Power Supply Fan

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HoboNinja

HoboNinja

Ok, so I was cleaning my room and hooking up my stereo today and in the process I moved my computer to plug the stereo into it, I noticed my PSU fan wasn't spinning.

I am not sure if the fan is shot or if it just needs new bearings or what. But I was just wondering if anyone knows if you can replace to fan in a PSU or do you have to get a new PSU? It looks like a normal 80mm fan in it but I don't know if it has any kind of special connectors or what.

Edit:
http://www.driverheaven.net/guides/psumod/
Found a guide, but I may just replace the PSU... don't want to risk exploding the PSU.

Edit Numero Dos:
Looking at getting this baby.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2496
 
M

Mr_Chaz

Well yes you can replace PSU fans, but there are two concerns: 1) They don't always use standard fan connectors, usually, but not always. 2) I would strongly recommend against ever opening up a PSU unless you know EXACTLY what you're doing in there, you can get some very nasty shocks if you're not careful.

Replacement wise, if you're willing to spend that much I would highly recommend a PSU from Corsair, for example this one
I don't now anything about that Ultra one you suggested so I'm not saying this is necessarily better, but the Corsair PSUs are very good, absolutely silent and hugely reliable. You probably won't get a modular one for that price (though look around just in case), so the Ultra has that advantage, but you have to decide how much you think you need that flexibility...

-- Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:45 pm --

Looks like that Ultra has had some good reviews, so I can't fault that as a choice if you go that way.

My question though would be do you need a 600 watt supply? Could you get away with less to save yourself a few bucks?
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

I would check it out first. Some PSUs will cut power to their fans when under light-ish loads to cut down on noise. Some motherboards will, too. Try seeing if it spins while your rig is under load. Also, check to see if it spins freely (give it a nudge). It could be bad bearings, but it could also be that it is stuck on some fuzz, cat hair, etc.

If it is dead, it can be replaced if you're handy with electronics. The fan itself will probably have its brand and/or specs listed on it if you want to look up a direct replacement. If you just want to replace the entire PSU, there are choices ranging from a solid budget solution all the way up to something a bit more high-end.

--Patrick
 
HoboNinja

HoboNinja

My system has a 430w one right now but I wanted to do the modular and didn't see a lower wattage one.

I am actually kind of short on cash so I might just buy a cheaper 500w and then wait for the modular for when I build my new i7 computer later this year.

I could probably put a new fan in with my dads help, he is an electrician so he should know how to splice wires and stuff heh.

Its an Antec Neo HE430 in there right now.
 
Shakey

Shakey

Just replace the fan. You have someone who knows what they are doing, so save yourself some money. Fans are only about $5.
 
Hylian

Hylian

I wouldn't recommend trying to fix the PSU fan. Those things store enough electricity to kill you. It is much safer to just buy a new one.
 
HoboNinja

HoboNinja

He deals with friggin giant ass capacitors at aluminum plants and worked at a nuke plant so I don't think a 430w psu is as big a danger as most things he does at work :p But you never know. The most deaths from electrical shock are from 120w sockets...
 
Q

quandofloo

I like my power supply but I wouldn't really call myself a fan. :rimshot:
 
strawman

strawman

Replace the power supply, for one simple reason:

If the fan is dead or dying, then the PSU is not far behind, especially since you don't know how long it's been without adequate airflow. The electrolytic caps die very quickly above their rated temperature, and although the Intel PSU specification says that when PSUs fail they must not damage other components, you and I both know differently.

It's not an expensive unit to replace entirely, so the 'savings' really isn't worth the risk. Further, even if you value your time at only $5/hour, you're not saving any money anyway.

Replace it, don't fix it.

-Adam
 
HoboNinja

HoboNinja

For now I just replaced the fan, it was $6.50 versus $50+ so yeah easy choice...

All the capacitors and stuff looked good but yeah if it dies it dies, I just can't really spend the money right now to replace it.

It was easy as cake, the guides I looked at friggin spliced wires... But for mine I just plugged it in, it had a little connector.

Edit:

So my PSU has a regulator in it for the fan and either it just isn't drawing enough load to kick out and real air or I put the fan in backwards because I don't feel a breeze coming out of it... I will have to check what direction the blades are when I turn it off.
 
PatrThom

PatrThom

The shroud on most fans usually has a couple of little arrows to show you the direction of rotation of the blades and also the airflow. Look for them, they should be there. Then you can orient your second fan just like your first.

--Patrick
 
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