removing powersupply fans

Pandamonium

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2001
1,628
0
76
i might have asked this earlier but i can't find the message anymore.....

if i were to get a 550w power supply, remove its fans, and put it into a system that consumes around 200w of power, is there any risk in damaging the power supply? (with heatsinks of course) what if the system consumes 350w?

if i remember, someone said it would probably fry very quickly, but why would a power supply output extra power if only a fraction of it is being used? i know next to nothing about the physics of it all, but wouldn't a power supply only provide enough power to keep a machine going?
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
239
106
Not necessarily. even a 200W P/S needs a fan to cool the power transformer and capacitors. Power supplies have a comfort zone, usually in the 50 to 70% of rated capacity. Put the fan in and it will consume a bit more power. Add a couple of case fans and it may be very happy.