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Is it hard to replace a power supply fan? Any links or tips?

Noriaki

Lifer
Just let me say...I'm not that picky about noise. Those 38CFM Delta Black Labels bug me because they have a very high pitched whine...but I don't consider them excessively loud....I have two 26CFM YS Tech fans on my CPU and they don't bother me at all....

But my F******ING power supply fan! GOOD LORD, I can hear it from downstairs when my computer room door is closed!!! It drives my roommate crazy and it's starting to bother me....it gets kind of annoying when you can't hear the quiet parts in a DVD becuase of your power supply fan......or f*** forget the quiet parts in a DVD...I can't hear the quiet parts when we are in the living room downstairs watching a move on that screen...

Can someone recommend a link or something on how to replace my PSU fan?

It's an excellent PSU. 450Watt super powerful...delivers like 250+watts on the +3.3 and +5 volt combined rails (40Amps at +3.3V, 28Amps at +5V)...I want to keep the PSU but do I really need a fan that dwarfs the 737s flying over my house?
 
A 450 Watt PS is going to have to have a pretty skookum fan. Usually all you need to do to replace one is to take out the four screws that hold the cover on and the four screws that hold the fan and the old one is loose. The wires will either have a plug-in connector or will be soldered in. Consult the label on the old fan and make sure the replacement has at least the same wattage rating or it will not have enough poop to keep the supply cool. Reverse the disassembly procedure and Bob's your uncle.
 
I've done it a few times. It's pretty easy. You will likely have to clip and solder the wires since you will not have the correct connector.
 
Delta makes terrible fans that vibrate and have unlubricated bearings. AMD should drop them as a supplier.

First, unplug the computer from the wall outlet. Merely turning off the switch, even one on a surge protector, isn't enough.

If there's no plug for the fan and you don't feel like soldering, cut the wires several inches from the circuit board, and splice the new fan into them. Wire nuts are OK, but wrap them on the outside with electrical tape, and don't stretch the last few wraps at all or they'll unravel. The important things are to not wire in the fan backwards (won't run at all), and don't let the splices short out against anything else, especially the nearly 200 volts DC inside the power supply.
 
I share your aural pain! I too have a 450 Sparkle in one server that is running at 1 GHz. Yeah . . . it's noisy, and probably can be changed. I would replace it with a ball-bearing, 12 vdc fan of the same size and CFM capability.

It's not hard. JUst remove the P/S from the case. Open it up, and remove the fan. If it is plugged, just replace it. If it is soldered, just cut the wires (red and black) and splice in the new fan . . . tape the splices and run quiter.

I have replaced several sleeve bearing fans with their ball bearing counterparts. It is a lot easier in ATX cases than AT. 🙂
 
"Will my PSU fan say on it what the CFM rating is? "

It should, or it'll have a Model # that you can look up.

Thorin
 
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