Over the Summer I built a new i7 PC DAW, which runs like butter, but I find the fan noise annoying. It's in an Antec Solo II case with a Kingwin 650W PSU and a freaking huge Zalman CPU fan. The CPU fan's noise level is minimal, so the PSU fan seems to be the bulk of the noise.

The Solo has a grill vent right over the PSU, so there's some sound leakage there. What are my options? Should I get a different PSU? If so, how can I find out how loud it is? There's no way to test a PSU unless it's fully plugged into the motherboard.

My last DAW had an Antec Sonata case, and the noise was nearly nonexistent, no matter what PSU I put in.

Any suggestions?

I have an Antec power supply in my new build (this past summer).  I bought it as it was advertised as quiet and it is.

Antec High Current Gamer HCG-620M Modular

Several PSUs are fanless or have fans that run only when needed.  I have a Seasonic X650 and its fan never spins up (at least, not that I've noticed), so it's dead silent.  Seasonic makes a fanless model, too.  Check the reviews on Newegg -- they'll usually say whether a PSU is quiet or not.
 
Cheers,
Eddie

Hi Elson,

Replace the noisy PS with a quiet unit...
Problem solved.

Thermaltake and Corsair both make quiet units.

  What exactly is a "quiet unit?" Isn't it all just marketing hyperbole? My Kingwin PSU boasts a "Silent cooling fan." Silent my butt!

Can't trust the labels (especially on lower cost units)
Need to test... or get a referral/recommendation to be sure.

If you see quiet listed on a Thermaltake or Corsair PS box, you can believe it.

You have no case fans?
 
I've found those to be more of a noise problem than any PSU ones I've yet to come across.
 
My PSU is fanless so is silent but it's not 650w.
 
Thing is though if any component is too noisy there is no other choice that works other than a quieter replacement.