Antec SL350SP issues.
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee, Devonavar
Antec SL350SP issues.
I got the 3700BQE. Great case, default 120mm fan will soon be replaced wtih good ol' papst.
But, the PSU (Antec SL350SP) has two main issues:
1. It undervolts like hell (+12V gets even to 11.55V)
2. When full load the fan spins with ~2300RPM. I think the termistor makes contact with one of the heatspreader or it is very close to it. Panaflo L1A@7V soon Idle 1400RPM, startup 8-900RPM.
But, before voiding the warranty, is there a burn-in period, maybe voltages will raise a bit after some uptime? I can change the PSU with another one, but only with Antec sticker on it... I will measure voltages with a proper tool, but I am quite sure it undervolts.. Any of you with this PSU?
But, the PSU (Antec SL350SP) has two main issues:
1. It undervolts like hell (+12V gets even to 11.55V)
2. When full load the fan spins with ~2300RPM. I think the termistor makes contact with one of the heatspreader or it is very close to it. Panaflo L1A@7V soon Idle 1400RPM, startup 8-900RPM.
But, before voiding the warranty, is there a burn-in period, maybe voltages will raise a bit after some uptime? I can change the PSU with another one, but only with Antec sticker on it... I will measure voltages with a proper tool, but I am quite sure it undervolts.. Any of you with this PSU?
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- SPCR Reviewer
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Since it's the same platform I tested with a calibrated multimeter.. I think I can estimate, at least.
Antec 430W TP - 11.86-11.92V (software) 12.01- 12.02V multimeter
Antec SL350SP - 11.55-11.73V (software) XXX to be tested
All SL350 speeds up like this? On Spcr website the review says that sample does not, or at least not that much. Mine is up to 2400RPM, but it will easely repaired with L1A. But I am curious if this is normal or simply the termistor is too close to a heatsource.
Thank you very much for your reply. Your work (and ofcourse the whole team) here at SPCR is greately appreciated in our community
Antec 430W TP - 11.86-11.92V (software) 12.01- 12.02V multimeter
Antec SL350SP - 11.55-11.73V (software) XXX to be tested
All SL350 speeds up like this? On Spcr website the review says that sample does not, or at least not that much. Mine is up to 2400RPM, but it will easely repaired with L1A. But I am curious if this is normal or simply the termistor is too close to a heatsource.
Thank you very much for your reply. Your work (and ofcourse the whole team) here at SPCR is greately appreciated in our community
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- Posts: 170
- Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2002 11:29 pm
My Antec's fan spins at around 900 RPM with no load (tested outside the PSU) and hasn't gone above 2000 RPM after prolonged use inside the computer.
If this is a dual-fan Antec, you can manipulate the thermistors through the opening of the top fan, but before doing this unplug the power cord because otherwise there will be exposed high voltage inside, including one of the heasinks.
I unscrew the grill and let the top fan drop. Older Antecs, at least my 300W, has thermistor, located next to the long heatsink (for low voltage components), on the side closest to the big bundle of power output wires. The thermistor is a dark green thing the size of a small bean, and it may be touching the heatsink. Newer Antecs have a second thermistor on the opposite side of this heatsink, next to the big transformer between the two heatsinks, but I don't know what it does. It's also located farther from the heatsink.
If this is a dual-fan Antec, you can manipulate the thermistors through the opening of the top fan, but before doing this unplug the power cord because otherwise there will be exposed high voltage inside, including one of the heasinks.
I unscrew the grill and let the top fan drop. Older Antecs, at least my 300W, has thermistor, located next to the long heatsink (for low voltage components), on the side closest to the big bundle of power output wires. The thermistor is a dark green thing the size of a small bean, and it may be touching the heatsink. Newer Antecs have a second thermistor on the opposite side of this heatsink, next to the big transformer between the two heatsinks, but I don't know what it does. It's also located farther from the heatsink.
It's a single fan unit (SL350SP), but as long as I searched, it seems the only difference between the dual fan unit is, guess what, no second fan
I will open it tonight and I will also post some pics, if needed. I found a GREAT L1A, at 5-7V it simply beautiful, it does not have any clicking or other noise, it's perfect, very, very smooth. Made in China, btw, but handpicked from other 10 pieces, which all of them had some tsk-tsk light noise @5V. Pretty annoying, though.
