S12-330 "Ticking"?

bsoft · Post by **bsoft** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:41 am

I just replaced my Super Tornado 300W with an S12-330, and I've been noticing that the fan on the new unit makes an audible "ticking" noise. Is that normal? It's low in intensity (almost inaudible at 1m), but should I be able to hear it at all? It seems to be transferring to the case, as well.

My Silent Box arrives on Wednesday, so, for the time being, I've been unplugging the HDD to test. Other than the PSU fan, none of the fans in my system run at idle, excluding the virtually-inaudible Panaflo L1a @ 5V and of course the PSU fan.

My unit seems to have a Yate-Loon fan (it had the 24-pin connector), but I'm not absolutely certain.

Thanks,
Brian

The Greek · Post by **The Greek** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:55 am

That is normal, PSUs after all are switching power supplies, that is just one of their quirks.

Read this: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-supply.htm
and/or this: http://mrtmag.com/mag/radio_switching_vs_linear/

frostedflakes · Post by **frostedflakes** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 5:47 am

The Yate Loon on my S12-330 clicks, but not very loud. Even in a quiet room, I have to put my ear next to the fan to hear it.

What I would suggest is giving the fan's bearings a couple days to wear-in.

bsoft · Post by **bsoft** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 1:00 am

The Greek wrote:That is normal, PSUs after all are switching power supplies, that is just one of their quirks.

Read this: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-supply.htm
and/or this: http://mrtmag.com/mag/radio_switching_vs_linear/

Yes, but on a properly designed PSU, shouldn't the switch rate be far out of the range of human hearing?

Regardless, the noise that I hear is very definately coming from the fan. I'll give it a few days and see if the bearings "wear in" and the noise becomes unobjectionable.

justlnluck · Post by **justlnluck** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:00 pm

The ticking doesn't sound right. I have a Seasonic Tornado 300W and I don't hear any ticking, so I don't buy the argument that all PSUs tick.

Anyone with a 430 or a 500 with a ticking fan?

Likif · Post by **Likif** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:23 pm

I am the lucky owner of a spanking new S12-330. If there's ticking, I haven't heard it....and I have PURRfect hearing. It's exceedingly quiet.

andrewr · Post by **andrewr** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:31 pm

I have a S12-430 which ticks. With the case shut, the ticking is only just audible in the early hours of the morning. Overall the S12 is louder than my modded ST-300 (I replaced the fan with an Antec 120mm @ 5v) - there is more wind noise. And I haven't heard the fan ramp up yet.

I'm thinking about modding the S12 like I did with the Super Tornado. Its pretty much the loudest thing in my case.

larrymoencurly · Post by **larrymoencurly** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 6:58 pm

I've read that ticking is common with sleeve bearing fans because of the thrust washers. I've heard it from several of mine, but pulling the fan the label side silenced it for months. Don't do this without unplugging the power cord first because there's lots of exposed high voltage inside the PSU, including right next to the fan.