Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise

L3giT · 02-26-2009, 11:11 AM

Hi all

My power supply fan is making a hell of a noise and is really getting on my nerves. The model is Gigabyte Model GE-R460-V1. The noise the fan creates is almost like a drill noise. It generally comes and goes. But it seems to come more than it goes which is driving me nuts. Does anyone here have some advice for me? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

L3giT

**Net Jockey** · 02-26-2009, 11:19 AM

The Power supply needs to replaced ASAP.

Things to think about...in relation to the negative effects of heat on the computer...That can be caused by the power supply.

Manufacturers test their PSU's at a set temperature...from this their rating is determined... for most this No. is 25 degrees Celsius...which falls short of the temperature that most computers are capable of achieving.

Given that a PSU will actually lose 2-5 watts per one degree of heat above the 25 Degree Celsius testing temperature...coupled with the fact that computers tend to run at 10 degrees higher than room temperature... In the summer time when the room temperature can easily reach 80 degrees F... your computer will be running at 33 Degrees C. or 90 Degrees F.

So the...math can make...your 500 watt power supply into a 460 watt unit.

In addition to this...what needs to be taken into account is that each degree that your computer components are operating at...under powered...adds more heat to the equation.

Consider also...the possibility...that ratings given by the manufacturer of single components...such as graphics cards, need to be treated with skepticism. Manufacturers may minimize support issues and under rate the power required...in order to make a larger profit.

The above has not taken into account...the issue of high quality vs poor quality units...Power supplies convert voltages from wall outlets to lower levels used by the PC. During this conversion, some power is lost as heat. The efficiency level of the PSU determines how much extra power must be put into the power supply to run the PC. A high quality PSU can help reduce the noise and heat generated within a computer system. The higher the efficiency rating the less heat the PSU has to deal with.

Therefore heat is the computers enemy...The hotter the temperature your PSU is forced to run at...the poorer the supply of power the rest of the components will receive...which has been known to lead to such things as crashes, freezing, rebooting, BSOD’s, and video distortion, as well as partial and complete failure of other components.

The fact is very few PSU’s are capable of producing the wattage that the companies advertise.

I suggest...a quality 550w PSU...as the minimum one should purchase...to provide power to a PCIE card. But for a better comprehension of recommended brand names, wattage, and models in listed categories...Plus much more...check out this link.
Power Supply Information and Selection

L3giT · 02-26-2009, 12:44 PM

thanks for the awesome reply and detail. But is replacement really necessary? Is there not a cleaning method I could use?

**wrench97** · 02-26-2009, 12:50 PM

What are your system specs Motherboard, CPU, Video Card?

**Net Jockey** · 02-26-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L3giT

thanks for the awesome reply and detail. But is replacement really necessary? Is there not a cleaning method I could use?

Yes you can try cleaning the power supply...or replacing the fan...But you need to know what you are doing...once you open the PSU.

I have done it...but it is very easy to seriously injure yourself.

If you wait too long...and the unit stops it could take other components with it.

L3giT · 02-27-2009, 07:07 AM

Specs: Gigabyte G31M-S2L Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Asus Radeon 4870 Graphics Cared

Could It really take components with it? Any tips for cleaning? If I take the grid off will my warranty go out the window?

**Net Jockey** · 02-27-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L3giT

Could It really take components with it? Any tips for cleaning? If I take the grid off will my warranty go out the window?

If you take the grid off your warranty will definitely go out the window...And yes power supplies have been known take other components with them on their way out.

I will not tell you how to go about it by going into the unit...For two reasons. The first one being that others will read this post who will not pay attention to detail...and end up injuring themselves...as a result of the info I would post...The second reason is that I aspire to honor...and the follow the guide lines set up by the administrators of this forum.

I really wish I could help you further...And I hope you understand.

Also simply cleaning the fan in unlikely to solve the problem.

**wrench97** · 02-27-2009, 12:13 PM

Your problem resides in the fact that your trying to run a HD4870 on a 550w power supply.
The power supply has been pushed too far and the cooling can't keep up with the draw.
For a HD4870 you need at least a 750w power supply> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9006&Tpk=750tx

L3giT · 02-27-2009, 02:13 PM

thats pricey hey.. but thanks for the help guys... im just wondering how im going to budget this expense:?

**wrench97** · 02-27-2009, 02:16 PM

It's cheaper then the video card or the motherboard that can get taken out by too small of a supply:)

L3giT · 02-28-2009, 12:35 AM

well they are on warranty for the mean time . . but ill try my best to get it replaced

seriously · 02-28-2009, 01:45 AM

noisy fan should be covered by warranty, as long as you don't open it :)

btw that is a 460w psu, not 550w. you are pushing it a bit there...........

