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Power Supply Suddenly Extremely Loud

H

homestarmy

Diamond Member
Hi!

So I have an ULTRA PSU. I don't recall the exact name/version off of the top of my head, but it is a shiny gunmetal silver, and it has two 80mm fans - intake and exhaust. The intake faces the front of the computer to the rear of the standard optical drive location (front of computer).

So it's been working well for quite a while, but today, I came into the computer room and it was ultra (no pun intended) loud. I pulled the machine out and checked all other fans - the problem was the PSU. They're suddenly super loud. I'm not sure if it's just the intake or the exhaust, but it seems to be both.

This PSU has no method of changing fan speed and no indicators of heat to my knowledge. It didn't appear to be overly hot to the touch. There are also no fan speed sensors for the motherboard for me to say how fast they're running.

Is this something that any of you have run into? Could something inside of the PSU have dislodged? I'm thinking something inside, maybe a heatsink, shifted or dislodged, causing the cooling to be strained and causing these fans to have to consistently run at full speed.

Nothing has changed on the computer whatsoever, and also it's working just fine. I'm typing this on it right now. Of course who knows, it could go whenever.

Any ideas besides pulling it apart and doing exploratory surgery? The annoying part of that is that this PSU doesn't have modular connections, and I'd have to disconnect it from everything.

I don't have a backup PSU right now to just swap it with and I'd rather not spend cash on a new PSU if possible.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice that you give!! 🙂
 
If you registered online within 30 days of purchase Ultra PSUs have a Lifetime Warranty if you are that lucky RMA it and you may get a better model
 
You can replace the fans, but as soon as you break the seal you void the warranty. If it is just the fans dying, then replacing them with a similar fan will "fix" the problem (you may have to cut/solder wires). If it is the PSU's fan controller on the fritz, then it won't fix the problem. You may use aftermarket fans with a separate manual fan controller, but you lose temperature control.
 
Generally, PSUs with 80mm fans aren't on the high end of anyone's line... Unless targeted on server use where top brand 80mm ball bearing fans are still common. Personally, I won't buy an Ultra PSU - still have a bad taste from the X-Connect period. If the thermal control circuit for your fan(s) is still working, then you'll want to fairly closely match the specs of the stock fans (power use/CFM), so the thermal control will have the best chance of continuing to work with the new fan(s). Else you can try to control them with an external controller. It's also possible that a good cleaning and a small dab of 3-in-one oil on the bearings could help, at least temporarily... Some PSUs may not have a breakable warranty seal, but probably not the Ultra as I don't think they really want you to get a good look at what's inside...

.bh.
 
I had this same problem with an Ultra 700w that came with my Grid case.. I had to RMA it and they sent me a much nicer 750w in return..

 
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