Power Supply groans when overclocking

[DanDaMan315]

I have a stock 400w psu that came with the case labeled "HI-PRO". When I run ATI Tool it makes this weird noise, and it does this occassionally during gaming. Would this be a result of a crappy psu? And if I did get a new psu would the overclocking preformance go up?

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: DanDaMan315
I have a stock 400w psu that came with the case labeled "HI-PRO". When I run ATI Tool it makes this weird noise, and it does this occassionally during gaming. Would this be a result of a crappy psu? And if I did get a new psu would the overclocking preformance go up?

Your performance may go up with more stable power coming in, but it can't be guaranteed. Going with a name brand power supply has never hurt though.

 

[VirtualLarry]

What kind of video card do you have, and what CPU? If it is one that draws a lot of power, then yes, it is definately possible for a supply to make more noise under heavy loads, although most decently-quality ones will not. (Although they will adjust fan speeds upwards, because temps inside the PSU will rise, because the regulators are supplying more power.) So the noise could either be the PSU fans, or some component of the PSU circuitry itself, either an inductor or a transformer. Sometimes those will resonate or "hum" under heavy loads.

I'm not familiar with "HI-PRO", sounds like just another generic supply to me, so if you are concerned, then replacing it might not be a bad idea, especially if the current noise issue bothers you. Overclocking performance, OTOH, can be limited by many things, power just one among them, so no guarantees there, just as UsandThem said.

 

[DanDaMan315]

It is just another generic psu. I have a 9800pro 256mb with the silencer3 on it.

The noise is like a pulsation, sounds like lots of electricity running through at once, however I'm not a guru.

 

[biostud]

could be the fan spinning up?

 

[Jeff7]

It could also be a dying fan; how old is the PSU? A lot of PSU's tend to use cheap fans, usually sleeve bearing, and their bearings make a groaning noise when they begin to die.

 

[DanDaMan315]

No its definetely not the fan, sounds too much like electricity (can't explain, but I can just tell), and I can hear my fan as a separate noise. The psu is only like 6 months old.

 

[pwrstick]

Mfgr web site is here. I'd go ask em if they have that feature that prevents the power supply from ruining your board/cpu if it blows up.

Wait is this that feature?

- Output over voltage protection
- Short-circuit protection at any DC output

Cuz if so you're good.

 

[DanDaMan315]

Yea, I can tell by the website that the psu is a POS. Im probably going to get the OCZ Modstream 520w. I like the modular design and people have said it is a solid psu.

 

[MWink]

I can't give you any advice about your problem however I do have a bit of experience with HI-PRO power supplies. Though it's been quite a while since I worked with them much I remember that they were pretty solid power supplies. I remember I had one that went bad (might have been kinda DOA) and it would shut off by itself after making a strange electrical noise. Luckly it didn't damage anything. Also I do know of one OLD (early P2 era) HI-PRO 300W that is still going strong to this day and it was used under some major stress (peltier coolers, etc.). Though I wouldn't consider them the best, they're not junk either.

 

[DanDaMan315]

So would it be beneficial for me to upgrade my PSU? I think I might just get the Modstream just because it looks awesome and would increase the air flow in my case.