Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

PSUs: The source of DC power for all components in the PC & often a big noise source.

Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee, Devonavar

Post Reply
CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Sun Jul 08, 2012 7:55 pm

Ok since I've installed a new system into my FT02, Asus P9X79 with 3930k overclocked to 4.4ghz with a Noctua NH-D14 Se2011 (has PWM fans)
I've been hearing this whine buzz under full load, rendering and Prime from a metre away, which can be heard over the fans at low speeds.

I traced it back to the power supply - putting my ear next to the intake reveals a low frequency roar from the fan and whiney/buzz

So I now need a new power supply, that has less roar, and no whine/buzz under heavy load!

I guess one of the ones that stays silent until 400-500w?
Do you think a fanless 460-550w power supply is enough to run this system at 4.4-4.5 ghz? I have a GTX 570 as well
Both will run near full loads when rendering, as the GTX 570 uses CUDA to help render

other system specs - 16GB 1600mhz ram, 2 SSD, 2 internal HD, CDRW, 1 firewire pro sound interface, 1 PCI sound card, 1 PCI-E USB3.0 and Sata3 interface, and one fan controller
I may or may not add a 2nd GTX 570 in the future

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CA_Steve » Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:49 am

CoolColJ wrote:Do you think a fanless 460-550w power supply is enough to run this system at 4.4-4.5 ghz? I have a GTX 570 as well
No.

To get to 4.4-4.5GHz, your are overvolting the CPU...and based on various reviews, this adds another 100W (!). Seems like most reviews found ~200W AC load when running CPU only test and ~ 300W AC when OCing. Here's one example. With your PSU's efficiency, that's ~ 265W DC. Add your GTX 570 and it's ~ 480W DC. Add another GTX 570 and it's 700W DC.

I understand the fan noise, as this model ramps up at 400W+. Is the other noise electronic buzzing/like coil whine?

Anyway, if you are planning to add another GTX 570, and you want a decent low noise PSU, you are the first person I've recommended getting a kilowatt PSU :) The Seasonic X-1050 or the Kingwin LZP-1000 (probably Superflower Golden King in your neck of the woods).

If you don't plan on adding another GTX 570, then get the 850W versions...over here, there is some price compression with the Platinum Seasonic 850 costing the same as the 850W and 1050W. YMMV.

CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:05 pm

CA_Steve wrote:
CoolColJ wrote:Do you think a fanless 460-550w power supply is enough to run this system at 4.4-4.5 ghz? I have a GTX 570 as well
No.

To get to 4.4-4.5GHz, your are overvolting the CPU...and based on various reviews, this adds another 100W (!). Seems like most reviews found ~200W AC load when running CPU only test and ~ 300W AC when OCing. Here's one example. With your PSU's efficiency, that's ~ 265W DC. Add your GTX 570 and it's ~ 480W DC. Add another GTX 570 and it's 700W DC.

I understand the fan noise, as this model ramps up at 400W+. Is the other noise electronic buzzing/like coil whine?

Anyway, if you are planning to add another GTX 570, and you want a decent low noise PSU, you are the first person I've recommended getting a kilowatt PSU :) The Seasonic X-1050 or the Kingwin LZP-1000 (probably Superflower Golden King in your neck of the woods).

If you don't plan on adding another GTX 570, then get the 850W versions...over here, there is some price compression with the Platinum Seasonic 850 costing the same as the 850W and 1050W. YMMV.
With my old X58a-UDR3 motherboard and i7 930 system at 4ghz, I used to have a whine when the GPU was loaded that changed depending what was shown on the screen and where you mouse was etc - turning C1E and some other stuff off fixed that.
The whine I get now with the new motherboard and CPU is much lower in volume but higher in pitch, and occurs even when the GTX 570 is not loaded. Almost like an audible dog whistle with a slight sideband buzz. It's really annoying when it's quiet, like a drill in your brain! :|

It seems this whine is related to the Turbo kicking in on the 3930k. When I turn off the turbo and run it at 3.2ghz straight the whine doesn't seem to occur - need to confirm this again
if I turn turbo back on, and reduce it's multiplier so it only goes up to 3.2ghz, the whine is there.

----

The easiest for me to get at the local computer shop, save on shipping, is the Seasonic power supplies.
http://www.arc.com.au/pub.php?f=x&gid=23388&p=group

I can either get the Seasonic X-1050 for $287AUD, but it's order in only.
Or get the new Seasonic Platinum XP1000W for $310AUD, which they have stock

Which is the better choice? Price is not an issue for me, just quality and quietness.

I remember, back when I bought the M12D, the Seasonic X series came out the next day..... :?

CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:42 pm

Even with the Kingwin LZP-1000 imported from the US, the price would be about the same as the Seasonic XP-1000.
And the Kingwin LZP-1000 is definitely silent/quiet, but the Seasonic is still an unknown - not reviewed here yet :(

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CA_Steve » Mon Jul 09, 2012 2:56 pm

First, let me say you have some high pc component prices in Australia :D

Coil whine is a pain in the rear. It seems a crap-shoot these days whether or not you will get bad coil whine due to mobo/gpu/psu interaction/loading. That said, it's a good thing you have a local store you can go to. I'd make sure they know why you are replacing your current PSU when you select the new one - just in case the new one is noisy and you need to replace it with another....even another of the same model might not whine, btw.

