Power supplies... variable fan speed?

[Caiwyn]

I've mentioned before in other posts that I'm putting a machine together for purposes of recording and editing audio, so noise is my biggest concern. I've only got one piece left to purchase, and that's the power supply.

While keeping noise level down is important, it's not as important as keeping the noise level STEADY. I've looked at the Enermax power supplies, but their fan speeds vary depending on temperature, which means the noise they generate varies as well, and I can't have that. I don't mind a less quiet PSU as long as the noise level is steady.

QuietPC.com supposedly sells some very quiet power supply units, and I'm thinking of picking one up, but I've noticed that in the specifications, there's a line that says "Fan speed control - thermal" This probably means that the fan speed varies, but I'm wondering if at that level it's not noticeable enough to matter.

Does anybody have experience with this? Or can somebody maybe recommend a good, fairly quiet power supply with a steady fan speed? I hear the Sparkle and Fortron units are nice, but I've no experience with them. I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[SaturnX]

I've got an Antec PP303X, which has the features you speak of, with my rig the PSU stays at the same speed, I had it change speeds once, and that was when one of my case fans went out, and heat began building up, when it sped up, I could hear the PSU, and it was a lot different than before, but i replaced the fan and everything's been great so far.

--Mark

 

[MrThompson]

My Enermax 651 is super quiet. If the variable fan speed is a problem, put a trimmer in place of the thermistor and set your own fan speed.

 

[Caiwyn]

That's an idea, MrThompson... how do I go about doing that, and is it safe?

 

[Caiwyn]

What, no love from the hardcore techies?

Surely somebody can recommend either a quiet PSU with a steady fan, or a variable fan that's extremely quiet even at its highest speed...

 

[Caiwyn]

*bump*

Aw, pleeze, fellas... At the very least, can someone tell me about the noise level on the Sparkle psu's? Or at least tell me how to keep a variable-speed fan always running at the same speed. I just want the quietest STEADY noise level I can get.