changing computer PSU fan

[@sia@home]

for a system that dated, I would just find an EAGLE branded psu, they are dirt cheap, and use OK quality slieve bearing fans.

I'm a strong supporter of slieve bearing fans, and have allways found them quieter than ball-bearing fans.

My Last computer had ~$200AUD worth of fans, ~$400AUD worth of watercooling stuff, so I'm in the know

 

[SDA]

Sleeve-bearing fans are typically quieter than ball-bearing fans, but ball-bearing fans are more reliable (higher MTBF, lower failure rate) if both are of equal quality. Both get louder as they age, but since sleeve-bearing fans approach death more quickly than ball-bearing fans, they get louder faster. I prefer ball-bearing fans for most of what I do, but sleeve-bearing fans ARE the best if you need silence above all else.

 

[mono]

There is a vast ocean of junk sleeve-bearing fans. They are among the primary failure points in power supplies. With very few exceptions, when a power supply comes with a sleeve bearing fan installed, it's because that power supply was budget-constrained to the point of being junk in several areas.

There are only a few relatively good sleeve-bearing fans. Papst, Panaflo, Comair, other industrial types of fans. There are a few medium-grade fans like those usually relabeled by "PC Part" distributors and Sunon.

Therein lies the problem, an oversimplification when considering only "sleeve vs ball-bearing", because there is a very large difference in the quality of the common vs the high-end sleeve bearing fans, this difference effecting their lifespan far more than with ball-bearing fans.

 

[SDA]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mono There is a vast ocean of junk sleeve-bearing fans. They are among the primary failure points in power supplies. With very few exceptions, when a power supply comes with a sleeve bearing fan installed, it's because that power supply was budget-constrained to the point of being junk in several areas. There are only a few relatively good sleeve-bearing fans. Papst, Panaflo, Comair, other industrial types of fans. There are a few medium-grade fans like those usually relabeled by "PC Part" distributors and Sunon. Therein lies the problem, an oversimplification when considering only "sleeve vs ball-bearing", because there is a very large difference in the quality of the common vs the high-end sleeve bearing fans, this difference effecting their lifespan far more than with ball-bearing fans.

This is completely true, and why I added that "if both are of equal quality" modifier. It's quite an "if", I'll admit that, but what I say has held true (for me, at least) so long as that "if" is true.

BTW, now that you mention it, I haven't really seen any low-end ball-bearing fans. Why is that, exactly? I'm guessing that the minimum cost of production is higher for some reason, but I don't know for sure.

 

[JWFokker]

Getting back to the point, your Vantec Stealth fan is fine (though it does suck in comparison to a Panaflo L1 or low speed Yate Loon). Just don't go all Tom Green on it and lick the capacitors or you may regret it.

 

[mono]

You won't often see low-end ball bearing fans because ball-bearings cost more. A manufacturer will typically aim for one market or the other (if not both)- best fan they can make or the cheapest that at least runs long enough they don't loose business.

Recognized quality fan manufacturers sell more units to OEMs, have the ability to devote more $ towards modern manufacturing processes, so in addition to their purchasing power their product improves even more, they sell more fans again dropping price per unit. If you were to buy a pair of good ball-bearings on the 'net, they'd probably cost as much as entire fan containing two of those bearings.

IMO, one of the best bangs for the buck is NMB. Great quality fans that're often a little cheaper than anybody elses. Since NMB is one of the main bearing manufacturers, this gives them an edge in parts costs. I used to use their 3110KL-04W-B10 model by the case, as late as the early Athlon era. After that, power supplies started producing enough heat that I needed the next step up in speed and (just random chance) at the time I came across a few cases of Nidecs on eBay. IMO, if you want a high-end fan for extreme conditions, Nidec is as good as it (while still reasonably-priced) gets. Coolermaster, Antec, and all the other relabelers products seem like toys in comparision. Other Sanyo fans are good too but less common in "PC" sizes... though that may simply be in the US.

 

[mono]

Yate Loon is among the worst fans you can buy.
I throw away about 3 - 4 dozen power supplies a year due to those failing, that reason alone. They were often used in the lower-end (came free-with-case) versions of some Sparkle PSU, among others. They "can" be relubed to significantly increase their lifespan- but most people don't, waiting till they hear noise at which point the bearing is chewed up.

 

[Edwood]

Measure the temps of the voltage regulators and/or the heatsink before changing the fan, if you can. If you provide too little airflow with the new fan, and there is overheating, the failure of your PSU can be spectacular.

I know. I've seen it happen. BZZZZZT! POW!!!!! <sparks fly out back of PSU, smoke rising......>

-Ed

 

[robzy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mono The high-side caps will be bled off by resistors and bled off by the 5VSB subcircuit on any ATX supply. There's no need to wait even a moment when opening it- just be use it's unplugged from AC.

Never ever take things for granted when mucking around with 240v. Thats what i have been taught.

Rob.

 

[mono]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robzy Never ever take things for granted when mucking around with 240v. Thats what i have been taught. Rob.

Yeah but I tear apart, repair, and measure them. The 5VSB ALWAYS drains the high-side caps, show me a single ATX supply that uses separate high-side caps for that and it'll be a first... and suprising as there is no technical reason to do it, no benefit. The voltage is a bit higher though, around 334V or 167 per cap.