I will open it tonight and I will also post some pics, if needed. I found a GREAT L1A, at 5-7V it simply beautiful, it does not have any clicking or other noise, it's perfect, very, very smooth. Made in China, btw, but handpicked from other 10 pieces, which all of them had some tsk-tsk light noise @5V. Pretty annoying, though.
OK, fanswap&airflow mod done.
Now I have:
1 Papst 4412 F2/GL 120mm
1 Panaflo M1A 92mm Japan
1 Panaflo L1A 80mm China
All of them connected to Akasa fan controller Jr, at 5V most of the time. HDD is not like in the picture, today I changed it and put some rubber bolts in the default BQE tray (which already has some rubber) Now it's much better, but still not perfect I think I will look for some 3M rubber band and put the HDD that way.
Pictures:
PSU:
Wire management:
Now I have:
1 Papst 4412 F2/GL 120mm
1 Panaflo M1A 92mm Japan
1 Panaflo L1A 80mm China
All of them connected to Akasa fan controller Jr, at 5V most of the time. HDD is not like in the picture, today I changed it and put some rubber bolts in the default BQE tray (which already has some rubber) Now it's much better, but still not perfect I think I will look for some 3M rubber band and put the HDD that way.
Pictures:
PSU:
Wire management:
ahh i also see you've managed to get the L1A's power cable through the proper hole with all the other power cables.. i couldn't do that, it was too tight (or i wasn't trying hard enough) so i ended up just passing it through the grill
did you have trouble fitting the fan in between the psu wall and the circuitboard? mine was an _extremely_ tight fit, even after sanding + filing
did you have trouble fitting the fan in between the psu wall and the circuitboard? mine was an _extremely_ tight fit, even after sanding + filing
OK, after a week of so of 24/7 running, I think the airflow is more than enough for a decent cooling. Even with 2xprime95 ([email protected]), at 7V it's perfectly stable, temps more or less OK
Those low voltages seems not to interact with stability in any way.
Those low voltages seems not to interact with stability in any way.
would this http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 206&depa=0
make a good psu replacement fan in my antec 380s p/s?
If so, should I use the resistor?
I've got one kicking around here I could use .
If the link is bad, its a zalman 80mm.
Thanks you inspirerers!
make a good psu replacement fan in my antec 380s p/s?
If so, should I use the resistor?
I've got one kicking around here I could use .
If the link is bad, its a zalman 80mm.
Thanks you inspirerers!
No, I think it would be pretty unsafe to put a ZMF1 in a PSU. It's a regular sleeve bearing fan, hence rather unreliable. The resistor gets pretty hot if you use it with a zalman fan, and might cause it to not even start, and without the resistor, it would be spinning fast which I think is quite bad for sleeve bearing fans, and it might be even louder than the stock fan.
My multimeter test with SL350SP 1-fan version stocked in SLK3700BQE.
_______idle____prime95
12V:___11,53__11,69
5V:____4,72____4,72
3,3V:___3,14___3,15
And conclusion is that this Power Supply has big undervoltage and it is nearly in the ATX norm. 5V and 3,3V are stable but what a values!! Antec.. shame on you.
I will replace this unit with tagan.
_______idle____prime95
12V:___11,53__11,69
5V:____4,72____4,72
3,3V:___3,14___3,15
And conclusion is that this Power Supply has big undervoltage and it is nearly in the ATX norm. 5V and 3,3V are stable but what a values!! Antec.. shame on you.
I will replace this unit with tagan.
I swapped my SL350SP with a Cheiftec badged 360W. The supply looks very similar to the type used by Enlight etc.
The Chieftec is considerably quieter and has a stronger 12v rating than the SL350SP, even with the stock SuperRed fan.
My 3700BQE has the Chieftec supply, a 120mm L1A@7v and 80mm L1A@12v on PAL8942, and a Leadtek 5900XT. The leadtek is the noisiest item in the PC period.
The Chieftec is considerably quieter and has a stronger 12v rating than the SL350SP, even with the stock SuperRed fan.
My 3700BQE has the Chieftec supply, a 120mm L1A@7v and 80mm L1A@12v on PAL8942, and a Leadtek 5900XT. The leadtek is the noisiest item in the PC period.