Question from Dave H.: Hi Rick. About 18 months ago I bought the parts and built a computer by following a guide I found on Youtube. It works great and I love it.
But now the fan in the power supply has started making a loud clunking sound and I can see it wobble when it spins. The fan has obviously gone bad.
My question is can I replace the bad fan in the power supply or should I just replace the entire thing. It wasn’t a cheap power supply (approx. $125) and I’m hoping I can just replace the fan and save some money. I’ll take your advice though whatever it turns out to be because I don’t want to ruin anything else inside the PC.
Rick’s answer: Dave, I can certainly understand your reluctance to completely replace an expensive power supply (aka PSU), but I strongly suggest you do just that.
The PSU is arguably the most important component in any computer since everything else inside the case depends on a reliable, steady, and “clean” source of power in order to operate correctly and safely.
There’s also another reason why I never recommend DIY repairs on PC power supplies. It’s too easy to make a dangerous and/or costly mistake.
Something as simple as losing a screw inside the power supply (yes, I’ve seen it happen) can cause serious damage if it causes a short circuit. Even worse, it’s possible to receive a dangerous electrical shock while working inside a PC power supply.
Bottom line: While it would certainly be possible to replace the fan in your PSU, if I were you I’d simply recycle it and buy a new one.
Since the fan failed after less than two years of service, there’s a good chance that there are other weak or damaged parts in there as well since the power supply has been operating without a fully functional fan.
Should one or more components of the PSU start acting up, it could easily damage your motherboard, video card or some other expensive part. Even worse, you could easily injure yourself while working in the midst of dangerous voltages.
And now, more more thought: An experienced computer tech could easily (and safely) replace the bad fan in your PC’s power supply, but when you factor in both the cost of the repair (parts & labor) and the fact that the PSU is almost two years old, I still believe your best course of action is to simply replace the power supply.
If you do decide to replace it, I recommend that you choose one made by Corsair
I hope this helps Dave. Good luck!
Bonus tip #1: This post explains why it’s a good idea to buy a larger (i.e. more powerful) power supply than you think your PC might actually need.
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