Rapid Clicking with S12II 520W

[Variable]

Hi all,

Owner of a S12II 520 watt power supply bought in 2012. For the past six months, the PSU has developed a rapid clicking noise, identical to the audio recorded on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J4WsZ_gfTk

I have confirmed that the noise originates from the PSU because it is still present even when the CPU and case fans are unplugged. It also occurs when the PSU fan is halted.

I don't think it is coil whine because it is much more louder—audible even when standing across the room—and occurs even when the computer is idle. The clicking becomes more rapid when the computer is under a heavier load.

There are various reports from around the web addressing this same issue with both the S12II and M12II:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair...-pc-psu-noise/
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/...orks-fine.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport..._a_very_quiet/
There doesn't appear to be a consensus on the cause. The thread at the first link claims it is an issue with the PFC circuit. The others threads fault bad capacitors, which I don't think is true in this case.

Is this a known issue with the S12II and M12II lines? Any insights what is causing it?

[-The_Mask-]

That's coil whine, could be from a X capacitor or coil on the primary side of the power supply. Or it's the problem from that video, which can be fixed as shown in the description.

[asf14tomcat]

Have several style of clicking noise
But in S12II M12II 430-620 platform . most of case is PFC control circuit have problems ( small board sit near bulk capacitor ) if you have power meter you can see PF only 0.5 0.6 (normal is 0.8 09 in medium load) . you can reflow all smd component in this board . sometime it can solve problems.

[Variable]

The same issue exists with other model lines. Here, I've filmed an old SS-400HT with the same type of noise.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/C8SURnIzg8oWUuEu1

Should say that it's much louder in my S12II unit.

[Variable]

I did some additional testing of the S12II unit over the holidays and discovered a curious side-effect. When the PSU was switched on, I noticed that a fluorescent lamp in the same room was pulsing in time with the clicks.

To investigate further, I plugged a multimeter set to frequency mode into the same powerbar as the PSU. When the PSU is off the frequency holds steady at 60 Hz. When turned on, the frequency jumps around rapidly.

Video here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WXeeSH3EK2JXiG713

When I redid the test with another PSU, the multimeter reading stayed at 60 Hz. This seems to confirm that the clicking issue is somehow connected to the PFC circuit.

[Al3xand3r]

Good job! That PSU is not safe to use anymore. You should RMA it.
Definitley there is a problem with the APFC or the EMI filter of that PSU imo.