Failing PSU?

[tuco]

My PSU is an Antec SMARTPOWER 450W, and I think it is failing me. I have heard that the model that I have is not the most reliable around, and also I think that my system may be too much for it to handle. When power is supplied to the unit (when it is plugged in and the switch on the PSU is flipped, not the system power switch), it makes a high-pitched squealing noise, not that loud, but loud enough that my massively loud cooling setup masks the noise when it is running.

This only started after a system upgrade, and the current specs are are follows:

Intel Q6600

ASUS P5K Deluxe

Antec Nine Hundred case (six fans total)

BFG 8800 GTS OC 550 MHz

2 250 GB SATA 3 Gbps HDDs

Is it too much for that PSU? Does it sound like a bad noise from the unit? I only started hearing it after I put in the Quad and the case with more fans.

 

[FarFarAway]

Yes I'd say it's failing. I think you may be at the limit of what it can do as 450w @ 80% efficiency (for arguments sake) is 360w which is challenging the limit of the PSU

 

[pja123]

Maybe a silly thought, but is the fan moving freely? Are you getting intermittent reboots (a sure sign of an overstressed/inadequate power suppy).

Have you checked your rails in the BIOS? What is your 12v, 5v, and 3,3v rails reading?

 

[Rastalovich]

I`m supprized quality psu manufs, especially ones that extort lots of cash from u, don`t have indicators on them showing their load.

Nothing ott, although if the trend caught on some smartarse would bring one out with an lcd that greets u when u take the case-side off.

 

[Uncle_Fluffy]

I think you may be overstressing the PSU.

It has two 12v rails at 15A & 17A, which gives a max wattage of 180w & 204w respectively.

Depending on the voltage to you oc'd Q6600, it will be using about 180watts on it's own. With the oc'd 8800GTS and the rest of your rig you must be getting to the limit of the 12v rails.

With very similar setup to you (+ watercooling) I am using an Enermax Infiniti 720w PSU. This may be pricey, but it's stable and gives me headroom for expansion.

 

[darkorb]

i have the 550watt version, truepower II, i dont no how its doing on my rig i got

got a mushkin 650watt on backup

 

[Rastalovich]

i have the 550watt version, truepower II, i dont no how its doing on my rig i got

got a mushkin 650watt on backup

Wouldn`t it be nice to see how it`s doing by means of some indicator, nothing special.

 

[tuco]

The BIOS is reporting my rails at 12.096v, 5.04v, and 3.28v. This seems acceptable, but I may bring out the multimeter later to test further. Whatever the result, I am getting a new PSU as my current one just isn't powerful enough.