Corsair VX series 450W

[ViviTheMage]

I just built a new computer, and got this PSU, which is just amazing, black, awesome cable management, powerhouse, but it hums in a very very high pitch tone, that probably only a few can hear. My girlfriend can hear it, so I know it just isn't me!

It happens a bit after BIOS, then its relatively continuous. But if I start to open drive folders, it stops for a split second then comes back, until I open another drive folder....

The only things I have connected to it are 2 DVD drives, 2 HDs (500gb seagate, 80gb seagate), 8800GTS G92 512mb, 2 system fans + heatsink fan off my zalman heatsink.

It seems odd that it throttles off for a split second when I start to 'seek' on my drive.

Any ideas? I was thinking about RMAing, but then my computer would be out of commission for a good week or two, and AoC is pre-releasing on Saturday, and buy.com nor corsair will cross ship.

 

[Engineer]

Coil (inductor) whine, most likely. Not much you can do except to either isolate it in your supply and place either hot glue or super glue (small amount) onto the offending coil or RMA it. I solved it on a Seasonic 550W model by placing more load on the 12v lines. I placed a 30ohm power resistor (made from 3 - 5 ohm power resistors in series from Radio shack) on the 12v lines. When loaded up, the supply would quit whining. Wasteful? Yes, but also quiet.

I would suggest an RMA. Unlikely (but possible) to get two in a row.

Also, check to see if SpeedStep (power savings) is turned on or off. The pitch was louder when I turned on SpeedStep (using less power). YMMV and good luck!

Most likely, the seek of your drive pulls more current on the supply for a split second which kills the whine.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Where can you check this speedstep setting?

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
Where can you check this speedstep setting?

You can right click on My Computer and then click on properties. If there are two speeds listed for your processor (one rated and one active), most likely you are running SpeedStep (I'm assuming you're running an Intel processor of some sort, no?).

To turn on/off, go to Control Power, Power Options:

Turn off: Set to Home/Office Desktop
Turn on: Set to Minimal Power Management

Speedstep lowers your processor voltage and speed resulting in much lower power. If it isn't enabled (Minimal Power Management), there isn't much else I can recommend other than what I posted earlier.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I actually just built my parents a new computer with a VX450 in it and I'm hearing a high pitch whine. Though I am unsure of whether or not it is coming from the PSU or the motherboard (P35-DS3L), because I have had motherboards squeal in the past, but not as loud the sound I was hearing earlier. It was pretty damn annoying to my ears. Maybe they will not hear but if it bothers them I'll have to switch out my HX520 temporarily to see what is causing it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: njdevilsfan87
I actually just built my parents a new computer with a VX450 in it and I'm hearing a high pitch whine. Though I am unsure of whether or not it is coming from the PSU or the motherboard (P35-DS3L), because I have had motherboards squeal in the past, but not as loud the sound I was hearing earlier. It was pretty damn annoying to my ears. Maybe they will not hear but if it bothers them I'll have to switch out my HX520 temporarily to see what is causing it.

I have the same board, with my PSU. It is the PSU imo, I have a E8400 btw, so it doesnt really sonsume much power anyway

 

[Engineer]

Does it happen while in BIOS (setup) (I know you stated a bit after BIOS, but I wonder if it happens during setup?)?

Also, if you load up the processor (benchmarks, prime, etc.), does it go away? Maybe even with 3dMark06 for example?

 

[njdevilsfan87]

After closer inspection it is definitely the PSU. When the system is in idle, there isn't any noise, but if there is any kind of hard drive or processor work, the PSU whines. When I loaded up P95 and ATI Tool at the same time, the sound almost went away, but was still present. Definitely no where near as bad under load... but that's the problem... the computer never reaches that load.