Question PSU fan issue. Enermax EGN1200P power supply unit

[allidsarebusy]

Hi guys, i have following issue.

About a day ago, I received a brand new power supply unit, model Enermax EGN1200P.

Everything works fine, but the PSU has strange behavior. The fan keeps starting every 30-60 seconds. It starts very slowly at first, with abrupt movement and makes a ticking sound. Then it starts spinning for about 5 seconds and stops again. This happens every 1.5 to 2 minutes. It shouldn't even be starting under less than 60% load, and my PC is idle. Is it messed up, or is there something I can do about it?

Thanks a lot in advance.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ardLezvvms0

 

[Aeacus]

That unit has Enermax D.F.R. function, whereby when toggled via D.F. button at the back, the fan should spin 20 seconds in normal way, then stops and 20 seconds spinning in reverse. Idea is to keep the fan (or PSU) dust free.

Scroll down a bit to read about it;
PSU specs: https://www.enermax.com/en/products/platigemini

Since your PSU fan acts erratically, i suggest you contact Enermax directly and ask them what is going on. Could be that the "brain" of this D.F.R. function is scrambled.

Also, is there any diff when you have the D.F. switch toggled on, vs it toggled off?

 

[allidsarebusy]

@Aeacus,

Thanks a lot for the quick answer.

That cleaning thing happens every time you switch the PC on. Basically, it spins extremely fast and loud in both directions and then turns off. The switch at the back of the PSU works like a linear switch on a mechanical keyboard, and when pressed, it simply performs that cleaning routine again. So you can't really switch that function off in any way.

I think they've made it in such a way because they advertise this PSU for workstations as well, so you can perform that cleaning routine without switching your PC off. IMHO.

 

[Aeacus]

I think they've made it in such a way because they advertise this PSU for workstations as well, so you can perform that cleaning routine without switching your PC off. IMHO.

IMO, it's just a gimmick. More like marketing to get more sales. And to jack up PSU's price.

Since when PSU fan doesn't spin at all, until 60% load is on PSU, there is no dust entering the PSU regardless. And when dust inside the PSU is something problematic one expects to face, one should look over their cleanliness as a whole, since PC itself will then be filled with dust.

E.g server park PSUs, those are very loud and rarely, if ever, are servers shut down for dust cleaning. Instead, the environment itself is kept clean, so that there aren't any dust in the first place to enter the system.

As for home user, it doesn't take much to power down the PC and clean internals, including PSU, with compressed air 1-2 times a year.

 

[allidsarebusy]

@Aeacus,

That's true, but to be fair, I didn't even bother looking at that function when selecting this PSU. I was more interested in energy efficiency (Platinum) and just having a good, silent, and modern PSU with a bit of headroom and that new connection in case I switch to Nvidia in the coming years.

I've got everything except the silent part. XD

I've already sent a letter to Enermax, but something tells me that this PSU is not supposed to act like that.

 

[Aeacus]

I was more interested in energy efficiency (Platinum) and just having a good, silent, and modern PSU with a bit of headroom and that new connection in case I switch to Nvidia in the coming years.

If so, then why go with Enermax? Seasonic, among few others, offers the highest efficiency there is, namely;
PRIME TX ATX 3 with 80+ Titanium efficiency, either 1.3kW or 1.6kW version, specs: https://seasonic.com/atx3-prime-tx/
But if you want to go all out wattage wise, then get PRIME PX ATX 3 (80+ Platinum) at 2.2kW, specs: https://seasonic.com/atx3-prime-px-2200/

Note: if you're from USA, common wall socket at 15A, maxes out at 1800W, so, 2200W unit, at full delivery, would burn the house down (electrical wires inside the walls or socket itself catches fire).
I live in Europe and we have Schuko sockets rated for 16A, so max would be 3840W. Plenty of headroom to run 2.2kW unit.

I'm personally running two PRIME TX-650 (80+ Titanium) PSUs between 2 PCs and those are dead silent. Oldest PRIME i have, is now ~8 years old, while still running solid. And PSU having 12 years of warranty, speaks volumes of it's reliability.

My 3rd PC is powered by Seasonic Focus PX-550 (80+ Platinum). 10 years of warranty with that one.
If interested, full specs with pics in my sig.

 

[allidsarebusy]

@Aeacus
To be honest i've set a budget around 300 euro for myself. But i may look in to it. And what about be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W PSU? Are they good?

 

[Aeacus]

And what about be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W PSU? Are they good?

Be Quiet! units are usually priced premium while offering about the same as competitors offer.

Also, it is noisy as hell, topping out at 55 dB(A) at 900W and above load;

Source: https://www.anandtech.com/show/18956/the-be-quiet-dark-power-pro-13-1300w-atx-30-psu-review/3

To be honest i've set a budget around 300 euro for myself. But i may look in to it.

In the segment of 1.25kW PSUs and higher capacity, Seasonic units rule the board. There are also some Corsair units, few Super Flower and even one Enermax unit. Though, that Enermax unit isn't the same series as yours is.
Further reading: https://hwbusters.com/best_picks/best-atxv3-pcie5-ready-psus-picks-hardware-busters/7/

When it comes the least noise, you can see that Seasonic units hold the top 2 positions.

11.55 dB(A) on average for PRIME TX-1300 is really quiet, given that whisper is ~17 dB(A). At 1100W or more, the noise level maxes out at ~19 dB(A). That is very quiet, not even comparable to the 55 dB(A) of Dark Power Pro 13.
PRIME TX-1600 sits at 21.12 dB(A) on average. That too is quiet. At 1400W load or more, PSU noise maxes out at 24 dB(A). Still considered quiet and FAR less than Be Quiet! unit.

