ike0069
10-09-2006, 12:02 PM
I have a Fortron Ax-500 and it has been great running an Opty 146@ 2.7, 2GB RAM, 2 IDE HDD's, and a 6800GT at stock speeds. Very quiet operation and the +12V rail was steady during heavy gaming (~.05 - .07V max drift) as measured with my DMM. But I realize this wasn't exacty pushing the PSU to its limit.
Then I installed a X1900XT. Well in 2d mode everythign is fine, but as soon as I loaded up a game, the PSU would start making a very audible noise that was definitely not coming from the fan. It's an odd noise that basically sounded like a very fast "ticking" noise, sort of how it sounds when a fan blade it hitting a case wire. But I kept looking and could tell it was absolutely coming from the PSU, but also definitely not the fan (has a single 120mm fan in the bottom). This happens basically teh instant the game starts, not after a while and heat builds up. After a few minutes of playing BF2, everything just goes dead. It doesn't immediately restart, but after about 1 min. or so, it restarts just fine. I loaded up a game again and teh noise started again. I got out my DMM and the +12V amps looked just fine and still quite stable, but it again shut off after only a few minutes.
After a restart, I loaded up MVP 05 to see how it would deo in a game that doesn't stress the VC too much. The noise was there immediately again, but I was able to paly an entire game with no shut off. I then loaded up BF2 again and it shut off while I was still in the menu. At that point I decided I needed a new PSU and bought a Silverstone ST50EF. After installing the new PSU, I no longer have any noise and I can can play all my games just fine.
So I figure I'll RMA my Fortron as it has a 2-yr warranty, and I only bought it this Jan. Well i can't find my original invoice and the place where I bought it (actbuy.com) is apparently out of business. So Fortron tells me it won't RMA without an invoice, so I'm stuck with a PSU that works, but only at low loads.
So....does anyone know might be causing the noise? Also, since I can't RMA it, I guess it's a candidate to play with. Would it be worth it to attempt to change the caps and see if that helps? I'd hate to just throw it away because it does still work. I could keep it as a backup for my secondary PC, or even use it in a build for a low load PC.
Cliff notes:
AX-500W is fine until I get a X1900XT
Then it makes a very odd noise in 3D mode and shuts off after a only a few minutes.
Rails are still stable even when it making the odd noise.
I buy a new PSU and everything is fine, so it's obvious the Fortron just doesn't like the higher load on the new VC.
I can't RMA it, so what are my options?
Then I installed a X1900XT. Well in 2d mode everythign is fine, but as soon as I loaded up a game, the PSU would start making a very audible noise that was definitely not coming from the fan. It's an odd noise that basically sounded like a very fast "ticking" noise, sort of how it sounds when a fan blade it hitting a case wire. But I kept looking and could tell it was absolutely coming from the PSU, but also definitely not the fan (has a single 120mm fan in the bottom). This happens basically teh instant the game starts, not after a while and heat builds up. After a few minutes of playing BF2, everything just goes dead. It doesn't immediately restart, but after about 1 min. or so, it restarts just fine. I loaded up a game again and teh noise started again. I got out my DMM and the +12V amps looked just fine and still quite stable, but it again shut off after only a few minutes.
After a restart, I loaded up MVP 05 to see how it would deo in a game that doesn't stress the VC too much. The noise was there immediately again, but I was able to paly an entire game with no shut off. I then loaded up BF2 again and it shut off while I was still in the menu. At that point I decided I needed a new PSU and bought a Silverstone ST50EF. After installing the new PSU, I no longer have any noise and I can can play all my games just fine.
So I figure I'll RMA my Fortron as it has a 2-yr warranty, and I only bought it this Jan. Well i can't find my original invoice and the place where I bought it (actbuy.com) is apparently out of business. So Fortron tells me it won't RMA without an invoice, so I'm stuck with a PSU that works, but only at low loads.
So....does anyone know might be causing the noise? Also, since I can't RMA it, I guess it's a candidate to play with. Would it be worth it to attempt to change the caps and see if that helps? I'd hate to just throw it away because it does still work. I could keep it as a backup for my secondary PC, or even use it in a build for a low load PC.
Cliff notes:
AX-500W is fine until I get a X1900XT
Then it makes a very odd noise in 3D mode and shuts off after a only a few minutes.
Rails are still stable even when it making the odd noise.
I buy a new PSU and everything is fine, so it's obvious the Fortron just doesn't like the higher load on the new VC.
I can't RMA it, so what are my options?