HX650, how to tell if it will chirp before install / is mine a defective one?

[danwest]

greetings, i purchased a hx650 for a new build. i have used this PSU model before in a previous build (jan 2014) with no problem but i've been reading about a chirping issue with this particular PSU. keep in mind i am disabled and before i build this PC, i want to make sure as best as i can that my HX650 i got today won't be a chirper. is there any way to tell before i install if this is one of the units affected by the chirp? can you tell by the PSU label or box label?

 

 

also, i've tested the PSU with a PSU tester and everything seems okay so far and in spec. the only issue seems to be when the fan spins up, well, it kinds sounds like a faint creaking rocking chair. is this a problem and will it progress to chirping? (the psu fan spin up is initialized using the psu tester, the noise even happens when i use a fan plugged into the molex as a load, like recommended)

 

p.s, i've got a video if needed:

 

http://tinypic.com/r/2egejx2/8

 

View My Video

[jonnyguru]

The number of units that "chirp" are less than 1%. Unfortunately, they only do it at a particular load, so unless you can simulate that precise load, you can't duplicate the noise.

 

Odds are you're fine.

[danwest]

i have it installed and i don't hear any chirping but i don't have a graphics card installed.

 

another question i have, i have the PSU mounted fan down at the bottom of the case and when i put my hand on the PSU, it's REALLY warm (but not at the point where it hurts my hand). i look at the fan with a flashlight and it never spins! i would think with all that heat the fan would turn on, but never. the only time the fan ever spins is when i power up the system but for like a second.

 

is something wrong here?

[wytnyt]

on boot the psu will do a 3-5 fan test,,then shut off and stay off till a 40% load is reached but not having a gpu,,that load will not be reached...

[jonnyguru]

You have a 650W PSU w/o a graphics card. Of course the fan isn't going to spin. Your load is probably around 100W.

[danwest]

so the fan operates by load sensor or temperature sensor? my other corsair PSU (ax650) doesn't even get warm (and i have no graphics card) and the fan comes on sometimes when there's a bit of heat from stress testing.

[jonnyguru]

Both load and temperature.

 

The AX (non-i) is Seasonic and uses Seasonic's default fan profile. It's more aggressive than the non-Seasonic made Corsair PSUs with fanless mode.

 

Another thing I would do is mount the PSU with the fan pointing up... but that's just my opinion.

[danwest]

how does the fan pointing up help?

[wytnyt]

how does the fan pointing up help?

 

it just depends on how you want to manage your overall airflow

one way pulls air from inside the case which is warmer thru your psu.other way pulls air from outside which is cooler thru the psu into the case

[jonnyguru]

Warmer air through your PSU >>if<< your PSU fan is even running. Othersie, fan side up is allowing heat to rise away from the PSU's PCB.

 

Fan down doesn't matter if the fan doesn't spin. Heat generated by the PSU is just rising into the PSU's PCB.

[danwest]

"Heat generated by the PSU is just rising into the PSU's PCB"

 

is that bad? will it reduce the lifespan of the PSU?

[jonnyguru]

No. They do life studies on the PSU operating up to 50C ambient. The thermistor for the fan is located where this hot air will eventually turn the fan on. I'm just saying that IF you're concerned, you can always turn the PSU around. The heat will rise away from the PCB, but it could also cause your fan to spin even less often once you get some video card(s) in there.