[Power Supply] Does higher capacity mean less fan noise?

[minervx]

Do power supplies manage heat relative to their capacities or in absolute terms?

 

i.e. is running a 300w system in a 600w PSU going to be quieter than 300w in a 500w PSU?

[GirlFromYonder]

1 minute ago, minervx said:

Do power supplies manage heat relative to their capacities or in absolute terms?

 

i.e. is running a 300w system in a 600w PSU going to be quieter than 300w in a 500w PSU?

if the psu is of high qualti then yes. Like I use less than 400W on my evga g2 750w psu. On eco mode the fan NEVER turns on. Like I turn off eco mode to let the fan spin once in a while before I am scared it might died cause it never runs.

[ARikozuM]

Depends on the PSU. The G2's fan doesn't start to spin until 20% of the PSU's wattage is drawn or temps reach a certain point.

[Windows7ge]

I think it's dependant on manufacturer. Some designed the fan to ramp up based on load percentage others may do it based on temperature. Corsair has PSU's where the fan doesn't turn on until 50% load. So technically dependant on manufacturer if you use a PSU with more than what you need it'll be quieter. Although that's not a reason to run out and buy a 1200W. For most PC gamers ~750W seems to be the sweet spot for future proofing and gives the PSU that headroom to not have to overly ramp up its fan.

[HKZeroFive]

There are a number of factors that play into fan noise.

 

-Fan type (sleeve bearing fan, rifle bearing fan, fluid dynamic bearing fan... is it a Powerlogic or is it a Hong Hua... what materials were used... what lubricant... what seal... etc.)

-Fan curve (can be stupidly aggressive... looking at you EVGA G3)

-Motor noise

-Efficiency of the PSU (more efficient = generally less heat)

 

...and so forth.

 

So instead of just a blanket statement of "a 500W PSU will be quieter than a 600W one", it depends on the actual PSU itself.

[STRMfrmXMN]

47 minutes ago, minervx said:

Do power supplies manage heat relative to their capacities or in absolute terms?

 

i.e. is running a 300w system in a 600w PSU going to be quieter than 300w in a 500w PSU?

Different fans make different amounts of noise. If the PSU gets hot enough per the quality of components inside - specced by the manufacturer as to when - the fan will come on. On some units, particularly high-wattage very efficient units like the EVGA G2, you'll rarely hear the fan.

[Stefan Payne]

47 minutes ago, minervx said:

Do power supplies manage heat relative to their capacities or in absolute terms?

 

i.e. is running a 300w system in a 600w PSU going to be quieter than 300w in a 500w PSU?

No, because fan in bigger PSU rotate faster.

 

 

An example is the Bitfenix Whisper M series.

The lower Wattage models rotate the fan with ~400-500rpm

The higher Wattage (QUad Rail, 650W and above) the fan rotates at around 700rpm

 

That's under no/light load conditions.

Under higher load:

Both have the same heatsink construction.

How can two PSU with the same heatsink, the same fan controller and the same efficiency be any different at higher loads?

That's why the higher wattage models of some models can be louder than the lower wattage ones.

 

 

It can be different however, when the plattform is a different one. And the 750 or 850W one is based on a completely different design.

Than it is totally possible that the higher wattage ones can be quieter under certain conditions.

 

An example would be Corsair RMx -> 550 and 650W are one plattform, 750W and above another.

be quiet Dark Power Pro P10/P11-> 550-750W are one plattform, 850W and above are different.