Quiet PSU recommendations

In my continuing pursuit to quieten down the worst offenders in my system, I've identified the ageing Enermax 425W PSU fan as being quite noisy (sounds like the bearings are worn/dry).

My first thought was to try and just replace the fan, but having taken it apart (exceedingly carefully), I found that I would need to do some soldering to retain the original wires with the specific header that plugs into the PSU circuit board. Is it feasible to go ahead with this plan? It would be the cheapest solution.

Alternatively, I was looking at a new PSU and came across the following (all £45-£50):

Be Quiet Pure Power 9 350W
Seasonic ECO-430
Seasonic S12II-430W


I am after quiet running, first and foremost. I run almost exclusively in maximum power saving mode, so I don't envisage a high wattage requirement at all. Specs are in my user profile.

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Originally Posted by Englander

My first thought was to try and just replace the fan, but having taken it apart (exceedingly carefully), I found that I would need to do some soldering to retain the original wires with the specific header that plugs into the PSU circuit board. Is it feasible to go ahead with this plan? It would be the cheapest solution.

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If your OK with soldering then I'd personally see no issue with that. Another solution would be splicing cable then using either a insulated/heat shrink crimp butt plug.

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Originally Posted by gupsterg

If your OK with soldering then I'd personally see no issue with that. Another solution would be splicing cable then using either a insulated/heat shrink crimp butt plug.

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Any old fan? I've got a 3 pin noctua NF-P12 case fan which could be transferred to PSU duties.

If it was my PSU I was attempting this repair on I would view the label on the original fan and google that model no to get spec data, then aim to add similar RPM fan.

What's the model no of your Enermax PSU?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gupsterg

If it was my PSU I was attempting this repair on I would view the label on the original fan and google that model no to get spec data, then aim to add similar RPM fan.

What's the model no of your Enermax PSU?

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That's a reasonable thought - it's EMD425AWT

EDIT: in fact, these are the fan detials: One 12025 axian fan. 450-1500RPM(±10%) @ 25 ℃,450-2000RPM(±10%)
@ 40 ℃,speed auto controlled.

EDIT 2: I've found out that it uses a special bi-voltage 4-wire fan (not PWM). http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums...ic.php?t=53000 half way down

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Englander

That's a reasonable thought - it's EMD425AWT

EDIT: in fact, these are the fan detials: One 12025 axian fan. 450-1500RPM(±10%) @ 25 ℃,450-2000RPM(±10%)
@ 40 ℃,speed auto controlled.

EDIT 2: I've found out that it uses a special bi-voltage 4-wire fan (not PWM). http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums...ic.php?t=53000 half way down

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Actually, given that my research has shown that Enermax uses a proprietary "bi-voltage" fan, it's proving far from simple to just do a straight swap. I think I'm resigning myself to just a new PSU (this one has lasted me a solid 6 years, anyway).

Thoughts on the list in the original post, then, anyone? Also add in to the mix, Corsair CX430M

After you gave the model number I found looked at that thread plus final page of this has the info. I wouldn't change the fan after viewing all this info.

Ok, just for completion, I've just about settled on a Be Quiet Straight Power 10 400W.

It is ridiculously quiet and is tier 2 on the Tom's Hardware PSU tier list. The drawback is that it's fully wired, but that's what the space behind the motherboard tray is for, I suppose.

You can go Wrong with the Be Quiet it work really well.

Go with the Seasonic, great brand and extremely reliable. Bought 1 unit, 520w for my daughters gaming PC. Bronze rated, really quiet and lot's of connections. £50 odd on SCAN a few weeks ago, LINK!

It would be a fairly easy soldering job however I personally wouldn't risk it on that power supply as its not exactly the best power supply in the world. Look into getting the seasonic power supply if you can afford it.