L3giT · 02-28-2009, 03:27 AM

yeah i know : / . . I actually didnt know a lot about what I was buying when I bought my PC and now that I do know im quite angry and frustrated at the guy who sold it to me... all they want is money they dont care about doing their job and researching properly.. damn ... oh well

02-26-2009, 11:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
L3giT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise Hi all My power supply fan is making a hell of a noise and is really getting on my nerves. The model is Gigabyte Model GE-R460-V1. The noise the fan creates is almost like a drill noise. It generally comes and goes. But it seems to come more than it goes which is driving me nuts. Does anyone here have some advice for me? I would really appreciate it. Thanks L3giT

02-26-2009, 11:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Net Jockey TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Deroche BC. Canada Posts: 565 OS: XP Pro sp 3 My System	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise The Power supply needs to replaced ASAP. Things to think about...in relation to the negative effects of heat on the computer...That can be caused by the power supply. Manufacturers test their PSU's at a set temperature...from this their rating is determined... for most this No. is 25 degrees Celsius...which falls short of the temperature that most computers are capable of achieving. Given that a PSU will actually lose 2-5 watts per one degree of heat above the 25 Degree Celsius testing temperature...coupled with the fact that computers tend to run at 10 degrees higher than room temperature... In the summer time when the room temperature can easily reach 80 degrees F... your computer will be running at 33 Degrees C. or 90 Degrees F. So the...math can make...your 500 watt power supply into a 460 watt unit. In addition to this...what needs to be taken into account is that each degree that your computer components are operating at...under powered...adds more heat to the equation. Consider also...the possibility...that ratings given by the manufacturer of single components...such as graphics cards, need to be treated with skepticism. Manufacturers may minimize support issues and under rate the power required...in order to make a larger profit. The above has not taken into account...the issue of high quality vs poor quality units...Power supplies convert voltages from wall outlets to lower levels used by the PC. During this conversion, some power is lost as heat. The efficiency level of the PSU determines how much extra power must be put into the power supply to run the PC. A high quality PSU can help reduce the noise and heat generated within a computer system. The higher the efficiency rating the less heat the PSU has to deal with. Therefore heat is the computers enemy...The hotter the temperature your PSU is forced to run at...the poorer the supply of power the rest of the components will receive...which has been known to lead to such things as crashes, freezing, rebooting, BSOD’s, and video distortion, as well as partial and complete failure of other components. The fact is very few PSU’s are capable of producing the wattage that the companies advertise. I suggest...a quality 550w PSU...as the minimum one should purchase...to provide power to a PCIE card. But for a better comprehension of recommended brand names, wattage, and models in listed categories...Plus much more...check out this link. Power Supply Information and Selection Last edited by Net Jockey; 02-26-2009 at 11:28 AM.

02-26-2009, 12:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
L3giT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise thanks for the awesome reply and detail. But is replacement really necessary? Is there not a cleaning method I could use?

02-26-2009, 12:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,579 OS: Win7	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise What are your system specs Motherboard, CPU, Video Card? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-27-2009, 07:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
L3giT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise Specs: Gigabyte G31M-S2L Motherboard Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz Asus Radeon 4870 Graphics Cared Could It really take components with it? Any tips for cleaning? If I take the grid off will my warranty go out the window?

02-27-2009, 12:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,579 OS: Win7	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise Your problem resides in the fact that your trying to run a HD4870 on a 550w power supply. The power supply has been pushed too far and the cooling can't keep up with the draw. For a HD4870 you need at least a 750w power supply> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9006&Tpk=750tx __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-27-2009, 02:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
L3giT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise thats pricey hey.. but thanks for the help guys... im just wondering how im going to budget this expense:?

02-27-2009, 02:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,579 OS: Win7	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise It's cheaper then the video card or the motherboard that can get taken out by too small of a supply:) __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-28-2009, 12:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
L3giT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise well they are on warranty for the mean time . . but ill try my best to get it replaced

02-28-2009, 01:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
seriously Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 99 OS: win xp	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise noisy fan should be covered by warranty, as long as you don't open it :) btw that is a 460w psu, not 550w. you are pushing it a bit there...........

02-28-2009, 03:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
L3giT Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista	Re: Power Supply Fan Making Drill-Like Noise yeah i know : / . . I actually didnt know a lot about what I was buying when I bought my PC and now that I do know im quite angry and frustrated at the guy who sold it to me... all they want is money they dont care about doing their job and researching properly.. damn ... oh well