Proper Replacement of a Power Supply Fan

***Zardon*** · Jan 4, 2004, 03:25 PM

Gold member and modder Mike "Neon Cowboy" lady has made a guide for the DH members detailing how to replace a Power supply fan. The editor for this project was fellow gold member Joe "Roadee" Dawson.

They did a great job and you can read this article over here.

Id really like to stress the dangers involved with this mod, so if you are going to even attempt it, follow the guide accurately. We wont be responsible for any accidents to yourself or your hardware, please BE CAREFUL !

kinetic · Jan 4, 2004, 04:59 PM

Another great guide! Good work guys!

toddsmack2k · Jan 4, 2004, 05:04 PM

I agree kinetic another nice guide! Keep em coming guys and thank to all of you who are doing them.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 4, 2004, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toddsmack2k
I agree kinetic another nice guide! Keep em coming guys and thank to all of you who are doing them.

thers is more in the works

**Roadee** · Jan 4, 2004, 10:03 PM

I hope everyone likes Neon's article, it was very fun helping out on it. He is already working on some new articles, as are other member's. This is going to be a pretty active forum, as ideas for guides are endless.

Markius · Jan 5, 2004, 04:26 AM

well done guys.
a very good and easy to follow guide.

**MIG-31** · Jan 5, 2004, 04:32 AM

much impressive guide.very straight forward to follow.

certainly hope to see more in the future.and no doubt we will.

Logla · Jan 5, 2004, 05:43 AM

Thanks for that guys, I may well pop down to the local store and purchase a couple of silent fans today.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 5, 2004, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Logla
Thanks for that guys, I may well pop down to the local store and purchase a couple of silent fans today.

care full what u use you don't want to under cool your psu....
that could be very very bad....

Really I'd reccomend anything ball bearing (for life span) and over 30cfm.... and you should* be ok
the fan i used thin the artical is a 41 cfm ball bearing fan by top motor thier only like $3.00

you actally want real good cooling n your powers supply a it can get very hot. it can have heat up you case temps alot witch will couse the cpu/video card/chipset temps to get higher as well.

if you gonna are/useing two fans u should only make one a led fan if you can help it. uless you can fund quality lad fans. alot of them go for $8 and up and stil are busless and push about 20 cfm.... not the best choice for really good cooling (youd have to use twice as many).

Logla · Jan 5, 2004, 06:23 AM

Thanks for the advice. Been looking at the fans in the psu and I think I'll leave them alone.
PSU is an Antec TruBlue and the fans seem pretty quiet anyway.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 5, 2004, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Logla
Thanks for the advice. Been looking at the fans in the psu and I think I'll leave them alone.
PSU is an Antec TruBlue and the fans seem pretty quiet anyway.

a good qaulity psu should have decent cooling... a nice warrenty
the el cheapo's i instantly crack them open and change the fans.

i'd try and get a look at what they chose to use in that ps

you can make it super quite by useing bushless but you looking at 20,000 hours of operation apposed to 50,000 that a ball bearing has....

i hope i din't discure you that not what i ment to do. just wanted to warn agenst useing too low of CFM fans. I wouln't want you to hurt/damage anything.

Logla · Jan 5, 2004, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Neon_Cowboy

i hope i din't discure you that not what i ment to do. just wanted to warn agenst useing too low of CFM fans. I wouln't want you to hurt/damage anything.

Don't worry about it mate. All advice is gratefully recieved. Glad I found out about it now though rather than one dead power supply later. I hadn't even considered the lower CFM of silent fans.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 5, 2004, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Logla
Don't worry about it mate. All advice is gratefully recieved. Glad I found out about it now though rather than one dead power supply later. I hadn't even considered the lower CFM of silent fans.

thier is a way to do it but i have really coverd that yet. you have to add to or replace the stock mosft fans with much better ones... then they'll keep just as cool with alot lesser fans...

a big depending factor is you case size a placement of the psu... you could use a 80 to 92 or 120 m fan... and use the laarger 92 or 120 @ a low cfm like 50 and have super cooling yet make little noise...
free space and room pretty well determane what u can and cannot do

you could even go so far as fossable haveing a fanless but it would take alot of heatsinking .... good case aitflow ... and proper modifications to the case... it would take alot of work. (that one would be to much work in my book)

you can wire to psu's togeather all kinda of really cool stuff...

Dyre Straits · Jan 5, 2004, 10:12 PM

Very nice guide!

And, YES, it's an operation that can be very dangerous. I've successfully changed PSU fans a couple of times. My advice, if you have to second guess doing it, DON'T!

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 6, 2004, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dyre Straits
Very nice guide!

