Which Quiet PSU?

[xrob]

I've just switched my delta FF fans for some Akasa amber fans, switched to a Zalman CNPS9500 from a XP120/w-delta FF, i lapped my fx57 and its running even cooler than before, 24/25 idle 38/39 full load after 4 hours. But this has made me realise how loud my PSU and GFX card is, so this needs to be fixed.

I have an akasa eclipse 62 with a silverstone 650w something or other and need a 500+w PSU with a 120 fan on the top when fitted to the eclipse which will allow me to mod a hole in the top of the case. has anyone got any suggestions. would the seasonic 500w allow me todo this ?

Also are 7900gtx's loud? when are the x1950's out ? should i wait ? for i wait x1950 ?

http://www.blackorangejuice.com/x/upgrade/ -- some pictures of my recent upgrade.

thanks
rob

[kalniel]

I have an akasa eclipse 62 with a silverstone 650w something or other and need a 500+w PSU with a 120 fan on the top when fitted to the eclipse which will allow me to mod a hole in the top of the case.

You are looking to put the PSU in upside down?? PSU's can contribute to good airflow in your case, so I don't think putting one in upside down would be a great idea, but I think all recent PSUs have 12cm fans on their bottom surface.

Also are 7900gtx's loud? when are the x1950's out ? should i wait ? for i wait x1950 ?

The 7900gtx is relatively quiet - I doubt the X1950 will be as quiet. (it'll be quieter than the X1900XT(X), but not as quiet as a 7900GTX).

[xrob]

i dont think you have seen the akasa eclipse then, the area where the PSU lays is completely sectioned off from the mobo, anyway i have ordered a tagan 530w modular jobby now, i can always hack a hole in the area that the PSU sits or mod it upside down.

hmm, its just a news post on hexus said it was going to be really quiet. i think i will end up getting the 7900GTX anyway purely because i dont like ATI drivers and my x1600xt is a bit loud.

[scrandman]

Yes, for quiet get Seasonic. Not sure how it will work upside down - there are vent holes on the front/top of the Seasonics - these would be more or less redundant with the PSU upside down.

[dave87]

Yes, for quiet get Seasonic. Not sure how it will work upside down - there are vent holes on the front/top of the Seasonics - these would be more or less redundant with the PSU upside down.

I just checked in my manual, and you shouldn't run them upside down - or the manual says not to. I don't know how it would be in practice, but the seasonic I have doesn't contribute anything to increase system temps, and indeed has another exhaust 120mm fan

Dave

[cotswoldcs]

Seasonic are a good choice for silent PSUs. They come highly acclaimed by Silent PC Review but then their reviews are quite dated now. Tagan are also excellent but I don't know if they are quieter.

Does anyone have any up-to-date reviews of the best silent PSUs to go for??? I'm not really stealing your thread but I'm interested myself!

[scrandman]

The reviews at SPCR may be dated, but when they review newer PSUs, they always make a comparison back to the Seasonics as reference. Quietest on the market are Seasonic & the Antec Neo HE (which are made by Seasonic IIRC). Some early Antec Neo HE's had compatability issues with certain nforce4 boards, but the updated ones are fine.

You can see for yourself here:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article273-page5.html

[chuckskull]

You might wanna look into something else for your northbridge too, those little fans make a hell of a racket.

[Ozymandias]

Using a passive Zalman heatsink for the northbridge or reduce the fan rpm using a fanmate works well.

[Koolpc]

Seasonic are the best. Very very quiet. Can't hear mine!

[chuckskull]

The BIOS should let you set the sin up speed. i found on mine the fan speed made bugger all differnce to temp, so I set not to go on full till it hits 55 (which it never does)