Quiet PSU

mof · 16 Jun 2020 at 21:46

I've got an evga supernova 1200 p2 80+ platinum and when it's in eco mode the fan won't come until
it reaches a certain temperature. The fan usually comes on after about half an hour of (high load) gaming
and it is loud enough to be heard over the rest of the pc.

I'm just wondering if there are quieter psus that are also high power rated. I haven't seen any passive
psus higher than 500W.

If you had a really overkill psu could you use it without the fan ever turning on because the load/temperature never got high enough? Or would all psu fans have to start turning eventually on a high end system?

Are there similar psus with quiter fans?

I'm not looking to buy a new one right now but I'm just curious.

Grimley · 17 Jun 2020 at 19:15

All the Seasonic or made by Seasonic I've owned over the last 14 years have been whisper quiet. Not sure about the cheaper models like the S12/M12/Core series, but the focus Range & prime models are semi passive & cooling is provided by a good quality fan so they should do what I said.

mof · 18 Jun 2020 at 12:14

Thanks Grimley, I was considering a Seasonic when I got this one but I went with the EVGA at the the time for the longer warranty.

EsaT · 18 Jun 2020 at 17:01

Seasonic has 700W passive PSU.
https://seasonic.com/prime-fanless-tx
Price is just going to be super luxury.
And pretty sure its cooling won't like cramped places.

mof · 18 Jun 2020 at 21:25

EsaT said:
Seasonic has 700W passive PSU.
https://seasonic.com/prime-fanless-tx
Price is just going to be super luxury.
And pretty sure its cooling won't like cramped places.

That looks pretty good like you said depending on price.
Do you think it would warn you if was getting too hot or just shut down?

EsaT · 19 Jun 2020 at 10:58

Shut down is only possible "signalling" for passive cooling PSUs.
Fan equipped PSUs can ramp up their fan, whose max speed is usually enough for good amount of noise.

These passive cooling PSUs are built for having some air moving around them and fashion BS shroud cases are pretty bad place for them when loaded heavily continuously.
Having some loose room around PSU instead of cramped hole would be beneficial also for semi-passive PSUs.

Paul_RD · 20 Jun 2020 at 12:10

I've got a 850 watt Seasonic Focus+ Platinum SSR-850PX and despite gaming (DCS World, ARMA 3, RDR2) I have never heard the fan on the PSU.

Quartz · 20 Jun 2020 at 12:31

mof said:
The fan usually comes on after about half an hour of (high load) gaming
and it is loud enough to be heard over the rest of the pc.

Have you looked into replacing the fan?

mof · 20 Jun 2020 at 20:01

Haven't thought of that. Is it quite easy to do?
It's sounded the same since it was new so I don't think there's anything wrong with it.
Can you just use normal pc fans?
I assume the fan needs to provide similar cooling.

mof · 20 Jun 2020 at 20:24

Just watched this video showing how to swap PSU fans

Looks a bit complicated for me. I guess they don't expect you to be opening it up and changing fans.

Quartz · 20 Jun 2020 at 21:25

mof said:
Haven't thought of that. Is it quite easy to do?

If the fan is plugged into a header inside it's trivial; if it's soldered in then it's not so trivial.

BE VERY CAREFUL POKING INSIDE A PSU. USE PLASTIC SPUDGERS.