And, YES, it's an operation that can be very dangerous. I've successfully changed PSU fans a couple of times. My advice, if you have to second guess doing it, DON'T!

bach long as you don't touch anything thing but the wires, mabe the heasinks on the mosfets you'll be ok...

if you go touching aound the capistors you could net a nasty shock or killed
a pair some shock resistant or non conductive thick rubber gloves
would take out the risk of elecrtcution...

i was skeard the very fist time i opend one up.. hoad on a pair of cotton gloves and a a pair of dish gloves overthat. but on that one i had to take the main board of it out to get to the second fan's screws.

**Roadee** · Jan 6, 2004, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Neon_Cowboy
bach long as you don't touch anything thing but the wires, mabe the heasinks on the mosfets you'll be ok...

if you go touching aound the capistors you could net a nasty shock or killed
a pair some shock resistant or non conductive thick rubber gloves
would take out the risk of elecrtcution...

i was skeard the very fist time i opend one up.. hoad on a pair of cotton gloves and a a pair of dish gloves overthat. but on that one i had to take the main board of it out to get to the second fan's screws.

And this is why you make sure that it is unplugged and has had enough time to discharge the storage capacitors!!

matte87 · Jan 6, 2004, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Neon_Cowboy
thier is a way to do it but i have really coverd that yet. you have to add to or replace the stock mosft fans with much better ones... then they'll keep just as cool with alot lesser fans...

a big depending factor is you case size a placement of the psu... you could use a 80 to 92 or 120 m fan... and use the laarger 92 or 120 @ a low cfm like 50 and have super cooling yet make little noise...
free space and room pretty well determane what u can and cannot do

you could even go so far as fossable haveing a fanless but it would take alot of heatsinking .... good case aitflow ... and proper modifications to the case... it would take alot of work. (that one would be to much work in my book)

you can wire to psu's togeather all kinda of really cool stuff...

Must I connect the fan direct to the power supply or can I connect the fan to a 3pin or a 4pin connector?

**Roadee** · Jan 6, 2004, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by matte87
Must I connect the fan direct to the power supply or can I connect the fan to a 3pin or a 4pin connector?

The fan or fans are directly connected to the PSU. So if you are replacing a stock fan you will end up with stray wiring. It is best to connect back up to the existing wiring. IF you are adding a fan where there wasn't one before....then you could pretty much do it how ever you feel comfortable. Just always make sure that you have a strong connection and that it is sealed very well. You dont want a bare wire to make contact once power is applied the the PSU, or for an accident to happen from vibration.

matte87 · Jan 6, 2004, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roadee
The fan or fans are directly connected to the PSU. So if you are replacing a stock fan you will end up with stray wiring. It is best to connect back up to the existing wiring. IF you are adding a fan where there wasn't one before....then you could pretty much do it how ever you feel comfortable. Just always make sure that you have a strong connection and that it is sealed very well. You dont want a bare wire to make contact once power is applied the the PSU, or for an accident to happen from vibration.

My PSU is a Chieftec HPC-300-202. The original fan is a "Magic MGT8012MS" that is a 80mm fan with 12V and 0.15A. What must be the same as the original fan on the replacement fan?

**Roadee** · Jan 6, 2004, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by matte87
My PSU is a Chieftec HPC-300-202. The original fan is a "Magic MGT8012MS" that is a 80mm fan with 12V and 0.15A. What must be the same as the original fan on the replacement fan?

Talked to you on MSN........hope everything goes smooth for you.

mainman · Jan 7, 2004, 01:09 AM

Yet anouther great guide, keep'em comin. Very nice work!!!

P.S. I personaly enjoyed the disclamer...

**Roadee** · Jan 7, 2004, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mainman
P.S. I personaly enjoyed the disclamer...

Thank you!!

mainman · Jan 7, 2004, 03:20 AM

Your welcome bud, i gotta admit pretty nice touch...

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 7, 2004, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roadee
And this is why you make sure that it is unplugged and has had enough time to discharge the storage capacitors!!

i'd get really board before that happend ...

Quote:

Originally posted by matte87
My PSU is a Chieftec HPC-300-202. The original fan is a "Magic MGT8012MS" that is a 80mm fan with 12V and 0.15A. What must be the same as the original fan on the replacement fan?

thats its a 12v 80mm fan the amps dont matter. you'll relise that when you strip the wires thier not copper their steel!

also u can rig up two fan one set of leads that was meant for one fan long as you dont go crazy and try to hook two monster fans up lol....

good luck

Matth · Jan 7, 2004, 10:34 AM

I wonder if it would compromise structural integrity too much to cut the punched grille away and use a wire finger guard instead - that usually results in more airflow and less noise from ANY fan.