Should I replace the PSU fan? or buy a new case?

Quad

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2000
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i have an old p166. its on an asus tx97-E Link to mobo info (asus website) The power supply fan is making this REALLY annoying grinding/rattling sound. it sounds like a lawn mower. However, the case has an AT powersupply. The motherboard has both AT and ATX power connecters.

Should i buy a new fan for the PSU? How do i install it? because i have no clue of how to go about opening the psu and installing it.

or

should i buy a cheap atx case with a 250w psu, and use the existing atx connector? would this work? will the motherboard even fit in an ATX case?

thx in advance
 

Boonesmi

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
14,448
1
81
if the mobo has at and atx plugs then most likely it will fit in an atx case (its just a question of where the screw holes are)

not to mention alot of atx cases have the holes for AT boards

 

Quad

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2000
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if i buy a new atx psu, and get the connector....how will i get a new power switch? since the case itself is AT, and has the power switch connected directly to the psu, how would i manage?
 

bacillus

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
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if you look at the ATX to AT Converter here, you will see the extra wires to connect to the power switch to the psu directly!
 

Boonesmi

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
14,448
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you can just buy a new case with powersupply and everything locally for $40 or less
 

Quad

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2000
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ok great

will 250w be enough?

In the motherboard manual it says:
"Make sure that the ATX power supply can take at least 10mAmp load on the 5Volt standby lead (5VSB)."

will an generic atx powersupply be fine for that?
 

nortexoid

Diamond Member
May 1, 2000
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just rip the fan out...

a p166 will run cool enough to have your psu not have a fun, trust me...

my friend runs a celery 366 w/ no psu fan and a generic psu and case....case is closed...has 2 roms, 1 floppy, and 1hdd in there...cheap generic cpu cooler....no case fans.
 

Salvador

Diamond Member
May 19, 2001
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Is disabling the PS fan really good advice? It may not overheat the system, but won't it cook your PSU?

I just bought a cheap Emachines 366 Celeron system and the PS fan is making all sorts of racket. I've heard that EMachines will only replace the PS if it's not working and then they want you to ship the whole system off for a replacement. That will not happen. ;)

Anyway.. Should I consider disabling the fan? Should I just live with it and replace it with an aftermarket PSU? Should I consider just buying another case that comes with a PSU? The Emachines PSU are about as expensive as a replacement case with a PSU ($40). The only problem that I see is that this system has one of the USB ports in the front along with a game port. How would I go about using this in another case.

Sorry for adding all my questions to this thread. Maybe an answer to my question can help out Quad or another member. :)

Sal
 

nortexoid

Diamond Member
May 1, 2000
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maybe i should add to my above post that my friend has been running his generic 250watt psu as such for ~1 year.
 

Quad

Golden Member
Nov 18, 2000
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ok i'll try taking out the fan

but how do i open the psu in the first place? just unscrew it? any safety procautions?

are you sure my psu won't over heat?
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
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Unplug the psu from the wall socket, turn on the computer in the usual way. It won't start, of course, but this should drain the capacitors in the psu. Wait a while to be sure, unscrew the psu from the case, it probably has a screw mounted cover as well. Remove the fan, cut the wires near the fan with scissors if necessary. Leave useable wire length on the psu. Take the fan to the nearest radio shack or electronics store, toss it up on the counter. get some electrical tape, too, install your new fan, strip the leads, twist&tape them together, reassemble. piece of cake.

Don't work inside the psu barefoot on a concrete floor.... as a precaution, of course.

If you're terribly uncomfortable with this, just call around til you find a shop to do it while you wait, it's a five minute job.