Are there unusual electrical sounds coming from the power supply unit?
Are there unusual electrical sounds coming from the power supply unit?
I have a serious issue, I just assembled a decent gaming PC but not at the ultra level. I kept my old PSU which broke down, causing a lot of problems and a strong smell inside the house. Luckily, nothing else failed. They replaced it with a new Chieftec model.
I’m upset about this decision because now my new PC makes odd electrical sounds—like buzzing or transformer noises, though hard to capture but noticeable. Recently, after bringing it back from service, they said everything is okay and won’t accept a return.
What should I do? Should I accept it or dispose of the PSU if they refuse to replace it? Help me, this situation is really frustrating. I also recall the Vero L3 making similar noises before it stopped working. Could it be another problem rather than the PSU?
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
When sharing a troubleshooting thread, it's important to provide your complete system details. Please list your specifications in the following order:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
Consider upgrading to a well-made, reliable unit—especially if you're facing issues like a failed PSU. At your spending rate, you might be reaching that point soon.
Where are you based? What is your budget for a PSU?
Chieftec PSUs aren't great. For top-notch performance, consider Seasonic Focus/PRIME or Corsair models like RMx/RMi/HX/HXi/AX/AXi—any unit that meets Tier A standards. Check the PSU tier list here: https://forums. (All three of my PCs are also powered by Seasonic, with full specs and photos included in my post.)
Sorry, I'm just starting here as you said. The current setup looks like this: CPU is an i5 11400f, cooler is SilentiumPC/Endorfy Spartan 5 Max, motherboard is MSI B560M Pro, RAM includes one 16gb Goodram IRDM and another 8gb (brand unknown) DDR4, storage has two SSDs from Goodram – one 512gb and another 1tb WDC HDD, plus an old 1tb HDD, GPU is MSI GAMING X GTX 1070, power supply is Chieftec TPS 700s (though it seems to be the cause of issues), chassis cooler Master Elite (an old case left over, still keeps temps down nicely), operating system is Windows 10 64 bit 22H2, monitor is an HP Compaq LA2205wg. I’m from Poland and we use a currency that’s about a quarter of a US dollar, so the budget is really tight.
I considered making a recording, but the audio from what I made isn’t very clear—it comes on randomly and is difficult to capture. Still, it sounds quite similar to a power transformer station:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzDHNQFFZg
Of course, it’s not as loud as it should be, but the sound quality is pretty much the same.
To mówić po polsku: Chodzi o ten link, to lokalny sklep z mną, ale nie ma znaczenia, czy będzie dobry.
Inspected your shop and the most affordable top-tier model, Tier A, is Fractal Design Ion Gold 750W.
Link: https://patrox.pl/p/1381/89439/frac...ar...ze-it.html
The Cooler Master MWE Bronze V2 you mentioned is Tier B, but it suffers from high ripple at low loads and is also susceptible to coil whine.
It was a Tier A model when it was first released in 2013. Now it's no longer available, making it tough to recommend outdated PSUs. I'd suggest opting for the Fractal Design unit linked above. Also, the second store had decent Corsair and Seasonic units that cost more than the Fractal Design ones from another shop. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of your Chieftec unit failing and damaging your whole PC.