PSU Fan Clicking noise - repairable?

[Ancalagon44]

Hey guys,

So, my PSU fan makes this clicking noise. It is a Corsair VX450W. I think it has been making this noise for a while, but I've been ignoring it. Today, I decided to investigate, and discovered A) it is definitely the PSU fan and not another system fan, B) it isn't because of dust (I cleaned the PSU out).

What can I do about it? The PSU is probably about 6 years old now. But, it is running fine and it seems wasteful to replace it just because of a noise it is making. Can it be repaired?

EDIT: I should mention that the noise only appears under load. When the system is idling, it is silent. It is when I play a game that the fan spins up and the noise appears.

 

[UsandThem]

I'd simply replace a six year old PSU. It had a 5 year warranty, so I always view things like this as "Did I get my money's worth out of it".

You can open it up and replace the fan (or try oiling the bearing). Just be aware of the shock hazard a PSU can pose (they hold a charge for a while after being unplugged).

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/quiet-noisy-computer-fans-with-a-drop-of-oil/

http://www.overclockers.com/em-spinning-lubricate-pc-fans/

You don't have to replace it with an expensive unit, as just last week Newegg had several nice Seasonic PSUs for $40 - $50, or you could even go more basic one like this one for $17.99 after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&Tpk=N82E16817139026

 

[DaveSimmons]

Be careful, the big capacitors inside the PSU can give you a very nasty shock. Don't crack open the case and try to replace the fan, it's not worth dying for

 

[PottedMeat]

'clicking fan'

this could be just a loose wire that gets in the way. shine a flashlight into the psu then load it down and see exactly where the noise is coming from.

 

[C1]

What is size & make of the fan ? Is it an ADDA ?

Had the same problem description.

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/advice-on-psu-issue.2437164/

Turned out that it is the coil spring in the ADDA fans. If you do a google search "clicking PSU fan" then you will find the discussion about this and ways people attempted repair.

Turns out that many ball bearing fans employ the pressure spring that the fan blade axle is mounted thru. It puts axial pressure on the rotating blade assembly to keep it in axial alignment (probably to eliminate "clacking" from axial movement).

I just ordered a sleeve bearing fan from Newegg and put it in the PSU. If you decide to go this route, then it is best to ensure that the sleeve bearing unit runs axially vertically.

One guy just replaced the spring with a slightly smaller diameter one that he took from a spare ball bearing fan the next size down.

I think also that you can just fix your fan. (I think I actually fixed mine, but had already ordered the sleeve unit & it's such a hasel to mess around swapping fans so I never gave the spring repair a good try out.
Mainly, open the fan up (by peeling the stick label covering the bearing well at back of fan, then removing the split washer that retains the fan blade/axle). The offending spring will be threaded on the axle. Inspect the spring & make the decision to carefully bend the last loop (where it ends) on each end of the spring slightly upward (ie, toward the spring) and inward. Doesnt need to be too much, maybe only 0.005" to 0.008" final permanent deformation.

Recommend bench testing the unit before slapping the peel label back on.

Be careful not to lose the tiny snap washer as it can really fly away when popping it off the axle.

Oh ya, the clicking can start with one of these fans at any time in its life (not necessarily a rhyme or reason).

You'll study it & say or conclude its temperature or rpm or load or ..or ... or .... but no ... it's an improper spring.