Does Antec SX830 PS have variable speed fan??

[mgpaulus]

Does anyone know if the Antec SX830 Stock powersupply have a variable speed fan in it? I'm thinking about replacing the Fan in it with a PC Power & Cooling Silencer fan, but want to know if I'm losing anything by doing that (outside of the noise...).

Thanks.

 

[HaVoC]

It has the 300 Watt "Smart Power" supply installed so I think yes, it has a variable speed temp. controlled fan. Noise is a relative thing so if it seems loud to you then go ahead and replace it.

The PPC Silencer units are quiet, but they are also very pricey. You may try installing a Panaflo fan in the Antec PS but check to make sure it will work with the SmartPower system.

 

[mgpaulus]

You may try installing a Panaflo fan in the Antec PS but check to make sure it will work with the SmartPower system.

Hmmm. This may be a dumb question, but what exactly do you mean by "check out to make sure it will work"??? Some site with specs I need to look at? what??

 

[HaVoC]

I should have elaborated. The SmartPower may just be a thermostatically controlled fan with the heat sensor on the fan hub. If this is the case you can just swap out to a Panaflo 80MM fan which may be quieter then the stock fan. You can't be 100% sure if it will be more or less quiet unless you try it in YOUR setup.

When you switch to Panaflo and the stock fan is thermo controlled at the fan hub you will obviously lose this capability with the Panaflo. If the thermo control exists separate from the fan and controls voltage to the fan then you will have to make sure the Panaflo can handle the lower voltages without stalling, etc. I wouldn't recommend switching out the fan if the thermo control is separate from the 80mm fan.

 

[mgpaulus]

Thanks for the update. Guess I will have to look at the PS sometime and see if I can determine how the fan speed is controlled. As far as the PPC fan, I already have several around. I have been ordering them on and off, and if I knew how many I ultimately needed, I would have just ordered a case to start with. You are right, they are pricey, but I think I have one in an AT PS that I could swipe and replace into this PS. But I had better check out the Speed Issue. The first thing I did when I got my SX830 was to place PPC fans in all 4 positions, and I swear that the PS and sunon high output fan on the Pal 6035 (2cooltek) are louder than all 4 PPC fans combined. I would like to quieten this thing down some more, so I've got a Taisol 760092 on order, and I think replacing the Fan in the PS will be about as quiet as I can get....

BTW, with no case mods, and those 4 PPC fans, my inside case temps run about 10F above ambient room temp (measured with a Radio Shack inside/outside thermo with the probe stuck at the top of the case. Not exact, but I think I'm getting pretty decent airflow in there. I'm gonna put in some rounded cables also to relieve some blockage and see if I can clear some air passages in there (I've got floppy, ATA-100, SCSI-UW(68 pin), and SCSI-II(50 pin) cables. It's a mess right now.....)

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I have the same case as you do, i just got it about 5 days ago. I will look at the stock PSU that came with it and let you know on the variable speed. I am pretty sure it isnt, but I will confirm for you. As for temps i am using 4 80mm fans, 2 sunon intake and the antec that came with it for exhaust. My temps are 25c degrees idle 38c degrees load. But i am running a P3 chip so your AMD will run a little hotter i believe.

 

[goggleax]

My 830 does have a variable speed fan, that's what "Smart Power" is. However I beleive that if you remove the stock fan it will throw off the smart power feature - probablt not the best idea considering your warranty would be voided too. But that's your call...

Mine is quiet enough for me.

🙂

 

[HaVoC]

I think goggleax has a good point. Most of your noise is coming from the CPU fan looks like so you might look into the Taisol with a 80mm-60mm shroud and a Panasonic L1A or PPC stuck on there.