fanless PSU and generated heat

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Dr. Dockter

New Member
I want to build a computer for the living room. It should be completely silent which means there shouldn’t be any fans in it. Everything should be cooled passively.

Does that mean it’s better if I get a PSU which is just powerful enough to supply everything? Or to put it in other words, will a 500W PSU generate more heat than a 400W PSU if all other components stay the same? (and let’s say both PSUs have active PFC)

In case it is better to get a PSU which is just powerful enough, how do I then determine how powerful PSU do I actually need? I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to computers.

Thanks a bunch!
 
why not water cool it???

it requires some hardcore knowledge but it is possibly water cool a PSU
 
laznz1 said:
why not water cool it???

it requires some hardcore knowledge but it is possibly water cool a PSU
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I need this computer just for watching movies so it doesn’t need water cooling. Plus, like you said, I would require hardcore knowledge to build something like that. And as you can see from my questions I’m an illiterate when it comes to computers.
 
Dr. Dockter said:
I need this computer just for watching movies so it doesn’t need water cooling. Plus, like you said, I would require hardcore knowledge to build something like that. And as you can see from my questions I’m an illiterate when it comes to computers.
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you do need fans to cool then why not big ones at lower RPM
 
laznz1 said:
you do need fans to cool then why not big ones at lower RPM
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I’ll put in the lowest watt components I can find. CPU will be only1000 Mhz, maybe even less. And I can put the PSU on top of the computer. It doesn’t have to be inside. I'm allergic to fans, I can't stand them.
 
Dr. Dockter said:
I’ll put in the lowest watt components I can find. CPU will be only1000 Mhz, maybe even less. And I can put the PSU on top of the computer. It doesn’t have to be inside. I'm allergic to fans, I can't stand them.
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Then might I suggest you clean your house more often? I vacuum/wipe down my tables/etc and I only have to clean my PC once every 5-6 months. Which I do outside. Not a lot of build up dust on them either.
 
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Twist86 said:
Then might I suggest you clean your house more often? I vacuum/wipe down my tables/etc and I only have to clean my PC once every 5-6 months. Which I do outside. Not a lot of build up dust on them either.
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LOL! When I said I’m allergic to fans I didn’t mean it literarily. In my language being allergic to something can be just a figure of speech. What I meant is that I find computer fans very irritating. A lot more than an average person does. In fact, I find any kind of repetitive noise very irritating. Therefore I’ll just have to build a completely fanless computer if I want to have it in the living room. There’s no other way. But thanks for your suggestion anyway ;-)
 
Dr. Dockter said:
I want to build a computer for the living room. It should be completely silent which means there shouldn’t be any fans in it. Everything should be cooled passively.

Does that mean it’s better if I get a PSU which is just powerful enough to supply everything? Or to put it in other words, will a 500W PSU generate more heat than a 400W PSU if all other components stay the same? (and let’s say both PSUs have active PFC)

In case it is better to get a PSU which is just powerful enough, how do I then determine how powerful PSU do I actually need? I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to computers.

Thanks a bunch!
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I think the most powerful fanless PSU out there is 400 watts, so you'll have to design your computer around that.

List out the components you're going to use, chances are you'll need one low rpm fan. Also what case are you using.

laznz1 said:
why not water cool it???

it requires some hardcore knowledge but it is possibly water cool a PSU
Click to expand...

Because watercooling requires a pump and fans on the radiator, neither of which is that quiet.
 
diduknowthat said:
I think the most powerful fanless PSU out there is 400 watts, so you'll have to design your computer around that.

List out the components you're going to use, chances are you'll need one low rpm fan. Also what case are you using.
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I don't know yet which exact components I'll use. But let’s say they’ll require only 300W PSU. Is in this case better that I get 300W PSU, or is it the same if I get 400W PSU? Will 400W PSU generate more heat than a 300W PSU? (let’s say both PSUs have active PFC).

I also don’t know what case I’ll use. But like I said, it’s not a problem because I can leave it open or put the PSU on top of the computer.
 
Dr. Dockter said:
I don't know yet which exact components I'll use. But let’s say they’ll require only 300W PSU. Is in this case better that I get 300W PSU, or is it the same if I get 400W PSU? Will 400W PSU generate more heat than a 300W PSU? (let’s say both PSUs have active PFC).

I also don’t know what case I’ll use. But like I said, it’s not a problem because I can leave it open or put the PSU on top of the computer.
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A 400 watt PSU would generate less heat than 300 watt one, as with the 400 watt unit it won't be maxed out with your system.

As for cases, look into one with a lot of mesh and vents (seeing you won't have fan-noise to worry about). It'll at least allow a little bit of airflow.
 
diduknowthat said:
A 400 watt PSU would generate less heat than 300 watt one, as with the 400 watt unit it won't be maxed out with your system.
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Really??? This is very surprising. I would think it’s just the other way around. More power usually means higher temperature.100W light bulb can reach higher temperature than a 40W bulb? But on the other hand I don’t know how active PFC works, so I’ll take your word for it.

Thank you very much! I appreciate your help!
 
As to reguards as your last post thinking of an engine motor the harder it has to work that hotter its going to get. IF the motor meaning your psu isnt maxed all the time to work hard its going to generate less heat. I do not know of any cpu coolers that do not have a fan for them but im sure you could find an extremely quiet one very unoticable.
 
bigd54 said:
As to reguards as your last post thinking of an engine motor the harder it has to work that hotter its going to get. IF the motor meaning your psu isnt maxed all the time to work hard its going to generate less heat. I do not know of any cpu coolers that do not have a fan for them but im sure you could find an extremely quiet one very unoticable.
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That’s a good comparison. I was also trying to imagine how PSU with active PFC works. It seems it somehow allows only the required power into the circuit. And because 400 watt PSU has thicker wires than the 300 watt PSU, this means that the wires in the 400 watt PSU don’t get as hot as those in the 300 watt PSU. At least that is how I now imagine it.

I have seen many fanless processor coolers. But they can cool only up to 1300 MHz processors. But that is enough for me. This computer will be only for watching movies, instead of a DVD player. Because DVD players can’t play everything, but the computer can.
 
All computer power supplies have fans. All modern processors have fans. No modern computer can compete with the sound pressure level of a movie. Don't worry about it. You won't hear it until the movie is over.
 
Geez that is not a cheap PSU for the low power it gives. That is more expensive then the 750w I bought 6 months ago. ^-^


It would almost sound cheaper if you bought a cheap 20-40g fish tank and just made a mineral oil PC and submerged it.

Long as your room stays cool it would do the trick + you could keep fans in it that would turn the oil around without making noise.


Going this way your looking at spending around $150 more then a normal
 
 
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