Kingwin is good. Either Seasonic unit is good. The Seasonic Platinum has some tighter specs and is a few points more efficient, and has a longer warranty. No SPCR review to compare dBA, but I think Jonnyguru wants to marry his review unit.

Here's another option: fan replacement on your current unit and use a hot glue gun to smother every open coil/choke in the PSU. Worst case, it doesn't get quieter.

CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:04 pm

Thanks, options to ponder. Leaning on a Kingwin TBH if I go for a new one, just because it's proven to be really quiet. the Seasonics just ramp up more aggressively

I did have one case of my power supply shutting down and reseting the PC under load!
Don't know if it's because it ran out of juice...?

Well our prices have 10% GST, but yeah on average our prices are quite high across the board, hense why there is a lot of importing going on these days since the AUD is now on par with USD :)
Last edited by CoolColJ on Wed Jul 11, 2012 2:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:14 pm

HAHA

http://hardforum.com/archive/index.php/t-1655809.html
12-03-2011, 12:40 PM
I just built a system with a Seasonic Platinum-1000 and it has very, very bad coil whine under load. Well, at least mine does. It's as loud as an clicky Hitachi hard drive and sounds like a fly trying to get out of a window. It made noise even before overclocking. I'm trying to RMA it since the system was built with quiet computing in mind. :mad:
Paul_Johnson
12-03-2011, 12:57 PM
Coil whine can happen with any power supply. It is not specific to a make/model.
mocker
12-16-2011, 03:49 AM
Coil whine can happen with any power supply. It is not specific to a make/model.

I also have experienced really loud coil whine with the XP1000 and contacted Seasonic. Service was excellent and they sent me an new PSU. But the buzzing sound was still there, so maybe they have a little design-flaw in the new platinum series.

The coil whining allways occured when GPU was in Idle P-state (desktop for example), producing higher loads on the GPU made the sound dissapear.

Really sad I have to return the PSU, except for the coil whine it was really very quiet, even with full load on 2 GTX 580's:mad:

CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:19 pm

ordered a Kingwin LZP-1000 from Overstock.com - shipped to OZ at $295AUD
Not cheap, but I'm looking forward to <500w of pure silence from a power supply for the first time :)

We will see......
Last edited by CoolColJ on Wed Jul 11, 2012 2:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CA_Steve » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:59 pm

best of luck.

CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:36 pm

Well it took over a week for the order to process at overstock.com, but once done, only one day to ship, well, fly here!

Got the power supply hooked up and I'm pleased!
Total absolute silence under load!!!! 8) :shock: :D
At 15 degrees ambient, been Prime loading for 15 mins now and not a peep from the Kingwin!

According to the manual, the fan in Eco mode will kick in at 65-70 degrees, 650-700rpm and then drop to 450-500rpm at 45-50 degrees, where at lower temps than this, the fan will turn off.
The fan hasn't turned on at all so far. When the fan is on in the other mode, it's audible when your ear is within 6 inches of it, but a smoother, quieter, lower frequency sound than the M12D.

Honestly I didn't realise how much noise the M12D was making even at low RPM until I put the Kingwin in
Especially the higher pitched, but low in volume, electronic noises - which the Kingwin has zero of!
I don't think the fan will ever turn on right now, in winter at least.
One less fan to worry about, with quite a large drop in noise all round. Plus the fan will have less wear and tear over time.
The FT02 case seems perfect for it - I can feel the heat rise from it, with the exhaust opening facing upwards outside the case

Not only that, but the cables are longer and thinner/smaller, so they work even better in the Silverstone FT02 case
Nice upgrade all round - now selling my M12D :wink:

The SPR review of the Kingwin LZP-1000 was spot on 8)

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CA_Steve » Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:07 pm

Excellent. Glad it worked out :D

endeavour1934
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:55 am

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by endeavour1934 » Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:02 am

The same thing is happening with my Seasonic X-660. I've read that this is happening with most Seasonic and Corsair power supplies, and here in Spain no one sells Kingwin.
Is there any other silent power supply of 660W-850W? Maybe the Antec HCP-750?

PS: I've made a recording of my old and new PSUs:
http://youtu.be/BYqF7uslKMU

CA_Steve
Moderator
Posts: 7650
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:36 am
Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CA_Steve » Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:06 am

endeavour1934 wrote: <snip>..here in Spain no one sells Kingwin. Is there any other silent power supply of 660W-850W?
What about the Superflower Golden King? They make the Kingwin PSUs.

CoolColJ
Posts: 344
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:58 pm
Location: Australia

Re: Seasonic M12D 850w whine/buzz - need a new power supply

Post by CoolColJ » Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:59 am

endeavour1934 wrote:The same thing is happening with my Seasonic X-660. I've read that this is happening with most Seasonic and Corsair power supplies, and here in Spain no one sells Kingwin.
Is there any other silent power supply of 660W-850W? Maybe the Antec HCP-750?

PS: I've made a recording of my old and new PSUs:
http://youtu.be/BYqF7uslKMU

Just import one, that's what I did

My system, with the FT02 grill in place is so quiet now, even at 1-2m at night - when putting the system to sleep I can barely tell the difference between when the system is on standby and when it's running!

Post Reply