I've been meaning to get a new psu for quite some time now. I built my first computer two years ago and purchased a no name brand generic 450watt psu for $20. I needed it at the time just to build my system and test things out before getting comfortable. I was going to replace it with something better and a bit more reliable long ago but I guess I got "too comfortable".
My psu still works but I don't trust it now that I have quite a bit of expensive hardware in my pc. During the process of building my pc I purchased a lot of expensive equipment such as my $400 sound card, $200 rare cpu, and other such things. I also attach a lot of expensive hardware to my usb ports every now and than such as my 500GB Seagate Free Agent Pro backup drive, or 80GB I Pod.
As mentioned my psu still works to this day, but I am beginning to lose confidence in it. For starters every time I open the side of my pc case to blow off any internal dust the psu begins to howl when I boot it up for the first time. The howl lasts about 1-2 minutes and than goes away never to be heard from again. I can than go on my pc day in and day out restarting and turning it off without a problem. It will not make that sound until I go off and dust the inside of my pc again with a can of compressed air, and than reboot for the first time. I was told that this may be dust collecting in the bearings of the psu fan trying to spit it's way out because I probably blow the can of compressed air around too much. I was also told by someone that it could be some type of residue the can of compressed air leaves behind that my psu does not like and tries to spew out!
Nevertheless it has occurred to me that the explanations my close confidant suggested may be wrong. The reason being because my psu howls during other instances such as when I unplug my pc for over 30 minutes, and when I move my pc around. I'm a bit weary of this psu and really want to change it. The lights go out in my area a lot and brownouts occur as well. I know I need a UPS box too but first things first no?
Anyways the psu in my pc is 450watts so I'd like to get the same wattage if possible since I find no reason to have more [my pc runs fine as it is]. It also has to be a 20 pin psu because my motherboard doesn't take anything else. I have absolutely no idea what psu I should get. I have no knowledge whatsoever when it comes to psu's. To be honest I'm lost!! I don't even know which brand names are the best and which ones to stay away from. I'm hoping more than one of you can suggest a very good psu that can last me a long time. One that would be reliable and handle bad electrical currents and problems due to the air conditioner at home turning on or heater if possible. Now I know that's more of a job for an UPS box but I hear some psus filter out bad stuff which is what I want. I also hear some are good agaisnt surges and power outs. Oh and one more thing IT MUST BE A VERY VERY VERY QUIET PSU BECAUSE I AM AN AUDIO ENGINEER WHO RECORDS AUDIO IN THE VERY SAME ROOM MY PC IS IN. Any noises will be recorded when I'm working [even a snap of a finger]. So it is very important that I get one that is as silent as possible [it doesn't have to have so many fans inside - one seems like enough].
BUDGET: $50-$100 MAX
Here go my pc specs in case your wondering what's under the hood:
HP Vectra VL400
Lin Lin Socket Adapter
P3 Socket 370 (Tualatin 1.4Ghz)
512MB PC133 Infineon Sdram
80GB Western Digital IDE Hard Drive
120GB Western Digital IDE Hard Drive
10GB Maxtor IDE Hard Drive
500GB Seagate Free Agent Pro External Usb/Esata Hard Drive
LG Dual Layer DVD-RAM +/-/R/RW (x2)
Windows Xp Home w/Service Pack 2
ATI Sapphire Radeon 9550 256MB 128Bit AGP4X V+D+T
M Audiophile 192 Professional Sound Card
HP Ultra VGA 1280 17'' CRT Monitor
Deer 450 Watt PSU w/20/24 Pin Connector
Mad Catz Analog Joystick USB Pc Controller
Cooler Master Silent Led Light Fans (x3)
Mutant Mods Acrylic Atx/Micro Atx Case
Thank you very much for your time my fellow geeks!
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