Noisy PSU

[wongnog]

Hey guys, I have an Antec Sonata II case whose PSU is starting to sound very noisy. The PSU that came with the case is an 450Watt SmartPower 2.0. I've been able to isolate the noise by unplugging the case fans, and I also recently replaced the cpu cooler with an Artic Cooling Freezer Pro. The only other fan would be from my e-GeForce 7800 GT CO, but I can tell the noise is coming from the top of my case and not from the bottom where the video card is.

The case was purchased in Dec 2005. I think Antec offers a 3 yr warranty, but I kinda don't want to be without a PSU while I go through the RMA process. I've tried blowing compressed air into the fans, cleared some dust doign that, but not much else. Anything else I can do to try and fix the problem myself? Thanks!

 

[Blain]

Will they even give you an RMA because the fan is louder than you like?
You can oil or replace the fan if nothing else.

 

[wongnog]

well I don't think it's the fan is louder than I like, it's rather the fan is making an unusual grinding/whirring noise. It's definately louder than it was, and surely not to spec. The Antec Sonata II is supposed to be one of those "quiet" cases, but not with this noisy PSU.

 

[Operandi]

If the fan sounds like it's going bad then you can either replace the fan yourself of have Antec do it under warranty. But if the fan is just running faster (hence louder) then it then there is something more serious wrong with the PSU.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Operandi
If the fan sounds like it's going bad then you can either replace the fan yourself of have Antec do it under warranty. But if the fan is just running faster (hence louder) then it then there is something more serious wrong with the PSU.

His caps are saying bye-bye and the fan has ramped up to cool the unit...Betcha!


...Galvanized

 

[wongnog]

my caps... the capacitors on the motherboard? I have an ASUS A8N-SLI Premium. I'd like to know how I can test it. The PSU doesn't seem to have a fan monitor that the motherboard can display.

 

[Rommel44]

Originally posted by: wongnog
well I don't think it's the fan is louder than I like, it's rather the fan is making an unusual grinding/whirring noise. It's definately louder than it was, and surely not to spec. The Antec Sonata II is supposed to be one of those "quiet" cases, but not with this noisy PSU.

Get better PSU before it damage something.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Your PSU's caps. Antec uses Fuhjyyu caps in the SmartPower and TruePower units.

Those in the know call'em Fudge-you caps...They are junk, good for about 1.5~2 years of service life.
Now someone will post they have had no issue with Fuhjyyu caps in thier SmartPower's
50 year service life.
PM, AntecCSR for an RMA.

...Galvanized

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: wongnog
my caps... the capacitors on the motherboard? I have an ASUS A8N-SLI Premium. I'd like to know how I can test it. The PSU doesn't seem to have a fan monitor that the motherboard can display.

No, the caps in the PSU. Though you might have to take the cover off the PSU to get a good look inside.

 

[wongnog]

thanks for the tip Galvanized, I'll PM AntecCSR to ask how the RMA process works. Only issue I'd have is I'd be out of a PSU (therefore no computer) for however long the RMA takes (weeks?).

Operandi: Any links to what these PSUs look like inside? Is it easy for me to tell by eye if the caps in the PSU are shot?

 

[Bobthelost]

If you open the PSU you void the warranty, don't do it.