Quietest ATX Power Supply?

[lifeguard1999]

My cheap power supply is starting to growl, literally. While I continue to monitor the voltages, and they are in easily within specifications, I think that it is about time to get a new one. So my question is which power supply is the quietest/best/least expensive one. I have done some research, but in case I missed anything, I wanted your opinions.

ATX Ultra-Quiet PSU 300W, quietpc.com, 26dB, $75+$36 S&H = $111
Silencer 275 ATX, pcpowercooling.com, 34dB, $85+$0 S&H = $85
Enermax Whisper EG285P-VE (FC) (276W), phamcomputer.com, ??dB, $50 + ? S&H.

Anybody know how quiet the Enermax is? Any other powersupplies I should consider?

 

[Jhhnn]

We have an Antec 300w that is very quiet, the only time it is even noticeable is when burning CDR's, the temp sensor revs up the fan a little.

We also have an Enermax EG351P-VE which is equally quiet, and one helluva piece of equipment. This thing is in another league entirely- very beefy, excellent attention to detail, dual fans, and the cables from hell.(long and in great number)There's more, but i'm not getting that far into it. Currently $49+shipping from computer123.com. They also carry the 250-series for $21.50....

 

[Tonec]

Just replace the fan with a panaflo L1 80mm. Cutting about the metal opening and replacing it with a chrome grill or none at all is as quiet as it gets. All you need to do is splice the red/black wires, even plain old electrical tape will suffice if you don't have the proper tools.

 

[Jhhnn]

Tonec may well be right on, might just need a new fan, even cheaper.

 

[clumsum]

Yea................but Jhhnn is right on w/that Enermax,......and what a great excuse for getting it now........has some advanced wiring features for newer mb's also......!

 

[lifeguard1999]

O.K. So I modified my el-cheapo power supply. All I did was:

0) Unplug the PS and let it sit for 3 hours while I went Christmas shopping
1) crack PS open (3 hours later)
2) unscrew the old fan
3) cut the fan leads
4) taped the fan leads in the PS up so they would not short anything.
5) screw in the Adda RPM sensing fan
6) Vacuum out the PS (dusty!)
7) close the PS case
8) connect everything up, including putting the fan leads to the motherboard so I can monitor the RPM.

All told it was about 10 minutes of work. The Adda fan was a AD0812HS-A76GL which is rated at 34.4 dB and 38.6 CFM. It is louder than my old fan was before it broke, but quieter than the old fan after the old fan broke. It also puts out more CFM. I can tell just by feeling the airflow.

Since it was so easy, maybe I will get a quieter fan to put in. Or maybe one of those thermal controlled fans.

 

[Viperoni]

Greatest way to get rid of residual charges:

turn off the rear switch, then unplug the power supply itself.
Now press the power button

The fans might even spin once or twice, that should get rid of ALL the charges leftover in the cap's.

Hope that helps (saves you life? )