Fortron PSUs loud? Fan swap?

[grimlykindo]

I know Fortrons are quality, but are they loud? I'm looking at this particular model-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104935

I have a few Nexus 120mm laying around, do you think I should swap fans to get near "silent" operation. I have never owned a Fortron PSU or heard one in person, so I need some imput, thanks.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I have an older 400 watt Fortron with a 120mm fan. The stock fan in mine is a Yate Loon.
It's fairly quiet.

I would diccourage going to a low flow fan as it is the system fan. Are you going to have an intake for the HTPC set-up or is the PSU the only source of drawing in intake air?

Newegg is OOS but consider the FSP400-60GLN. The GLN series are the new, much more efficiant PSUs from the FSP Group. These units will generate less waste heat than the one you linked. www.silentpcreview.com has a listing of quiet PSUs even passive ones but the case will need air flow from somewhere.

Hope this helps a bit.


...Galvanized

 

[JEDIYoda]

Always remember even with passive systems unless they are totally water cooled you must have some sort of airflow to keep your temps down and dissipate the heat that comes off of your Video card as well as your CPU!!

 

[grimlykindo]

Thanks for the replies guys!

Yes, I will have case fans, but no CPU or NB (only PSU and case)

The case I am using is the Lian-Li V880 (haven't decided on black or Silver yet)

Its big, but thats what I want - (basically a mid-tower layed on its side) :

http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/D_PC-880.htm

What do you guys think about those top-fan(s)? I would probably take that port/tube out and put another 80mm in its spot so it can blow or exhaust my passive cpu heatsink (Scythe Ninja)


Oh, I also have a 1650 RPM Yate Loon 120mm fan I could swap for the Fortron PSU. Its still really quiet, but has quite a bit more punch.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Why even swap the fan until you hook up the PSU and see for yourself???

 

[hans007]

i have the 300 watt version of that PSU and it is absolutely silent.

the 120nm fsp group psus are very quiet.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Why even swap the fan until you hook up the PSU and see for yourself???

QFT


...Galvanized

 

[Zap]

I have an old 300W model (first Fortron with 120mm fan) and the one listed below and they are pretty darn quiet. Never had a Seasonic S12 series so can't say how different, but usually there's something else in the case that's noisier. If your system is so quiet that you can hear one of these Fortrons, that's pretty darn quiet indeed and you belong on the SPCR forums instead of here.

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Newegg is OOS but consider the FSP400-60GLN.

I got mine from Ewiz for cheaper than Newegg (about $10 cheaper - significant). Ewiz.com always discounts a buck or two if you go through a Froogle link so look for it on Froogle from Ewiz. Mine was $51 or so plus shipping (reasonable).

 

[Brock123]

the 450 watt version is quite and it has better 12v rails

 

[Dave Sz]

I hope you know that you won't get official DFI support if you use that PSU. For $25 more you can get the FSP550-60PLN which is a server PSU and it will power anything you throw at it, anything. I have it and the rails are so stable it's ridiculous.

 

[grimlykindo]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Why even swap the fan until you hook up the PSU and see for yourself???

QFT


...Galvanized

Yeah I will give it a test run for sure. The question was asked becuase Fortron is probably the only PSU brand that I have never seen in real life or know anybody who has owned one. Everyone I know has the "name" brands like Antec, Seasonic, OCZ. But I have heard nothing but praise about them in this forum as well as others, so its definately gonna be my next PSU choice. Plus their prices are the best in the market right now for PSUs.

 

[grimlykindo]

Originally posted by: Zap
I have an old 300W model (first Fortron with 120mm fan) and the one listed below and they are pretty darn quiet. Never had a Seasonic S12 series so can't say how different, but usually there's something else in the case that's noisier. If your system is so quiet that you can hear one of these Fortrons, that's pretty darn quiet indeed and you belong on the SPCR forums instead of here.

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Newegg is OOS but consider the FSP400-60GLN.

I got mine from Ewiz for cheaper than Newegg (about $10 cheaper - significant). Ewiz.com always discounts a buck or two if you go through a Froogle link so look for it on Froogle from Ewiz. Mine was $51 or so plus shipping (reasonable).

Thanks for the information!

And yes, I would fit in at SPCR - I do a fair amount of research there, but I like to post here at Anandtech

Just look at my gaming rig in my sig below - It took me a long time to get it as silent as it is now.

 

[Techno Pride]

hi, you might be interested to know that Noiseblocker modifies those Bluestorms (350 and 400w) with low speed fans (rated 1200rpm at 12v) and slaps a 3 yr warranty on them.

So going by that logic, the Bluestorms don't need that much cooling. You can try a Coolermaster UV (1200rpm) or Yate Loon D12SL-12 (1350rpm).

here my 350w Bluestorm with (Powmax?) M1202512L fan rated 1200rpm 12v.
http://forums.hardwarezone.com/showthread.php?t=997121

 

[gaidin123]

In general, the FSP PSUs I've used range from the average to quiet end of the spectrum. The FSP Group makes PSUs for a large number of other companies who then rebrand them.

I'd suggest looking at SPCR's reviews of the FSP400-60GLN which is a 400W active PFC/efficient but still quiet fan. Review

Interestingly, the Zalman ZM460-APS PSU is the exact same power supply with I think some rearranged heatsinks to get it up to 460W. See SPCR's review

If you want one of the quietest and efficient PSUs out there I'd get the Seasonic S12 series ones but they are pricey. The FSP PSUs have always been mostly no frills, reliable, and affordable for me.

Gaidin

 

[Zap]

Besides the slightly beefier heatsink, I think that big capacitor gained some weight. I'm looking at the proportion of space between it and surrounding components. I wonder if the ratings are different.

The fans in Zalman's past power supplies have not been especially quiet, but this 120mm NMB-MAT fan is one of the smoothest power supply fans we've heard. In fact, at its lowest speed, it was smoother and quieter than the Seasonic S12. Considering that the S12s have the top spot for quiet fan-cooled PSUs, that's quite a compliment...

In spite of the almost identical circuit design and fan controller, the Zalman was clearly quieter than the Green PS. The difference is due almost completely to the different fan that Zalman has used.

This Zalman seems pretty nice and with sleeved cables as well.

Zalman ZM460-APS Power Supply $91 at eWiz

FSP Group FSP400-60GLN $47 at eWiz

OMG, the Fortron dropped in price. Both are in stock right now. I paid $51 for it at eWiz. If anyone wants to buy these, remember to search for it at Froogle and click through - you'll save a buck or two.

So the Zalman is quieter and more pimp while the Fortron is cheaper. The SPCR review also said that at lower power draw the lower wattage Fortron was more efficient since PSUs reach peak efficiency towards their maximum output, or something like that.

I've never owned a Zalman PSU but this one looks pretty nice. I do own one of the Fortron GLN units and though SPCR said it is noisier than the Zalman and Seasonic, I thought it was pretty darn quiet. For it to be the noisiest part of a system, the stock CPU, video and Northbridge fans would have to be replaced prior.

 

[grimlykindo]

Thanks for all the info guys!

The FSP Group FSP400-60GLN $47 at eWiz looks like the winner

(Thanks Zap for the link)

Thats a wicked price for an awesome psu

Its exactly what I need for my HTPC setup - quiet, reliable, and its probably the best bang-for-your-buck quiet PSU on the market right now.

 

[Zap]

You're welcome. If you end up thinking the fan too noisy, then just swap it out. Let us know what you think of it after you get it.

 

[openwheelformula1]

well I hope you at least considered the Seasonic S12-380. It may be a little pricy but you are guaranteed stability, 80% efficiency and quietness.