PSU fan rattle

[anoobarak]

I've got a OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W PSU and the fan makes a relatively slow rattling noise. When I tilt the whole case a little the noise stops, but when I put it back on it's feet the rattle comes back. I suspect that the bearing is the culprit here but I don't know what to do about it. The psu is like 4-5 months old so I can't give it back as I could have within a two weeks of purchase, nor can I RMA it because the the retailers would just give me back the same unit telling me it's fine and everything is within specification.
So do I try and disassemble it and loose the ability to rma ir when it's really broken... or what? Whan can be done to stop the rattling if I disassemble it?

 

[Radical_Edward]

First I checked the fan to see if it's screwed in properly. Then I'd try lubricating it. (This would void the warranty.)

 

[Kreij]

Are you sure it's the fan rattling, or is the fan's vibration causing something else to rattle when the case is sitting flat.
I'd check to make sure there is nothing that's simply loose and causing the noise before ripping things apart.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[anoobarak]

I've tried running the PSU outside of the case and in various positions. The psu is full of see-through plastics and theoretically they COULD rattle if the fan is forcing them to bend, but at those speeds it's highly doubtful. By the way, the rattle starts when the computer has had been on for a short while and warm; not straight away from a cold start. What do you guys think? I'd hate to get rid of this psu because it was very good value for money when I bought it and it is silent when the fan isn't rattling.

 

[Kreij]

Does it rattle outside of the case? You didn't say.

 

[anoobarak]

Short answer would be yes, yes it does rattle, but only when the fan is facing downwards or upwards. That why I said I suspect the bearing.

 

[Kreij]

If it's an off-the-self size fan, you can just open the PSU and replace it.
I've done that several times.

 

[anoobarak]

It's a 135mm fan. I see only one available in my region, and it costs 1/6 of the cost of the psu so it's kind of expensive, and it uses 120mm fan mounting holes so it'd be a hassle.
I'm seeking for advice here hoping that someone has encountered a similar issue with fans (rattling noises) and has dealt with that by fixing the fan somehow. I want to know if the fan can be repaired before starting to take the psu apart and sending RMA to the drain.

 

[Doc41]

How loud is the rattle? maybe it just needs lubricating, but if the impeller wobbles about causing the rattle the bearing is dying "that's how two cheap fans i had died"

had a similar issue with my brother's PSU but it was more like a screech than a rattle, some machine oil decreased the noise alot

 

[brandonwh64]

It's a 135mm fan. I see only one available in my region, and it costs 1/6 of the cost of the psu so it's kind of expensive, and it uses 120mm fan mounting holes so it'd be a hassle.
I'm seeking for advice here hoping that someone has encountered a similar issue with fans (rattling noises) and has dealt with that by fixing the fan somehow. I want to know if the fan can be repaired before starting to take the psu apart and sending RMA to the drain.

Had the same issues with a Ultra PSU years ago. It had a 135MM fan (why we will never know) and I modded the mounting wholes to support a 140MM fan (which fits nicely but you have to drill holes in the cover). I don't know why PSU company's do not put standard 120mm/140mm fans in their PSU's due to them needing replaced after warranty is gone.