Power Supply Fan - How Powerful?

[daamon]

Hi All,

I've had recent cause to open up my PC case and noticed that the power supply fan, whilst working, didn't strike me as all that powerful.

I held a small receipt sized piece of paper in the airflow and it flicked around gently. To the "touch", I can feel a subtle breeze if I put my hand a few centimetres from the fan (on the outside).

Is this about right? Or should it be producing a stronger airflow?

Cheers.

[jimmalenko]

If it's anything to go by, I have a 450W power supply and from about 10cm from the fan I barely feel anything - akin to something very lightly drawing on your hand with their finger

I have to get to about 3cm away before I can really feel it working.

[daamon]

Cheers mate. That's a good guide.

My fan at 3cm sounds like it feels like yours does from 10cm. I've got to nip into a PC shop in Elizabeth Street in the CBD to get a few bits - I'll ask in there too.

[jimmalenko]

Depending on what sort of environment your tower sits in, it may just be that there's excess dust "caked" onto the fan, thus inhibiting the airflow. It's not too hard a job to take your power supply case off and give the fan a really good wipe.

Have you been experiencing problems with it, or are you just a little paranoid ?

[daamon]

...or are you just a little paranoid ?

I'll take a look and see if it needs a dusting. Ta.

[JerryB]

Hi All,

I've had recent cause to open up my PC case and noticed that the power supply fan, whilst working, didn't strike me as all that powerful.

I held a small receipt sized piece of paper in the airflow and it flicked around gently. To the "touch", I can feel a subtle breeze if I put my hand a few centimetres from the fan (on the outside).

Is this about right? Or should it be producing a stronger airflow?

Cheers.

hi,
my 2 cents worth smile...
all the computers i have ever had..... the air flow from the fan has been very noticiable and strong!
the only times when the air flow wasn't strong was when the fan blades and maybe the shaft are very dirty or the fan was wearing out!!

[daamon]

@ JerryB: Cheers. It sounds like, even though it's working, it's a bit weak.

[redwudz]

daamon, more important is how much heat is the PS putting out? If it only has lukewarm air or cooler coming out, it's likely doing fine. If it's hot air like a blow dryer, you may have a problem.

Some PS fans have a thermal control for the fan speed. If the PS is running cool the fan speed lowers. Still, it doesn't hurt to blow out the dust occasionally. I have a 480W that runs pretty cool and has very little airflow out the fan. And I've seen some cheap 300W PS's that you could smell burning plastic from the exhaust air. (That one I junked fairly quickly.)

[daamon]

daamon, more important is how much heat is the PS putting out?

The air is, as you say, only lukewarm. That's a good point... I'll still give it a clean - if it needs it - and leave it to see how it goes.

And I've seen some cheap 300W PS's that you could smell burning plastic from the exhaust air. (That one I junked fairly quickly.)

Thanks all...

[lenti_75]

99.99% they are not powerful at all, just a breeze.

you should clean it and that's it, if doesn't make any noise it's good.

[daamon]

Cool (no pun intended). The paranoia has settled now...