Quietening PSU

allosunshine · 1 May 2007 at 21:46

I was having a little look or should I say listen to my rig to find out what was the loudest component and it turned out to be my PSU.
I have a Hiper Type R 580W Modular PSU and was wondering if theres anyway I can control the fan speed or any tips on quietening it down at all.
Cheers.

Will_3rd · 2 May 2007 at 08:31

I wouldn't open it if I were you, don't think there is much you can do for now

BEn_2600+ · 2 May 2007 at 08:58

It'd be easier and safer if you just bought a new PSU

The Corsair PSU's are good so ive heard

Amonlym · 2 May 2007 at 09:03

best way to shush a psu -

if it has thermally controls fans, make sure its sucking in as little hot air as possible (keep case temp low) and reduce the load on it (see how much you can under-volt things)

if it doesnt get one with thermally controls fans (tagen 2 force for example) then follow the above.

allosunshine · 6 May 2007 at 22:26

I've read on another forum that people with the Hiper Type-R say that its very quiet and looking at the Hiper Website it says 20 dB(A) under normal load which is pretty quiet. But I can hear it from about 6 feet away on the sofa quite clearly.
Maybe I'm being a bit fussy but can Hiper Type R owners confirm or deny how quiet the PSU really is.

Cupra · 6 May 2007 at 22:37

they get loud when there gonna go pop tbh dont take it to bits or u will loose the warranty

Bounc3 · 6 May 2007 at 22:42

Put the "Hiper explosive club" In your browser favourites

Big noises on quiet products arn't good

Got no like acoustic kits or sound dampening you could use?

allosunshine · 6 May 2007 at 22:43

Dont worry I'm not gonna touch a screw. Its not loud that it drowns out say the telly but when the telly is on and you stop concentrating on it you can hear the PSU going.

Vai · 6 May 2007 at 23:03

allosunshine said:
I've read on another forum that people with the Hiper Type-R say that its very quiet and looking at the Hiper Website it says 20 dB(A) under normal load which is pretty quiet. But I can hear it from about 6 feet away on the sofa quite clearly.
Maybe I'm being a bit fussy but can Hiper Type R owners confirm or deny how quiet the PSU really is.

They have exaggerated the DB rating on the specs, by a lot. I would guess it is 20dBa when it is freezing cold and just turned on, but in normal use it is never that quiet. I am in a similar circumstance, my Hiper PSU is now the loudest component in my system and it is driving me crazy (the quieter you make your computer, the more annoying any sound becomes

).
I wouldn't worry about other people saying theirs is very quiet either, people's ideas of "quiet" varys by a lot. Oh and I doubt your PSU is going to blow up.

The Hiper has a 120mm fan and a 80mm fan, I expect most of the noise comes from the 80mm fan. You could replace the 80mm fan with a quieter one but it would invalidate the warranty. You could volt mod the 80mm fan but it might make the PSU overheat and die, and would invalidate warranty. I am pretty sure there isn't a fan speed switch built into it so your pretty much out of luck unless you want to void the warranty or replace it entirely.

allosunshine · 6 May 2007 at 23:22

Vai said:
They have exaggerated the DB rating on the specs, by a lot. I would guess it is 20dBa when it is freezing cold and just turned on, but in normal use it is never that quiet. I am in a similar circumstance, my Hiper PSU is now the loudest component in my system and it is driving me crazy (the quieter you make your computer, the more annoying any sound becomes ).
I wouldn't worry about other people saying theirs is very quiet either, people's ideas of "quiet" varys by a lot. Oh and I doubt your PSU is going to blow up.

The Hiper has a 120mm fan and a 80mm fan, I expect most of the noise comes from the 80mm fan. You could replace the 80mm fan with a quieter one but it would invalidate the warranty. You could volt mod the 80mm fan but it might make the PSU overheat and die, and would invalidate warranty. I am pretty sure there isn't a fan speed switch built into it so your pretty much out of luck unless you want to void the warranty or replace it entirely.

Sounds like we are in the same boat. Thanks for the reply very helpful. I dont really want to replace it but I guess its the only choice cos I aint gonna invalidate the warranty, not worth it. I'll have a good think and see how much a good quiet PSU is.
Vai, are you just putting up with it then??

Vai · 6 May 2007 at 23:44

I was planning on just putting up with it until I do my next proper upgrade. However it is starting to annoy me

I might see if its possible to volt mod the 80mm fan tomorrow, but if I blow it up my only other PSU is a lot louder

If your going to buy a quieter PSU I would check out SPCR, they are serious about silent PC's

www.silentpcreview.com

allosunshine · 6 May 2007 at 23:52

I would gladly buy another PSU but I dont want pay any more than what I would get for my Hiper. The Zalman ZM600-HP has caught my eye but the cheapest I've found it is just under £85 delivered which is probably about £30 more than what I would get for my Hiper.