quieting a power supply - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

happymaan · 07-18-2003, 02:32 PM

I have a computer that I put into a cheap case, and the power supply is really loud. Have any of you swapped out the fans on a power supply, or is that a bad idea?

giblfiz · 07-18-2003, 03:31 PM

I don't see why it would be a problem, they are just standard fans.

on a side note if you live in a place with dusty air (any city) you might want to consider A neat little trick. Turn all of the fans on you computer so that they are blowing *inwards* and then put filters over the fans. (I used some thin silk from an old shirt) the inside of the case never gets dusty, and the fans take much longer to start degrading and getting noisy.

On the downside I suspect that you get a lot less cooling power per fan, so If you had a really hot running system you might want to pass on this one. I don't see why it would be a problem, they are just standard fans.

on a side note if you live in a place with dusty air (any city) you might want to consider A neat little trick. Turn all of the fans on you computer so that they are blowing *inwards* and then put filters over the fans. (I used some thin silk from an old shirt) the inside of the case never gets dusty, and the fans take much longer to start degrading and getting noisy.

On the downside I suspect that you get a lot less cooling power per fan, so If you had a really hot running system you might want to pass on this one.

yakimushi · 07-18-2003, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by giblfiz
I don't see why it would be a problem, they are just standard fans.

No, they aren't.

Many power supplies have the fans soldered down, and only have two leads. If there is a socket, its not standard.

I thought I could do this and I killed a perfectly good power supply. All I did was clip the wires on the old fan, then spliced in the wires on the new fan. After that the power supply wouldn't work with the new fan. Put the old fan in, it would work.

Of course, this won't apply to all power supplies, but exercise caution... if you touch off a charged capacitor in a PS you could lose a finger, no joke.

Xirax · 07-18-2003, 10:10 PM

I wonder if the new fan wanted too much amperage...Most fans only have 2 leads anyway...if they're plugged into the PS molex connectors they're just using 2 of the 4 wires

Kllr Wolf · 07-19-2003, 12:32 AM

first thing to check is to see if anything is rubbing the fans that is making them louder. if not get a better/ quiter power supply before you computer gets killed by a poor PSU

wraithhibn · 07-19-2003, 01:52 PM

You can change out powersupply fans, to some thing quiet like a Panaflo L1A. The big deal with anything dealing with powersupply mods is the large capacitor in the PSU. If you touch it and its not discharged, it holds enough voltage to kill you. Be careful.

Dilbert1234567 · 07-23-2003, 03:50 PM

open it up and you void the varenty, but you can see what kinda of fans are there some do have standard fans inside of them

the following is JUST A JOKE

a real quick way to quiet the Power Supply is to jamm a pencil inbetween the fan blades stoping them

bobsonite · 07-23-2003, 04:16 PM

Usually swapping a fan out is a straightforward procedure. Just snip the wires to the old fan and splice in the new one.

Another thing you could try if you're feeling really adventurous is to take off the cover and cut out the stamped fan grill with a dremel or similar tool. Then go pick up one of those wire fan grills for cheap. It actually does make a noticeable difference.

giblfiz · 07-23-2003, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yakimushi
No, they aren't.

I thought I could do this and I killed a perfectly good power supply. All I did was clip the wires on the old fan, then spliced in the wires on the new fan. After that the power supply wouldn't work with the new fan. Put the old fan in, it would work.

Of course, this won't apply to all power supplies, but exercise caution... if you touch off a charged capacitor in a PS you could lose a finger, no joke.

I swapped one once, and it wasn't a problem, but one time is only anecdotal, so I don't know what will happen in your case.

That said do be careful with the capacitor.

07-18-2003, 02:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
happymaan Insane Location: los angeles	quieting a power supply I have a computer that I put into a cheap case, and the power supply is really loud. Have any of you swapped out the fans on a power supply, or is that a bad idea?

07-18-2003, 03:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
giblfiz is a shoggoth Location: LA	I don't see why it would be a problem, they are just standard fans. on a side note if you live in a place with dusty air (any city) you might want to consider A neat little trick. Turn all of the fans on you computer so that they are blowing inwards and then put filters over the fans. (I used some thin silk from an old shirt) the inside of the case never gets dusty, and the fans take much longer to start degrading and getting noisy. On the downside I suspect that you get a lot less cooling power per fan, so If you had a really hot running system you might want to pass on this one. I don't see why it would be a problem, they are just standard fans. on a side note if you live in a place with dusty air (any city) you might want to consider A neat little trick. Turn all of the fans on you computer so that they are blowing inwards and then put filters over the fans. (I used some thin silk from an old shirt) the inside of the case never gets dusty, and the fans take much longer to start degrading and getting noisy. On the downside I suspect that you get a lot less cooling power per fan, so If you had a really hot running system you might want to pass on this one. __________________ Use the star one and you'll be fighting off the old ones with your bare hands -A Shoggoth on the Roof

07-18-2003, 10:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Xirax Psycho Location: Toronto	I wonder if the new fan wanted too much amperage...Most fans only have 2 leads anyway...if they're plugged into the PS molex connectors they're just using 2 of the 4 wires __________________ perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5,(41*2),sqrt(7056),(unpack(c,H)-2),oct(115),10);'

07-19-2003, 12:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kllr Wolf Psycho Location: Lubbock, TX	first thing to check is to see if anything is rubbing the fans that is making them louder. if not get a better/ quiter power supply before you computer gets killed by a poor PSU __________________ Caffeine - the molecule of life.

07-19-2003, 01:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
wraithhibn Dopefish Location: the 'Ville	You can change out powersupply fans, to some thing quiet like a Panaflo L1A. The big deal with anything dealing with powersupply mods is the large capacitor in the PSU. If you touch it and its not discharged, it holds enough voltage to kill you. Be careful. __________________ If you won't dress like the Victoria Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

07-23-2003, 03:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	open it up and you void the varenty, but you can see what kinda of fans are there some do have standard fans inside of them the following is JUST A JOKE a real quick way to quiet the Power Supply is to jamm a pencil inbetween the fan blades stoping them __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

07-23-2003, 04:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
bobsonite Upright	Usually swapping a fan out is a straightforward procedure. Just snip the wires to the old fan and splice in the new one. Another thing you could try if you're feeling really adventurous is to take off the cover and cut out the stamped fan grill with a dremel or similar tool. Then go pick up one of those wire fan grills for cheap. It actually does make a noticeable difference.