Aibohphobia
[H]ard|Gawd
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Seasonic has a patent on toggleable semi-fanless mode so they'd have to license it.
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Silverstone SX500-LG 500W Gold SFX-L
- Thread starter Aibohphobia
- Start date
Seasonic has a patent on toggleable semi-fanless mode so they'd have to license it.
I forgot to ask in all that excitement, is the Titan X overclocked?
It's running a very mild overclock, can't remember the exact numbers but its around 10% with no extra voltage.
Similarly I run from my unit
Laptop screen
4870HQ @ 3.7ghz (around 1v)
Titan-X
16GB DDR3 2133mhz (1.35v)
2x 850 EVO m.2
Full custom water cooling loop for the GPU
The laptop uses around 65-85W for itself.
It's fine stock, but when overclocking the GPU to 1500/8000 it can't handle intensive games for long so I have to plug the laptop PSU in as well (removing the laptop from the load). Then it runs without issue.
Laptop screen
4870HQ @ 3.7ghz (around 1v)
Titan-X
16GB DDR3 2133mhz (1.35v)
2x 850 EVO m.2
Full custom water cooling loop for the GPU
The laptop uses around 65-85W for itself.
It's fine stock, but when overclocking the GPU to 1500/8000 it can't handle intensive games for long so I have to plug the laptop PSU in as well (removing the laptop from the load). Then it runs without issue.
Feels like having a patent on a door that can be opened and closed.
The issue is that the fan never turns off once it spins up and it's easily the loudest fan in my system whilst idle.
They say it's temperature controlled but I am not convinced since the fan spins up straight away when I wake the PC up from sleep in the morning, and the system is stone cold.
I guess so. Seems like poor quality control, unfortunately. My PSU is just fine and silent as I can hardly distinguish it from my PSU and GPU fans.
Yes, we didn't manufacture that fan so we have no right in stopping anyone from using it. Since we already had flat ribbon cables in other PSUs and even offered as a short cable kit (PP05-E) already, we made sure SX500-LG would have it too.
Regarding Eco mode, Aibohphobia is correct that Seasonic has a patent on it.
I don't think we will consider sleeving the ribbon cables as that will add girth and reduced flexibility, both of which may make installation more difficult in small form factor cases.
SX500-LG's fan control is temperature based (component temperature) so there are multiple factors that may affect it. It doesn't matter what you are doing and for how long, it all comes down to how hot the component in the SX500-LG is running. So it's very possible that one system could be running at 20% loading for 15 minutes in a cooler room with the PSU fan still off while another system idles at 10% load for 5 minutes in a hotter room turning the fan on.
Thanks. Good info
I have recently built a sugo sg13 skylake machine with this PSU and its easily the most audible component in my case. I consider replacing the stock fan with this :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVuWei1jRh8
It seem to be liquid bearing, which should reduce the annoying noise? Its the bearings that make that sound ?
Strange enough it matches my color scheme and comes in orange
Review : http://www.eteknix.com/phobya-nano-2g-g-silent-slim-edition-and-nb-eloop-bionic-120mm-fan-reviews/3/
I will let you know if any positive changes once I get this in two weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVuWei1jRh8
It seem to be liquid bearing, which should reduce the annoying noise? Its the bearings that make that sound ?
Strange enough it matches my color scheme and comes in orange
Review : http://www.eteknix.com/phobya-nano-2g-g-silent-slim-edition-and-nb-eloop-bionic-120mm-fan-reviews/3/
I will let you know if any positive changes once I get this in two weeks.
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Zangmonkey
Supreme [H]ardness
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2005
- Messages
- 5,058
If I have understood all of the information on the "noise issue" for this PSU thus far then everything is related to a small edge condition.
The fan turns on and off based on a temperature curve and nothing else.
Therefore if your components are sitting right at that temperature crossover point you may get "chatter" in the relay which powers the fan, resulting in rapid on/off switching.
Likewise if the temperature is very transient the fan will quickly cool the components sufficiently as to turn off.... pushing you into that same chatter trap.
So the noise people are hearing is the repeated on/off for the fan circuitry. I suspect that *any* semi-fanless device will have an identical issue here as any discerning user can hear the subtle click of a fan spinning up for the first time. It's just physics, the coefficient of static friction is invariable higher than the coefficient of kinetic friction and the transition between the two is audible.
