Many potential buyers in the market for computer components are alarmed by the fact that it is impossible to find a fan for the power supply in the shop windows. Here for the processor, video card, case, hard drive - please, but for PSU there is nothing. It really looks very strange and causes a lot of negative emotions, judging by user reviews. However, there is no need to be upset. Any expert will say that a conventional cooler is installed in the power supply to cool the case. The difference can only be in size - 120, 80, 60 or 40 millimeters. By the way, any user can be convinced of it, having sorted out their BP.
The focus of this article is a fan for a computer power supply. The reader is invited to get acquainted not only with decent models, their description and photos, but also with the maintenance of a non-working cooling system. Indeed, in 90% of cases, a fan replacement is not needed at all, it is enough to make a little cleaning.
Fascinating math
Better to start not with the choice of a specific model or brand, but with the technical requirements that apply to the fan. Yes, such a simple computer component has a number of limitations that the user will have to put up with, because comfortable work of the user at the computer depends on the right choice. It follows that the basic requirements are noiselessness and airflow efficiency.
The cooling fan of the computer’s power supply in most cases is not able to independently control the speed of the impeller. Feeding 5 volts to the cooler, the PSU uses the maximum rotation frequency that is characteristic of this voltage. Here, interesting events begin, because the characteristics for all fans are indicated for a 12-volt line. There are few options here - to trust the instinct or recommendations of experts, because it is impossible to mathematically accurately calculate the impeller behavior.
How to be?
Here, a factor such as confidence in a well-known brand that worried about the buyer and independently measured the impeller speed and air flow on a 5-volt line is triggered. True, there are not so many such brands on the market, plus the prices of their products are quite high. But this option can be safely considered, because it will satisfy the wishes of users in terms of silent operation and efficient cooling.
The fan for the computer power supply is better to look for among the products of world famous manufacturers, such as Thermaltake, Zalman, be quiet, Noctua, Scythe. The cooler packaging contains data on the operation of the fan at 5 and 12 volts. Accordingly, the data on the revolutions and the noise level are indicated. For example, Noctua NF-P12 - 600 rpm (12 dB). Or Thermaltake Riing 12 - 1000 rpm (18 dB). By the way, in the last example, a backlit fan.
Basic fan requirements
Having figured out the methodology for choosing a worthy product in the market for computer components, it's time to go directly to the requirements. Noise level should not exceed 20 decibels. This is a very important factor, because this indicator is a certain threshold of audibility. As for the impeller speed, it all depends on the build quality. There are models that spin the fan silently and at a frequency of 2000 rpm. However, experts recommend limiting to 1200 rpm.
Many users have already heard many times that all the fans in the system resonate, which causes a terrible hum in the system unit, and the case begins to rattle. Oddly enough, the computer's power supply may be involved here. The fan is twitching in it, not only because of a malfunction. The problem may be in too high a rotational speed of the impeller. Also, cheap Chinese fans have a problem with the rotor skew, due to which a constant knock is heard in the operation of the device, and the cooler starts to twitch.
From theory to practice
Having figured out which fan is in the power supply unit of the computer, the user can only buy its analog and replace it. True, here the owner expects a small surprise. This is an interface for connecting to power. Almost all fans are sold with a 4-pin connector, and on the PSU board there are only two contacts, plus they are soldered. Do not be upset, in most cases on the board - a fake soldering. In fact, two wires from the fan are just in the glue.
Naturally, having unscrewed the cooler from the PSU case, you need to carefully remove the glue from the contacts (a knife may be needed). At the end of the cleaning procedure, the user will have a board with two pins. The main thing here is to remember where is the plus (red wire) and where is the minus (black wire). Further, a technical matter: you need to put a 4-pin connector on these two contacts so that the polarity matches the color of the cables. And there is nothing wrong with the fact that the two contacts remained unconnected.
Harbinger of trouble
Does the fan in the computer power supply make noise? This event causes a lot of resentment from users who are beginning to calculate the cost of acquiring a new cooler. It is at this stage that there is no need to rush, the fact is that noise is not a breakdown. This is a signal to the computer owner that there are some difficulties in the fan that need to be fixed immediately. Everything is pretty simple here:
- the power supply is removed and disassembled and blown away from dust;
- the fan is unscrewed and removed;
- the protective sticker on the cooler rotor is removed, 3-4 drops of oil are poured inside;
- the sticker returns to its place, the PSU is assembled and installed in the computer.
The algorithm is quite simple, but very productive. There may be problems with the sticker, which has lost its sticky properties. You do not need to put it in this form, it will fall off anyway and will rattle inside the case. Better install a new sticker. Where to get? Cut from a thick adhesive tape, use a chewing gum insert or purchase any children's sticker of the same size in the store.
Grease
Having determined that the replacement of the computer’s power supply fan is not needed, the user will have no difficulty in cleaning and lubricating the cooler. However, there is one factor that is still worth paying attention to all readers. It's about lubrication. The fact is that the humming in the work is not made by the fan blades, but by the bearing, which from drying out begins to distort the movement of the rotor.
The user should use only flowing oils that are able to lubricate the bearing. However, do not forget about the high viscosity, because the lubricant must remain inside, and not leak out under the influence of centrifugal force. It is better to use grease for sewing machines (analogue of the I-8 brand). In extreme cases, engine oil is also suitable.
Time to say good-bye
The only symptom that requires user attention when it comes to an element such as a computer power supply is that the fan does not spin. In such cases, bearing lubrication can only extend the life of the cooler by several days (if you can unwind the impeller after applying the oil). But leaving the power supply in this state is not recommended. It is the impossibility of cooling the boards with a faulty fan that can damage the power supply, which, in turn, can burn the motherboard and other components of the system unit.
Error handling
Not every user undertakes to change the fan for the computer power supply. Often, many owners trust this service center, which specializes in such breakdowns. In fact, this is the right decision, however, judging by the reviews of the owners, there are exceptions. We are talking about installing in the PSU case used fans that have exhausted their resources in the system unit. For many users, the fan in the computer’s power supply does not work after repair because of this.
The second problem that users may encounter is the lack of contacts in the PSU to connect the cooler. This is found only in cheap Chinese devices, where an economical manufacturer soldered all the components of the power supply. In such cases, the user also needs to strip the contacts and solder the fan to the board (there should be no twists).
Finally
As practice shows, in 99% of cases it is not necessary to change the fan for the computer power supply. It is enough to disassemble the PSU, clean it from dust and lubricate the cooler. All this suggests that the electrical component of the computer just needs constant cleaning (once a year). Yes, there are situations when it is necessary to install a new cooler, but here the user will not have any problems. After all, the market has a fairly large assortment of decent fans that can be safely installed as a cooling system for the power supply.