Question about the Zero RPM mode and thermals/fans on Corsair RM850x
Question about the Zero RPM mode and thermals/fans on Corsair RM850x
Hi I read on
this page
(see first and second paragraphs) that PSU zero RPM modes can be bad for PSU fans when you don't have air exhaust on top of the PSU since heat can accumulate in the PSU and turn on the fan quite frequently every time the heat inside the PSU builds up enough, thus putting wear and tear on the fan. Anybody agree/disagree?
According to the article this can be remedied by placing the fan on the top of the PSU. If you put the air vent on top then when the fan kicks in it draws warmer air from inside the chassis through the top and out the back correct? As opposed to drawing cool air from the bottom?
Thanks!
Does anyone concur or disagree?
Aris has extensive experience with this topic over many years.
When the air vent is positioned at the top, does the fan intake warmer air from inside the chassis through the top and expel it through the back when activated?
This depends on your chassis design and fan arrangement. You should concentrate on the fan near the PSU. If your case provides good airflow, you shouldn't worry. Heat tends to rise toward the top, which is why a zero-fan mode for the PSU works best with the fan directed upward in such setups.
On the other hand, if your case lacks any ventilation below the PSU, it's better to have the PSU's fan facing downwards.
Please share your build specifications:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
If you're using the RM850x model, mention its age.
Thanks Lutfij, here they are. Upon quick inspection there's no ventilation above the PSU in my Silent Base 802 but there is a panel I might be able to remove.
AMD 5900x w/NH-D15 IIRC
Gigabyte Aorus X570 Ultra
corsair I think 32 GB 16x2
Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB
Soon to be Asus Prime 5070ti 16 GB non-oc, now GTX 970
Corsair HX850 Platinum soon to be Corsair RM850x prolly
Chassis is Be Quiet! Silent Base 802
Win 10
Alienware AW3418DW
I'm torn about this. If the PSU is too large, the fan shouldn't need to run. But if it's just right, it might trigger more fan starts. For a 24/7 setup that could be an issue. For gaming-only use it should work fine. My RM850x is almost ten years old and I haven't had to adjust the fan. Still, replacing the PSU seems like a good idea, maybe next after the GPU.
My setup only produces around 160 W when idle from the 850 W power supply. For the updated model, I plan to eliminate a panel for better airflow at the top.