Power Supply overheating

[Etruscan]

I just changed my power supply to a new Enermax 350. Nice looking PS with great specs. and very quiet. That seems to be the problem - too quiet. The fans don't seem to run very fast and most of the cooling seems to be passive. Like conducted through the metal of the PS casing to the PC case. My case is quite warm. My CPU temp is up about 5 or 6 degrees C.

I saw something in the manual (which is generally incomprehensible) that said there is a 'stat' in the PS to run the fans and on some models a knob to control speed. Well there is no knob on mine. But does anyone know if there is a 'stat' inside the Enermax I can turn up or wire a bypass to get the fans running faster? I think I void the warranty if I open the PS housing. That's why I want to know ahead of time.

[thronka]

the fans should be running at full speed.. I have teh 430watt model without the knob either and it runs at full speed. Did you hook up your case fans to the fan only connectors on the PSU connectors? If so, take them off and put them on a regular connector.. make sure your fans aren't blocked.

[Etruscan]

No, everything is hooked up right, as far as I know. My case fans are hooked up to regular connectors. The bottom intake fan in the PS hooks up to the mainboard. (funny arrangement where the PS takes power off the mainboard with a black and white pair.) Maybe I was exaggerating a bit or mistaken about the CPU temps - they might be up 2 degrees. It just seems there isn't much wind coming out of the back of the power supply and I never had one heat up the case before.

But your saying the fans should be blowing for all they are worth by default. There isn't anything I can change inside.

[woodbutcher]

As you've said if you break the seal you will Void the warranty.
Which model do you have?
I have 2 Enermax units here, a FA (Fan Adjustable) and FM (Fan Moniter).
Unfortunatly i'm currently not using either one so I can't help as far as what the problem might be except to make sure the fan lead from the PS is hooked up to one of the SYSFAN connections on the mobo.
Do you have Speedfan installed on your comp, if so and you have the FM model you should be able to see what the rpm's are on the fan in the PS.

WB

[Buzioid]

You could rig up a case fan onto it where a fan is currently.

[goldenbuddha]

the knob, if its there, is in the back, by the power switch. But not all models have it, the cheaper ones do not. Its a tiny little black thing.

[Etruscan]

The one I have is an EG365P-VE-FM P4-350. So that would be the 'Fan Monitor' type. The fan monitor designation implies there is some kind of internal control on the fan... I suppose. Thanks woodbutcher. I didn't see too much about it in the 'íncomprehensible' manual. I have the intake fan connected to a SYSFAN connector on the mainboard. However, the lead is only two wire, so there is no way to monitor speed. It's the exhaust fan on the back of the unit I'd like to speed up.

I might take Buzioid's advice and try and replace the exhaust fan with a regular 5000 rpm case fan. But then again, there goes that rotten seal. The case fan I have just below the PS seems to be blowing 2 or 3 times as hard as the exhaust fan in the PS. A regular hurricane in comparison. The fan that's already in there looks like an ordinary 5000 rpm case fan anyway. I think it's that FM part that's slowing it down.

As this isn't an emergency, I guess I'll just have to watch it for while, get used to it , see what it does, and try to improve it. Dandy heater on those long winter nights - the case certainly feels warm to the touch. Unfortunately it's the middle of summer.

[Idigguns]

Before you go breaking the seal, why don't you try mounting an additional fan over the existing exhaust fan. It'll be sticking out from the back of the case, but nobody will see it, so who cares! You'll just have to run the wires through an existing hole or drill a hole to run the fan wires back into the case. You could even use one of those funnel adapters and put on a bigger fan. A 92mm or 120mm! I'd try that before I broke the seal. Or simply add some more case fans if you have room for any.

[Etruscan]

Yeah, I'll give it some thought Idigguns. I have to rummage around in my stuff to see what I've got. But, you know, the seal has got to go. I'll give it a couple of weeks or so to see if it breaks in all right before I open it up.

By the way, I saw that case mod you did for the tattoo parlour owner. I was impressed. Congratulations.

[Idigguns]

Thanks. Everybody that goes in the shop can't believe their eyes. So many people know nothing about modding. Probably 98% of the world has beige PC's! Let us know how you make out, and if you can get your temp's down.