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Puterless PSU

B

Bodega

Gawd
Joined
Feb 7, 2004
Messages
776
I've been having some issues with some very hot equipment and I was thinking about rigging some fans up to an old PSU I have lying around using the paper clip method. Gonna be using 4x120mm fans, nothing else.

I have two questions for you guys:

Since there will be so little draw, does that mean the PSU will be operating at some really low efficiency?

Are there any long term effects I should be worried about since this isn't how a PSU is designed to run? (nothing on the 3.3v or 5v, and just a tiny bit of 12v)

thanks
 
Bodega said:
Since there will be so little draw, does that mean the PSU will be operating at some really low efficiency?
Click to expand...
Depends on the PSU, but yeah, probably. The good news is that because it'll be such a small load, the power losses due to the lower efficiency will be basically insignificant.
Bodega said:
Are there any long term effects I should be worried about since this isn't how a PSU is designed to run? (nothing on the 3.3v or 5v, and just a tiny bit of 12v)
Click to expand...
I doubt the lifespan of the PSU will be significantly affected.
 
You may be better off investing in a better case for cooling. Hooking up another PSU to cool off the computer will end up producing more heat than what is needed.

I have an Antec 900 and boy does that thing keep my rig cool.
1x200mm on top, 3x120mm fans, two in the front one in the back. You can even fit an additional one on the side and the great thing is that is has holes for Water Cooling.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
 
soulman901 said:
You may be better off investing in a better case for cooling. Hooking up another PSU to cool off the computer will end up producing more heat than what is needed.

I have an Antec 900 and boy does that thing keep my rig cool.
1x200mm on top, 3x120mm fans, two in the front one in the back. You can even fit an additional one on the side and the great thing is that is has holes for Water Cooling.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Click to expand...

I don't know if he's referencing another PC or not... he said equipment so i'm thinking something else.
 
I assumed that he was talking about a computer since that is what these PSU's are mostly used for. If he is talking about Audio/Video Equipment, he would probably be better off getting a standalone fan for that.
 
The PSU will probably be at low efficiency and may produce more than 12 volts. A lot of PSUs have minimum loads, and just a few fans is likely going to be less than minimum.

Personally I'd just get AC fans. Frozen CPU has a few AC fans. Other places have them as well, but that was the first thing that came up in my Google search.
 
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