Is my PSU suffering?

[noTHINGface]

Hi all

I think my PSU is a little upset, every now and then (and it is intermittent) it starts buzzing, Im pretty sure it’s the PSU, can hear it quite clearly with the old ear pressed against it. Thing is – it only happens every now and then. Its in my Mesh box and I have on-site warranty but don’t want to bother them <again!> unless I really have to!

Never had one do this before but what do you guys think?

[icq3800846]

My PSU sometimes makes an annoying whine which is pitched to be almost inaudible but which manages to make you think you have tinitus in both ears.

I tried a technical re-adjustment (I smacked it one) and it is quiet again now.

Are you sure it isn't just the fan in the PSU that's making the buzzing sound?

[noTHINGface]

Hi - yeah its definately not a normal operation kind of noise, its kind of like an electrical crackling and its that which makes me nervous!

[icq3800846]

Well I could ask what PSU it is, what is it's rating in Watts, and what do you have in your system.... have you added loads of hard drives, a new graphics card, is it overloaded?

I could also ask if your machine ever crashes, but to be fair, if it's under warranty, in my humble opnion, I would get it swapped out.

Your PSU powers everything inside your system case, and some things outside like USB devices etc.... think of it as being the foundation of your system. If it goes wrong you could not only damage nearly everything in your computer but potentially you could come to harm yourself.

So providing it's not caused by small children poking sticks in holes at the back of your PSU (don't laugh, one of my children posted a 2p coin in my floppy drive once and also posted hair bobbles in my video recorder) then I would consider reporting it to Mesh, at least by e-mail to ask for their advice...... that way if it does go "pop" then you had already voiced your concern.

If it were me, I'd get it swapped out as soon as possible, I don't like electrical things that buzz when they're not meant to.

[[DW]Cougho]

Capacitors do buzz, although its generally not a good sign if you can hear it.

Have a talk to mesh, if they will replace it because of a simple buzzing then do it. However i feel they might not think it serious enough.

[noTHINGface]

Thanks all, indeed caps do buzz but I've never heard a PSU make this kind of noise before (and I've built one or two boxes up in my time). I made a pact with myself, if it pipes up again in the time that it takes me to spin through the CoD2 demo then I'll drop Mesh a line on Monday and get it swapped out.....

Cheers gents.