Why do some PSUs squeal / buzz / whine?
Why do some PSUs make a high pitched squeal / buzz / whine?
Is it always the transformer which makes the noise or can the capacitors also make the noise?
I've heard it referred to as "Capacitor Squeal" before, but then people say it's actually the transformer coils causing harmonic resonance because they're loose or the because the frequency is off.
Could a failing cap alter frequency & create harmonic resonance in a transformer?
If this is the case why do some PSUs that are brand new make squealing noises?
I've read accounts on different forums of even brand new high end PSUs like SS X series or Platinum having a high pitched squeal or ringing. Surely a brand new PSU wouldn't have failing capacitors.
I've also read posts where people say it can be dependent on the motherboard/video card(s)/hard drive(s) it's attached to. That the PSU could make a high pitched noise while connected to one setup but not another. Is there some sort of electric feedback involved where this could actually be the true?
The last hypothesis I've read about is the PSU getting "dirty power". That there's power noise in the outlet the PSU is plugged into. I'm not sure if a power conditioner would be practical in that case, especially with a high wattage PSU. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a UPS does any power conditioning; so most PSUs only have their own transient filtering to rely on.
But again, high end PSUs have still been known to have a squeal; & they usually have good transient filtering (compared to cheaper PSUs at least). It also wouldn't explain why the same person may not have squeal with another PSU.
Is it always the transformer which makes the noise or can the capacitors also make the noise?
I've heard it referred to as "Capacitor Squeal" before, but then people say it's actually the transformer coils causing harmonic resonance because they're loose or the because the frequency is off.
Could a failing cap alter frequency & create harmonic resonance in a transformer?
If this is the case why do some PSUs that are brand new make squealing noises?
I've read accounts on different forums of even brand new high end PSUs like SS X series or Platinum having a high pitched squeal or ringing. Surely a brand new PSU wouldn't have failing capacitors.
I've also read posts where people say it can be dependent on the motherboard/video card(s)/hard drive(s) it's attached to. That the PSU could make a high pitched noise while connected to one setup but not another. Is there some sort of electric feedback involved where this could actually be the true?
The last hypothesis I've read about is the PSU getting "dirty power". That there's power noise in the outlet the PSU is plugged into. I'm not sure if a power conditioner would be practical in that case, especially with a high wattage PSU. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think a UPS does any power conditioning; so most PSUs only have their own transient filtering to rely on.
But again, high end PSUs have still been known to have a squeal; & they usually have good transient filtering (compared to cheaper PSUs at least). It also wouldn't explain why the same person may not have squeal with another PSU.
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