I've been using a Corsair VS550 PSU since 2021 while upgrading my rig, and it's been working fine power-wise. However, when I turned on the hardware switch, it made buzzing noises that sounded like electricity arching but nothing was visible. After about 15-20 seconds, the buzzing stopped, and I powered on my computer. It buzzed even louder, and I checked to make sure it wasn't the fan causing the noise. After trying multiple times, it buzzed again but eventually quieted down. The PC seems to be functioning okay, but I'm worried that the PSU might be nearing the end of its life. Should I buy a new PSU or stick with this one since the buzzing has stopped? I've looked into coil whine and I'm not sure if what I heard is related. What should I do?
5 Answers
Based on PCPartPicker, your setup requires around 385 watts. If you're thinking about a new PSU, here are a few options I've seen:
- Corsair RM650 (80+ Gold, modular) for $114
- Corsair CX550 (80+ Bronze, non-modular) for $75
- MSI MAG A550BN (80+ Bronze, non-modular) for $78
Since budget’s tight this month, just weigh if it's essential before making a decision.
PSUs can potentially damage other components, so if you're concerned and it’s not just the connection making noise, I’d seriously consider swapping it out. Check out this PSU tier list for recommendations: [link to tier list].
If I were in your position, I would definitely replace it. Better safe than sorry with power supplies!
If it’s just coil whine, you might be okay to leave it as is. But it really comes down to how annoying the noise is for you. Keep in mind, there's no guarantee your next PSU won’t have coil whine too. It's pretty common.
Are you absolutely sure it’s not just coil whine? It can sometimes sound a bit like that. If it was more of a buzzing or sizzling, though, that’s probably a different issue.
I get what you're saying about coil whine. From what I know, it tends to be a high-pitched sound, whereas this was definitely a buzzing noise.