Then this exact same problem affects all semi-fanless PSUs and all semi-fanless GPUs as well. The only way I can think of the resolve this is to to have the fan spinning on super low speeds at all times, such that the "on click" is only experienced one time as system start.
The fan turns on and off based on a temperature curve and nothing else.
Therefore if your components are sitting right at that temperature crossover point you may get "chatter" in the relay which powers the fan, resulting in rapid on/off switching.
Likewise if the temperature is very transient the fan will quickly cool the components sufficiently as to turn off.... pushing you into that same chatter trap.
So the noise people are hearing is the repeated on/off for the fan circuitry. I suspect that *any* semi-fanless device will have an identical issue here as any discerning user can hear the subtle click of a fan spinning up for the first time. It's just physics, the coefficient of static friction is invariable higher than the coefficient of kinetic friction and the transition between the two is audible.
Then this exact same problem affects all semi-fanless PSUs and all semi-fanless GPUs as well. The only way I can think of the resolve this is to to have the fan spinning on super low speeds at all times, such that the "on click" is only experienced one time as system start.
My unit has a clearly audible click sound (at idle it was audible in the whole room i have the computer in) , I've sent it to Tony. Arrived yesterday, hopefully it'll help him find out what the issue is and how it can be solved.
The other solution is adding hysteresis: a combination of having the fan startup threshold temperature above the fan shutdown threshold temperature (e.g. fan will start once t=50°C, but will only shut down if the temperature drops below t=40°C), and once the fan is on and the desired 'shut-off' temperature reached, the fan will be held on at a low speed for a further preset period (e.g. 1 minute) before it shuts off. This further lowers the temperature below the startup threshold. Combined, these reduce the frequency at which the fan will start and stop, and avoids the PSU sitting at the fan on/off temperature as a steady state.
Zangmonkey
Supreme [H]ardness
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2005
- Messages
- 5,058
From what I can tell this psu has that. Reports I've seen say the fan turns on then never fully turns off.
So the noise may be a relay.
No, it is a very VERY simple mechanism: a thermistor is attached to one of the heatsinks and the change in resistance changes the fan voltage though a voltage divider. That's it.
The fan stays on for some users because their ambient temperature is high enough (or something is blocking sufficient intake air) for the heatsink to never cool down enough for the fan voltage to drop below the operating voltage even in idle.
Zangmonkey
Supreme [H]ardness
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If so then the clicking is either the boundary condition I described or bad thermistors.
It is*, hence why adding Hysteresis would reduce the on/off cycle frequency.
*There are also reports of a clicking noise from the fan during normal operation. This would be 'regular' fan noise due to fan bearings rather than the fan turning on/off.
So I've had the 500w sfx-l v1.0 for awhile now, I've had it since it first came out. While I do hear the fan noise issue sometimes i don't think it's that bad. I even have a generic filter I put over the grill. I did notice though with certain combination of c-states on i heard a weird clicking/whining that could be blamed on the fan. It at least made me wonder. It was "fixable" with changing some options. I do get why some of you are bothered by it more considering room/case/position effecting sound. I still think it's quieter than my modded (used delta fan) 450w sfx
I have a Sharkoon with the same fan and it doesn't make any clicking noise. I don't think there's anything special about Sharkoon either, they likely just copied whatever Sirfa had on the table. Maybe it's a bad batch or just poor QC from Globe Fan. No sleep or hibernation here though, maybe I'll test it in the future.
I wish i had paid more attention to this thread before I got my SX500-LG, i probably would have went with a different case and an atx power supply. While i would not call the fan loud, it is probably the most annoying sound out of any of my computers. I find it extremely irritating at times, and once it spins up it never seems to stop.
just got this power supply too. Im getting this annoying sound coming from the psu fan. It sound like a mechanical hard drive accessing data. I dont have mechanical drive anymore.
I really want to like this psu but i dont think i would be able to last hearing this sound.
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Just an update for my SX500-LG. I notice my fan goes on and off very often. Sometimes it goes on/off within a few seconds. Is this normal?
On the plus side, I barely hear the ticking when the fan starts. Maybe I'm just getting used to it but I haven't heard it in awhile.
On the plus side, I barely hear the ticking when the fan starts. Maybe I'm just getting used to it but I haven't heard it in awhile.
