one fan or two?

[wakkoguy]

I am buying a new power supply. I don't know if I should get one that has 2 fans or one? my current 250w psu only has one fan going out the back.

Also what brands do you suggest (specific PSUs would be better)

I heard that the 12v rail should be as high as possible. I have a p4 2.8, cd drive, cd burner, floppy, radeon 9800 Pro, 768mb ram

thanx

 

[lonelypauly]

typically a 2 fan PSU will be of higher quality...rule #42 of System Building: Never Cheap Out On The Power Supply!

<b><font color=blue>Athlon64 3200+ Winchester/MSI Neo4 Platinum SLI/MSI 6800 Ultra/1 GB Kingston HyperX/74GB WD Raptor/600Watt Enermax</b></font color=blue>

 

[Black_Cat]

Actually, that's rule #1. It certainly helps to diagnose problems when you can rule out the PSU. I always recommend Fortron/Source especially <A HREF="http://www.dealsonic.com/fofs53dufana.html" target="_new">this one</A>.



You've tried and failed. The lesson here is, never try again. -- Homer Simpson.

 

[Crashman]

Many of the cheapest "high wattage" power supplies on the market have 2 fans, including many made by PowMax and marketed under various unfamiliar brand names.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

2 fans means nothing. In fact, 2 fans does little to help cool the supply, because those fans are in series. One large fan is better, some power supplies have 120mm fans now.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[wakkoguy]

<A HREF="http://www.poorreflection.com/Rahul/pc" target="_new">http://www.poorreflection.com/Rahul/pc</A>
As you can see here I can't use a fan on the bottom of my PSU because of the ventilation system that Dell uses. So I'm thinking of getting this one <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103935" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103935</A>
Is it a good one?

 

[Crashman]

Actually you have enough space between the shroud and power supply bottom to draw air in from the bottom. Also, the power supply you've chosen would require cutting a hole in the case for the power switch.

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103486" target="_new">This one may fit</A> because the power switch is located where your voltage switch is. If the switch is bigger than the hole, you could trim the hole in the case, but at least you won't have to cut an entire new hole.

The same switch and power connector location can be found on <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104934" target="_new">This high end unit</A>

Of course if you'd prefer a high-end unit with NO switch and a REAR fan, you could drop big money on <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104932" target="_new">THIS</A>, or get the same unit in silver, under a different brand <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817101006" target="_new">HERE</A>

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[wakkoguy]

but would it be more efficient to purchase a rear fan?

 

[Crashman]

I doubt a rear fan would help, the bottom fan is larger so it can move more air at a slower speed. But a couple high end units offer rear fan and no power switch, I just can't justify the prices.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>