Windows 7: Can I change PSU fan?

Bungee18 · 07 Jan 2013

Hi guys.
My PSU fan is by far the loudest fan in my case. I would like to replace for a quieter one.
I'm thinking it needs to be one with similar airflow and static pressure, right?
The problem is that the thing moves 110 CFM and there aren't many 120mm fans that can move that amount of air and remain quiet.
Would it be very detrimental to performance if I changed it for one that moves, let's say, 80 CFM?

How difficult and dangerous would it be?
I know caps retain charge over time. How do I discharge them before opening the PSU?

Your advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,

J

fireberd · 07 Jan 2013

Be extremely careful inside a power supply, even with the voltages and capacitors supposedly discharged. There is one report of a person being electrocuted (killed) because of the left over voltages in the power supply.

**Pauly** · 07 Jan 2013

To discharge a capacitor you simply short out the two terminals with a metallic conductive object (one that your not touching at the time obviously) with something like insulated pliers or similar but as posted above going inside a psu is not recommended especially if you dont know what your doing or are unsure, not all caps look the same and its hard to tell sometimes what is what and where they are especially in a confined space

Parman · 07 Jan 2013

I believe a teen got killed a few months back from playing in the power supply.

I would recommend you just buy a replacement that fits your needs.

linnemeyerhere · 07 Jan 2013

I would try two things first.
1) Clean the unit with compressed air
2) Invert the PSU so it draws air from inside the case and exhausts
Both of these should help with cooling and quieting. That PSU is a good unit if a little noisey.

fireberd · 07 Jan 2013

I have an OCZ ZT 750 watt power supply in one recent build PC. The power supply fan was noisy and as it was new I contacted OCZ. As it turned out the noisy fan (it ran a full speed all the time) was a known problem in one batch of this model power supplies. They replaced it with a newer version and it now is quiet.

Solarstarshines · 07 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Bungee18

Hi guys.
My PSU fan is by far the loudest fan in my case. I would like to replace for a quieter one.
I'm thinking it needs to be one with similar airflow and static pressure, right?
The problem is that the thing moves 110 CFM and there aren't many 120mm fans that can move that amount of air and remain quiet.
Would it be very detrimental to performance if I changed it for one that moves, let's say, 80 CFM?

How difficult and dangerous would it be?
I know caps retain charge over time. How do I discharge them before opening the PSU?

Your advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,

J

Honestly I wouldn't bother If you want a Queiter PSU fan I would go out and get one with those specifics because you are taking your life into your hands trying to open a PSU to work on that fan as a previous poster said there was a thread on here about a Teen who tryed to work on a PSU got horribly killed

Not worth your Life or just live with it

Bungee18 · 07 Jan 2013

Thank you for your answers guys.

Will not get a new PSU just for resolving the noise issue.
Besides, all manufacturers say their fans are quiet and so on an so forth, and post noise specs which are just bollocks for fans that spin at 2500+ rpm and push more than 100 CFM.

@Linnemeyer,
I do not need to blow any dust bunnies out of the PSU. It has two months and it has always been filtered.
I tried having the fan pulling air from within the case. It was a little quieter (maybe because the case muffled the noise), but it messed with my temps (GPU in particular) and cable management.

I'll just get a good, high flow, quiet fan (or the quietest I can lay my hands on), and have a tech replace it so I don't fry myself.

Thanks again.

Solarstarshines · 07 Jan 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Bungee18

Thank you for your answers guys.

Will not get a new PSU just for resolving the noise issue.
Besides, all manufacturers say their fans are quiet and so on an so forth, and post noise specs which are just bollocks for fans that spin at 2500+ rpm and push more than 100 CFM.

@Linnemeyer,
I do not need to blow any dust bunnies out of the PSU. It has two months and it has always been filtered.
I tried having the fan pulling air from within the case. It was a little quieter (maybe because the case muffled the noise), but it messed with my temps (GPU in particular) and cable management.

I'll just get a good, high flow, quiet fan (or the quietest I can lay my hands on), and have a tech replace it so I don't fry myself.

Thanks again.

Now that is using your Noodle

Britton30 · 07 Jan 2013

Never discharge a capacitor by shorting the terminals, it can over heat rapidly and even explode hot materials in your face.

Windows 7: Can I change PSU fan?

Can I change PSU fan? problems?