power supply giving off a high pitched squeal

[fjorner]

After I turn off my new PC in an Antec case with Antec PSU, the power supply gives off a high pitched squeal. If I turn off the PSU in the back, the squealing dies down over five seconds or so. When I turn the PC back on, the whine goes away.

I fear this is something bad. What's going on?

 

[SparkyJJO]

some circuitry in the PSU isn't right. Does it squeal when you first plug the comp in but don't turn it on?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Replace your PSU with atleast a FSP Group. If the antec psu is in warrenty, RMA it, then
sell it. If it's out of warrenty, open it, inspect for bad electrolytic capacitors. Then dispose
of properly. Recap it if you wish/can as the pcb should be single layer and easy to do.
Further info can be found at badcaps.net. They have a thread dedicated to antec psus
over there

Change it very soon, as a PSU that's saying bye-bye can kill other hardware on it's way out.

...Galvanized

 

[Zepper]

Most PSUs make some discharging noise on power down but you should have a hard time hearing it from any distance. You'd have to pull the cover off your PSU to localize the problem further. Give Antec a call and see if their ideas seem to be on the level whether in warranty or not. Without more troubleshooting, I'd prbably want to RMA it if it's in warranty.

.bh.

 

[fjorner]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankeeChange it very soon, as a PSU that's saying bye-bye can kill other hardware on it's way out.

Originally posted by: ZepperWithout more troubleshooting, I'd prbably want to RMA it if it's in warranty.

My thoughts exactly. I just RMA's it through mwave.com, the vendor, and a new one is on the way. Not taking any risks.

Tell me this, I found some websites that really trashed Antec's reputation, yet here I thought back in October that Antec was very reliable. What's up with that? I know you'll find somebody trashing any company, but what do you guys think?

 

[Ctrackstar126]

A squeal could mean a capacitor right?

 

[MrUniq]

RMA it if I were you. My antec is always quiet.

 

[Zepper]

Apparently Antec has a capacitor problem and a critical mass of them have occurred within the recent past to hit the radar screen. So now Antec's rep re. PSUs isn't as shiny as it once was. And the P180 case suffers from design problems that could have been forseen and dealt with prior to production (warping/separating door panels for one) as well. Just have to remember that Antec is mainly a marketing company - no need to put them up on any pedestal.

.bh.

 

[Bozo Galora]

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/6400/

http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/archive/index.php?t-6866.html

 

[BudAshes]

Im having a similar problem except i just replaced my motherboard/cpu and now when i turn on the computer my antec psu starts making this high pitch beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep that goes on forever.

 

[jonnyGURU]

It's common and harmless.... unless it annoys you.

As stated in Bozo's link, which references a HardForums post from a former SMPS EE, the whining comes from a vibration of the windings on a transformer or coil. The transformers are supposed to be "glazed" with a sealant to keep them from whining, but if there's any loose windings, it'll whine.

The motherboard making the whine is the same thing, only it's the windings of a coil vibrating against something else, which can also happen in a PSU. Easy way to troubleshoot this is to take a popsicle stick and touch the coils on the motherboard until the squealing stops. I wouldn't bother doing this with a PSU since you'd have to open it and void the warranty.

It's not leaking caps.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
It's common and harmless.... unless it annoys you.

As stated in Bozo's link, which references a HardForums post from a former SMPS EE, the whining comes from a vibration of the windings on a transformer or coil. The transformers are supposed to be "glazed" with a sealant to keep them from whining, but if there's any loose windings, it'll whine.

The motherboard making the whine is the same thing, only it's the windings of a coil vibrating against something else, which can also happen in a PSU. Easy way to troubleshoot this is to take a popsicle stick and touch the coils on the motherboard until the squealing stops. I wouldn't bother doing this with a PSU since you'd have to open it and void the warranty.

It's not leaking caps.

When a cap starts losing capacitance, could that help induce coil whine?

...Galvanized

 

[jonnyGURU]

Ehh... I won't say no, but I haven't heard of it. I mean,

See, all power supplies whine. Typically, it's at a frequency we can't hear. But as the load increases, the frequency drops and becomes audible.

You know what's funny... the older you are, the more likely you can not hear the noise.

 

[jonnyGURU]

DP.

Nothing happened the first time I hit the "post reply" button.

 

[tropic]

Your PSU is channeling the spirits of its dead ancestors, nothing to worry about.

 

[fjorner]

LOL ok. Just replaced the old PSU with a new one, no squeal. Good to hear that it is harmless. No longer my problem though.