While your Enermax unit, sits at 33.92 on average. Quite a lot louder than Seasonic units. And when load passes 1000W, it will produce 40 dB(A) worth of noise. Not as bad as Be Quiet! unit, but still pretty bad.

Source: https://hwbusters.com/best_picks/best-atxv3-pcie5-ready-psus-picks-hardware-busters/6/

The HardwareBusters also houses reputable reviews of PSUs, like;
PRIME TX-1300 ATX 3 review: https://hwbusters.com/psus/seasonic-prime-tx-1300-atx-v3-0-psu-review/
PRIME TX-1600 ATX 3 review: https://hwbusters.com/psus/seasonic-prime-tx-1600-atx-v3-0-psu-review/
Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W review: https://hwbusters.com/psus/enermax-platigemini-1200w-atx-v3-1-atx12vo-psu-review/

So, to know more about PSU, do read the review. Review is only source to tell if the PSU is good or not. E.g the max loudness values are all written in the reviews.

 

[allidsarebusy]

@Aeacus

The issue with Seasonics is that my case can only handle 200mm long PSU units, and Seasonic's PSU is 210mm. I've checked, and it doesn't look like it will fit.

Regarding noise levels, I think you're looking at the wrong tests. The ones you're referring to are hot tests with an ambient temperature of around 45 degrees Celsius. Initially, I was surprised, but then I noticed that all PSUs score considerably higher in that test on their website. The results in the cold tests are much better or on par with other PSUs.

I've checked some reviews, and everyone says that this PSU is very quiet.

In any case, I will check how it works, and if it doesn't meet expectations, I'll return it. What bothers me more is that I don't really understand the new power cable standard on ATX 3.1. Is it backwards compatible or not, and can you still use new graphics cards with old CPUs?

 

[Aeacus]

The issue with Seasonics is that my case can only handle 200mm long PSU units, and Seasonic's PSU is 210mm. I've checked, and it doesn't look like it will fit.

In this case, how about NZXT C1500 at 180mm in length,
review: https://hwbusters.com/psus/nzxt-c1500-atx-v3-1-psu-review/

It is also 3rd most quietest PSU in testing. And it is 1.5kW unit with 80+ Titanium efficiency. + ATX 3.1.

Regarding noise levels, I think you're looking at the wrong tests. The ones you're referring to are hot tests with an ambient temperature of around 45 degrees Celsius. Initially, I was surprised, but then I noticed that all PSUs score considerably higher in that test on their website. The results in the cold tests are much better or on par with other PSUs.

I've checked some reviews, and everyone says that this PSU is very quiet.

Hot box tests give the real and expected picture of how PSU fares. There are cold box tests also done, but those are essentially ideal conditions, with minimal temp impact on the PSU itself.

In same sense, you can test all PSUs only with 100W or 20% load and call all of them good. But once you actually test at the range of what PSU is able to deliver, e.g unit at 100% load, then you'll start to see if PSU actually is able to deliver that or not.

Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 13, at cold box testing (ambient 26C), has such noise levels:

Whereby it starts out at ~32 dB(A) and once load on unit reaches past 1kW, sound level increases drastically, up to 43 dB(A).

NZXT C1500 noise level remain under 6 dB(A) until load reaches 900W. After that, noise starts to increase gradually, maxing out at ~35 dB(A). That's almost the same as Dark Power Pro 13 at minimal load.
C1500 noise review: https://hwbusters.com/psus/nzxt-c1500-atx-v3-1-psu-review/9/

What bothers me more is that I don't really understand the new power cable standard on ATX 3.1. Is it backwards compatible or not, and can you still use new graphics cards with old CPUs?

This answers your question,
article: https://hwbusters.com/psus/should-i...3-0-will-be-fine-everything-you-need-to-know/

 

[allidsarebusy]

@Aeacus

You really don't like bequiet he? 😁

I've already ordered it so will check anyway. The last one you've posted looks very interesting so I will see if I can find it as well.

 

[allidsarebusy]

@Aeacus

I think i will still follow your advise and order NZXT. IT's 70 euro cheaper than Bequiet and it seems to better overall.

 

[Aeacus]

@Aeacus

You really don't like bequiet he? 😁

It's not that i don't like Be Quiet! at all. Their PC cases, for example, are one of the interesting ones and i even considered buying one as my PC case. Namely i like their Dark Base 900 Pro.
Specs: https://www.bequiet.com/en/case/699

It was one of the full-tower ATX cases i considered and what makes it unique, that 900 Pro offers inverse layout, while being very modular. Other options i had in mind were Phanteks Enthoo Pro, Corsair 780 and Corsair 760T. Went with Corsair 760T Black.

I also like their CPU coolers, namely the big-boy air cooler. Dark Rock Pro 3, when it launched, was one of the best air coolers out there. It's successor, Dark Rock Pro 4, sacrifices on cooling performance since it has one fan less, but otherwise is quieter as well. Still, solid CPU cooler. Also looks nice.
Mid-tier and low-end CPU coolers aren't that good from Be Quiet!.

Be Quiet! fans are meh. There are better choices out there, but also worse ones. So, indifferent regarding their fans.

But their PSUs are often priced premium while offering less compared to competitors. And they can be stingy with warranty period as well. E.g Be Quiet! Straight Power 11, which is supposed to be 2nd best PSU series offered by them - one would expect 10 years of warranty, as with everyone else. But nope. Only 5 years of warranty for these units. Successor, Straight Power 12, does have 10 years of warranty.

I think i will still follow your advise and order NZXT. IT's 70 euro cheaper than Bequiet and it seems to better overall.