Antec SmartPower - are they reliable

[andy04]

In one of my earlier posts I was complaining about my current PSU making a high pitch low volume whistling noise. The volume changes with the Load... its just 1 year old and its happening for the last 4 5 months.

Anyways I was looking for a reliable alternative and there a deal in buy.com which is selling an Antec Smart Power 500W for around 50. I was wondering if its a good idea to go for the same make and model again... or should I spend some more and get a more reliable one...

 

[Bob Anderson]

Originally posted by: andy04
In one of my earlier posts I was complaining about my current PSU making a high pitch low volume whistling noise. The volume changes with the Load... its just 1 year old and its happening for the last 4 5 months.

Anyways I was looking for a reliable alternative and there a deal in buy.com which is selling an Antec Smart Power 500W for around 50. I was wondering if its a good idea to go for the same make and model again... or should I spend some more and get a more reliable one...

It's a crap shoot. Maybe you got a bad one, and maybe you will get a good one. My SP 500 has worked flawlessly for 13 months. I take it yours is off warranty. If not, phone Antec.

-Bob

 

[imported_Imp]

My SM 350 just turned 1, and there is no longer any coil whine. The wheezing/whistling sound WAS there in the first few weeks, but like you said, it changes with load and after putting an extra stick of RAM in, it went away mostly. After putting a new hungrier VC in, it went away completely. So, don't.... underload it?

 

[Bobthelost]

It's not about under or overloading, it's just that at certain loads and with certain load types you get weird resonances, ie coil whine. However last i heard it's impossible to predict (or at least impractical) and nothing to be worried about. The odds are more like roulette than craps but it's the same sort of thing.

Now if your fan was dying then i'd be more concerned.

 

[andy04]

Thats nice to know that theres nothing wrong with my PSU... As I said its been about 4 5 months since the noise began but I never had any problems. Just wanted to replace it as a precaution. In fact I happened after a lightning strike which rebooted the system thats the reason I was a worried. I was worried that it might damage some component

But I guess I will just let it sit and replace only if something goes wrong.