When I slowly flipped the PSU switch to ON, i heard an electrical sound

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mrbeanladen

mrbeanladen

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When I slowly flipped the PSU switch to ON, i heard an electrical sound
I heard a sound like CRRCRRCRRRRRR, some kind of crackle, like when you do sometimes when you flip a switch open. It happens all over my house, when I plug something in the wall socket or slowly flip a switch open, i hear a spark. My PC works OK but should I worry? this doesn't happen when I flip it open normally, fast, it only happens when i flip it slowly. Also, the only sound the psu makes is a faint high pitched, continuous sound, although it could be the gpu since it's a HD7850, and since I bought it I always hear coil whine in the headphones too, probably disturbing the signal. PSU is only 1 year old.
 
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Maxx_Power
That should just be intermittent contact prior to full latch in the switch, and thus you are hearing some electrical arcing noises. Try it on a light switch, all switches carrying high voltage should do that (arc if engaged slowly). All those capacitors behind that switch means a large inrush current initially. Nothing to worry about.

As for coil whine, the audio portion of the motherboards are usually poorly shielded and shares ground with the rest of the board, making that subsystem as noisy as any other. On most motherboards you will hear some background hiss that changes with system load and use. Some even pick up mouse movements (if you move the mouse, the background hiss changes with the mouse movement).

All symptoms are...
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Maxx_Power

Maxx_Power

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That should just be intermittent contact prior to full latch in the switch, and thus you are hearing some electrical arcing noises. Try it on a light switch, all switches carrying high voltage should do that (arc if engaged slowly). All those capacitors behind that switch means a large inrush current initially. Nothing to worry about.

As for coil whine, the audio portion of the motherboards are usually poorly shielded and shares ground with the rest of the board, making that subsystem as noisy as any other. On most motherboards you will hear some background hiss that changes with system load and use. Some even pick up mouse movements (if you move the mouse, the background hiss changes with the mouse movement).

All symptoms are pretty normal.
 
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mrbeanladen

mrbeanladen

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thanks, I guess you're right it must be normal

also this is my psu i heard it's pretty crappy but it worked fine for 1 year, still does: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3606
 
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Maxx_Power

Maxx_Power

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It is not a top-notch PSU, but even top-notch PSUs fail. It is a FSP made unit for Gigabyte. It is also over-rated on power. It doesn't actually have 620W at its disposal. To see how much it actually gives, read the label and sum all the individual wattages on each rail (so 5V rail, times 5A current, for example, gives you 25 Watts on that rail, and 12V rail, times say, 30A, gives you 360 Watts. I think your unit sums up to about 500 watts, maybe a bit more).

But, FSP isn't bad. They do make some decent PSUs, and their average stuff doesn't explode and certainly isn't known (for reputation) to take everything with it when it dies.
 
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mrbeanladen

mrbeanladen

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yeah on the psu it's written in small lettters "power output for 12v1 12v2 [...] should not exceed 490-something watts"
it has enough power for now all my components are pretty low powered and the gpu consumes lower than 150w, cpu lower than 90w, rest doesn't matter as much..

should upgrading the psu be mandatory? I have enough money to buy an antec/seasonic/etc good modular psu of 450-600w like I'd need, but this will last a few more years right? or at least one more

I just got a brand new hdd and i don't like spending money every month on my pc
 
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Maxx_Power

Maxx_Power

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I wouldn't say it is mandatory. FSP PSUs are generally okay. At least consider that your PSU will most likely last at least as long as the warranty on it.
 
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