I see it on my unit as well. It happens when the fan is on the threshold voltage between starting and stopping.
As for the ticking (rattling), I heard it occasionally during the first two weeks, and it's been quiet ever since.
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iFreilicht
[H]ard|Gawd
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- Sep 23, 2014
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- 1,348
If your fan is always on, you're one of the luckier people that got this unit.
I wouldnt say im one of the lucky ones. During idle is where i hear the ticking sound coming from the psu. I could not stand the noise it makes. I would not mind the noise during gaming as i use headphones most of the time.
mejobloggs
Weaksauce
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2009
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- 86
I'm interested in the SX500-LG but I'm really put off by the noise many people are reporting.
Unfortunately SX500-LG is the only SFX-L psu I can find in my country (NZ)
Very tempted, but I'm pretty sure the noise will bug me like crazy based on other's descriptions
Unfortunately SX500-LG is the only SFX-L psu I can find in my country (NZ)
Very tempted, but I'm pretty sure the noise will bug me like crazy based on other's descriptions
I have found my SX500-LG to be fairly quiet. The PSU emits a faint chirping noise for the first 20 minutes or so after the computer is powered on, but it is not very noticeable. After the computer has been on for a while, the noise goes away. I can see the PSU fan start and stop with no audible sound.
I have had issues with the computer failing to POST. Sometimes when the computer is disconnected from power, once it is plugged back in it will not POST. Sometimes it exhibits the same behavior when changes are made in the BIOS. The GPU fan will operate at full speed indefinitely but the CPU will not power on. The problem seems to be intermittent, and the solution is to boot into failed POST, power down, wait five minutes, then power on. At this point the computer will boot normally, but if I do not let it sit for five minutes after failed POST, it will continue to do the same thing.
With some help from forum members I was able to find that when the system fails to POST, it is due to the SX500-LG not sending the PWR_OK signal. I'm not sure why, but it does seem to be a defect with the PSU so I'm setting up an RMA with Silverstone.
I have had issues with the computer failing to POST. Sometimes when the computer is disconnected from power, once it is plugged back in it will not POST. Sometimes it exhibits the same behavior when changes are made in the BIOS. The GPU fan will operate at full speed indefinitely but the CPU will not power on. The problem seems to be intermittent, and the solution is to boot into failed POST, power down, wait five minutes, then power on. At this point the computer will boot normally, but if I do not let it sit for five minutes after failed POST, it will continue to do the same thing.
With some help from forum members I was able to find that when the system fails to POST, it is due to the SX500-LG not sending the PWR_OK signal. I'm not sure why, but it does seem to be a defect with the PSU so I'm setting up an RMA with Silverstone.
Here is a video of the sound:
Happens after 9~minutes each time in Intel Burn Test. Pretty sure its the PSU.
I am returning it to Amazon and getting a replacement to see if another one makes the same issue.
Maybe a QC issue? I seen another review on Amazon which sounds like my same issue:
As others have warned... be sure to check this power supply in operation when you receive it, or as soon as you can before the return period expires. When it's in quiet / silent mode, the fan does not spin and is silent... but... once the fan turns on the noise is unacceptable. As others have reported it makes a rattling or clicking sound. When looking at the fan when its running the fan blade appears to have a slight wobble! After it runs for a while the sound fades down to a more tolerable level but you can still hear it from 5ft away. This is not acceptable for something advertised as "Silent Operation"
Happens after 9~minutes each time in Intel Burn Test. Pretty sure its the PSU.
I am returning it to Amazon and getting a replacement to see if another one makes the same issue.
Maybe a QC issue? I seen another review on Amazon which sounds like my same issue:
As others have warned... be sure to check this power supply in operation when you receive it, or as soon as you can before the return period expires. When it's in quiet / silent mode, the fan does not spin and is silent... but... once the fan turns on the noise is unacceptable. As others have reported it makes a rattling or clicking sound. When looking at the fan when its running the fan blade appears to have a slight wobble! After it runs for a while the sound fades down to a more tolerable level but you can still hear it from 5ft away. This is not acceptable for something advertised as "Silent Operation"
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Both of the PSU i got has this wobbly fan look when they spin. Luckily the second PSU i got is finally quiet than the first one. I would definitely return that for another one.
That's the orientation it's in with my GS30 dock and I have never had noise issues.