Power Supply Problems

[noname4498]

I have had 2 power supplys with the same problem, they both put out a high pitched, high freq. whistling noise. The first was a coolmax 600, the second an OCZ 520. The coolmax was worse, but the ocz gave me a bad headache too. It was worse under load playing a game, and got worse as the day went on. Right now I have a thermaltake 480 in there, but with 18A on the 12V my 7800gt does not run very well, and I had to disconnect 2 hard drives, but it does not have the noise.

Does any one know what is causing this noise?

Should I get another thermaltake, or another brand?

 

[Luckyboy1]

Are you sure it's the power supply(s) [unlikely all 3 same problem] causing the high pitched noise. A leaking capacitor anywhere on the mommaboard or elsewhere can cause it as well.

 

[noname4498]

I think so, because I do not have the problem with the thermaltake.

 

[Luckyboy1]

May be capacitor noise. OCZ will happily rMA over that issue.

 

[noname4498]

I got it from newegg a few weeks ago, so I could get a replacement RMA, but then the new one could do the same thing if ocz's just put out that noise.

 

[nova2]

i get significantly increased high frequency noises when plugging in an external usb harddrive, only happens on one of my computers when the HD is idle.

that stuff can be annoying, heh

 

[noname4498]

I have not heard anyone talk about this problem with ocz, maybe its just a bad PSU, or my ears are sensitive to high frequency or something, but then again I do not hear the noise with the thermaltake.

 

[Luckyboy1]

My OCZ is completely silent and the fan is whisper quiet.

 

[Bozo Galora]

go to an indoor handgun shooting range for a few hours, rent a .44 mag. pistol, and fire >100 rounds with no ear protectors.

Viola! Prob solved.

Enjoy.

 

[noname4498]

that might work, but my ears would ring louder than the whistling noise

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: noname4498
I have not heard anyone talk about this problem with ocz, maybe its just a bad PSU, or my ears are sensitive to high frequency or something, but then again I do not hear the noise with the thermaltake.

Sounds like coil whine to me...

It's caused by interactions between the PSU and any component with voltage regulation circuitry, motherboards and graphic cards are common culprits.

You seem to have a pretty common hardware so it's possible that you might just have PSU that is more prone to it then others. I guess I would try to get an exchange from OCZ and see if that helps. If not you may have to try another PSU, a Forton-Source or Seasonic would be a good choice.

 

[noname4498]

I have heard that seasonics don't do well with DFI nf4

 

[LifeStealer]

also might wanna check the ac voltage. if its below 115v by a good margin then buy a power conditioner.

 

[noname4498]

Its an old house, so it might be, I don't think I have anything to check it with

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

An old house?? Seriously consider a UPS w/AVR. Cost? about $80-$150.
APC, CyberPower, Tripplite or Belkin. Belkin being the cheapest. I use a UPS because
the house is 55yo, redid the breaker boxes and still had problems when the air compressor
kicked in. Having a UPS is a wise investment.


...Galvanized

 

[noname4498]

The house is over 110 years, so I am sure some of the wires are not in good shape, so can I buy an ac tester at the store that will work on a socket?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: noname4498
The house is over 110 years, so I am sure some of the wires are not in good shape, so can I buy an ac tester at the store that will work on a socket?

If noise changes under load I doubt it's a problem with the AC lines. I could be wrong though, but instead of buying something maybe try moving the machine to a friends house and see what happens.

Originally posted by: noname4498
I have heard that seasonics don't do well with DFI nf4

Is that still an issue?

 

[noname4498]

I guess so, there are warnings on newegg's reviews about it, and dfistreet