "bites the dust" ! :disgust:

 

[bjc112]

Jeff are you sure it's your PSU.. I HAVE THAT EXACT SAME NOISE.. But when i Run the small FFT's I don't heat tthat noise.. Only MAX HEAT and Power consumption!

It's sounds like an Alien signal of some sort!

My CPU is ROCK stable, but in games my x850 gives out.. And I just swapped it out for a new one!!

I think it's time for a new PSU...

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: bjc112
Jeff are you sure it's your PSU.. I HAVE THAT EXACT SAME NOISE.. But when i Run the small FFT's I don't heat tthat noise.. Only MAX HEAT and Power consumption!

It's sounds like an Alien signal of some sort!

My CPU is ROCK stable, but in games my x850 gives out.. And I just swapped it out for a new one!!

I think it's time for a new PSU...

Pretty sure. I tried some trick I read about - get a long cardboard tube, put it to your ear, and then put the other end over various areas of the PC. Helps narrow it down.

With the Seasonic in there, no noise, even when I run a hard drive benchmark in addition to the Prime95 stress test. Note too, the hard drive benchmark strains 4 drives since I'm running RAID 5.

 

[sharkeeper]

Now if you're using cardboard tubes for passive amplification to hear noises that may be deemed as excessive.

Some switchers are silent whereas others sing like a banshee in heat. Fortunately most are in between. Most will scream before they pop too but you're past V2 (always) and something's gotta give which it does. At least you're on the ground in this case.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Kvaerner Masa
Now if you're using cardboard tubes for passive amplification to hear noises, that may be deemed as excessive.

Some switchers are silent whereas others sing like a banshee in heat. Fortunately most are in between. Most will scream before they pop too but you're past V2 (always) and something's gotta give which it does. At least you're on the ground in this case.

I recommend using cardboard tubes to localize the sound, not scan the entire computer to seek out any odd noises.

I guess I've just never liked the idea of solid state devices that are able to generate a lot of sound.

 

[bjc112]

Was the PSU deemed defective? AM I running a risk with this PSU?

When I run the Small FFT's I dont hear it.. When running MAx heat I hear it.

 

[sharkeeper]

I guess I've just never liked the idea of solid state devices that are able to generate a lot of sound.

You should hear a large amplifier play a symphony with no speakers. Some amps will blow out doing this however.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: bjc112
Was the PSU deemed defective? AM I running a risk with this PSU?

When I run the Small FFT's I dont hear it.. When running MAx heat I hear it.

I don't know what's going on with the PSU; it was delivered, but I have yet to get a replacement. Antec ships with UPS ground, and we're on opposite sides of the country, so it could be UPS Ground's maximum of 10 days to get here.

Originally posted by: Kvaerner Masa

I guess I've just never liked the idea of solid state devices that are able to generate a lot of sound.

You should hear a large amplifier play a symphony with no speakers. Some amps will blow out doing this however.

Weird. I wonder what it is that makes the components do that.