I just installed my new Seasonic 400watt power supply and it is actually annoyingly loud. The fan buzzes at when the computer is under no stress (and climbs up expectedly with appropriate CPU load).

I've read a lot of reviews that say this is the quietest psu in the 400+ category and so I am thinking that it must be something else that is wrong. Is the seasonic's monitoring system self contained? does the little grounding wire that hooks up to my motherboard communicate with the PSU fan? and if so is my motherboard reporting exaggerated info to make the PSU fan spin faster?

I have an ABIT ic7-g with a p4 3.0c. Thank you for ur thoughts.


edit: I know that it can be quieter because when browsing through directories in window's explorer the fan DISTINCTLY slows down and becomes quiet for about half a second before it becomes whiney. If i open a bunch of directories consecutively i can keep the fan noise down

So this means the psu is able to quiet down...but its not donig so for me.

Highly unlikely.


I think I can cook up a batch file to keep opening explorer windows on your desktop

Try doing something with lots of disk access and see how it affects PSU fan noise.

Edit : which model and version?

I just transfered about 4 gbs of pictures back and forth between my two hard drives and the fan got really loud, which is comforting.

I then got premiere to render about 20 min of video and use 90% of my cpu and the fan got really loud again.

I left my computer on overnigt with no apps running and when i woke up the fan was still whiney (same as initial whine without computer working hard).

Seasonic Super silencer 400watt (thats about as specific as i could get)

There's been a known problem with the Revision A2, that roughly fits the description that you've given. The more recent Revision A3 is supposed to correct this problem. A lot of people who RMA'ed the A2 have gotten the A3 as a replacement.

I wonder if it would for you (Tad G has a similar problem with his Seasonic, and it's a Rev 3.)

yea i just looked on side of psu and it says rev A2.

It does not indicate the rev # on the box so if i return it (i bought it at fry's) I will have to dig through the boxes in order to find an A3. Do you think a merchant will carry both the A2 and A3 randomly?

ugh, i leave for college monday and need a psu! blah blah

Maybe. It would be worthwhile to ask them when their most recent shipment of Seasonics arrived and ask one from that.

Otherwise, I don't know what to suggest to you.

I heard from a user who was apparently told by Seasonic that Fry's refused to accept a wholesale replacement of their A2 stock w/A3 -- go figure! But doing an RMA directly through Seasonic's USA office will ensure you get an A3.

hmm...I definitely dont have time to do that. Maybe I will just go to fry's and pick up the nex quietest PSU they supply if I cant find an A3 somewhere. any suggestions as to what type of 350watt + psu to get?

.......
At Outpost.com they list what we know is an Enermax Noisetaker PSU as a Coolergiant....

Assuming that it IS the same, I'd recommend either that or the next one up (380W).

is 320 enough?

abit ic7-g
p4 3.0
74gb raptor
250gb
single optical drive

Probably, but if not, the next one up, a 420W PSU is in roughly the same price range as your old one. Maybe you can get an exchange?

Keep in mind though, this is assuming that the Coolergiant Noisetaker is essentially the same as the Enermax Noisetaker (they use the same model numbers and they look the same, but you never know....)

Ok I went to fry's and bought the noisetaker 320watt, it installed easily and is working like a charm.

I guess i'll be returning the super silencer, atleast i'll have another $50 in my pocket. ..i'm about to be a poor college student

Late reply, but 320's plenty.