Power Supply Heat

Diggsy

Diggsy

Diggsy

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Power Supply Heat - NEW PSU Recommendations Needed

My Tagan 480W PSU gets hot, and I mean REALLY hot when gaming, since my upgrade it seems to be hotter than ever.

Is this normal behaviour for a PSU to get really hot, or should I be considering replacing it?

If it needs replaced, any recommendations? Only condition is it MUST be quiet.
 
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With the specs in your sig I would say you are really loading the PSU up.

I would upgrade it to something with a bit more juice (i think yours has 26 or 28a combined on the 12v rail)
 
Thanks, yeah it has 28a on the 12v rail. System is very stable, but I just don't like the heat the PSU generates. Doesn't seem right.

Does yours generate much heat when at full load?
 
It gets warm but is relatively cool. I used to have an Antec Smartpower 500w that powered my old 4400x2 system and it used to get plenty warm.

The Thermaltake Toughpower supplies are quite good but a little on the pricey side. If you're looking for an upgrade I would suggest the Corsair HX520w or HX620w...both can handle your set up no problem. They're very stable and relatively quiet.
 
How hot is hot mate?

I have a Seasonic 500w and gets quite warm on full load but never had any problems with it.

Does you case have good air flow? Run your system on full load for a while then take the side of your case off and feel where the power supply is dragging in air. If it feels warm then it can be expected as its vent some hot case air into the PSU (Which is perfectly normal)

Generally if its stable its fine. ;)
 
psu exhaust temps can get quite toasty depending on the case you have. even the corsair 620 gets up to 56c hot under load, thats according to the hardocp psu tests.
id say your psu is ok but to be on the safe side put a duct in place to get the cooler air to it. sometimes psus depending on thier position end up as exhausts for the cpu's heat which really heats things up.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah, it gets very hot when loaded, in fact I would almost say it's one of the hottest components to touch in my system.

It does not seem to be the exhaust air from it that is hot either, if you touch the back of the PSU it is really hot, yet there is no great amount of hot air being exhausted, although the Tagan PSU fans don't spin at any great rate either. Maybe that's half of the problem, it is not pushing enough air away?

I also don't think the PSU is expelling much, if any of the heat from the CPU, as it is the type with an intake at the front and exhaust at the rear. There is no fan on the side of my PSU.

As for the airflow in the case, it's pretty good really. My case is a Jeantech Phong, which is actually pretty decent for the price. I have a 120mm Akasa Amber at the lower front blowing in over my 3 HDD's, a Scythe Kama Bay up top blowing in towards the CPU, a Antec Spot Cool blowing air into and over the 8800, a 80mm Asasa Amber on the case side drawing heat out, a Thermaltake Cyclo PCI Fan drawing the heat away from the rear of the 8800, The ACF7, then a 120mm Akasa Amber exhausting the CPU heat, almost directly behind the AC7F, on the rear of the case.

I also have a spare Antec Spot Cool, maybe I will install that and direct it at the PSU intake in the case and try to force more cool air through it. Would that help?

Also, if I open the case up, temps actually rise by a degree or 2, so the airflow is serving it's purpose from what I can make out.
 
There could be dust inside the PSU keeping in some heat...but I would be careful getting it out as vacuum cleaners always seem to be charged with static electricity.

Also like I said before...judging from the components in your system, I would say you're approaching the max load for your PSU. I would really recommend an upgrade.
 
I will check for dust, but I doubt that is the problem, as I regularly (once a month or so) blow the dust out of all of my components with compressed air. I would never entertain using a hoover!

You are probably spot on with it being pushed to it's max. I think I will look into something a little more beefy.
 
Thanks a lot for that link. I am thinking if I am going to get a new PSU, I may as well get something that will last for a while, through my next upgrade or 2. I am considering another 8800GTS, or maybe swap out for a dual GTX system, funds dependant of course ;)

So was looking at this one which looks fantastic, but I am a bit worried about the noise level (rated at 26-40db) as there is nothing in my system rated anywhere close to that. I think my highest db that I can live with is high 20's, and that's a rear fan...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-001-PP&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=928

So, what about this one which I know will be quiet, it is rated the same as my current PSU at 20-28db (a hell of a lot quieter, given that it's highest noise is the same as the lowest of the PC&P!!)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-014-TG&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=393

Although I am open to suggestions on this, but low noise is a MUST. Thanks guys for your help thus far.
 
The HX520w is actually pretty powerful....it has around 50A combined on the 12v rails..plenty capable of quad core and SLI GTS cards

Also the Thermaltake Toughpower 750w is pretty quiet..it has a 140mm fan that spins slower to reduce noise. I have one and really like it....very stable power.
There's a review of it here http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=17
 
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my Tagan 530 gets very hot, its just the nature of the psu's they prioritise noise over temperature.

worth getting a bigger one tho, you will be running it close to its limit and thatand high temps reduce psu lifespan
 
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