Ultra-Quiet ATX Power Supply Installation Instructions

These instructions will tell you how to install your QTechnology Ultra-Quiet ATX power supply unit (PSU) in an easy-to-follow manner. If you are used to taking the lid off your PC, you should find the installation reasonably straightforward. You may like to print out these instructions so you can refer to them while you are upgrading your machine. However, if you are in any doubt as to your own competency in PC hardware installation then for the safety of yourself and your PC, please ask an expert engineer to do the work for you! These instructions are for guidance only and no responsibility or liability can be borne by Quietpc.com for damage or loss incurred, (including data loss) howsoever caused, either directly or consequentially.

IMPORTANT: Before starting, ensure you have backed-up the data on your hard drive. You should be in the habit of doing this regularly in any case, as hard drives are never 100% reliable and total data loss can be disastrous if no other copy exists. The hard drive is at a higher than normal risk of failure due to accidental damage while a PC upgrade is in progress.

1. Getting Started

Unplug all cables from the PC and place the machine on a clean work surface with plenty of room for manoeuvre. Do not work on a carpet, (especially not a carpet containing nylon), as static electricity can damage electronic components. If you have an anti-static wristband then wear it. Remove the case cover and locate the power supply. Unscrew the three or four screws holding the power supply to the chassis and keep them safe.

2. Unplug power connectors

Locate the power connector going into the floppy drive and remove it. If your processor fan is powered from a drive connector coming from the power supply (rather than directly from some pins on the motherboard), then you should unplug the processor fan connector at this point too (not shown). While working inside the computer, take care not to touch any printed circuit board (PCB) if you can help it, since static electricity in your body can cause unseen internal damage to the components on the PCB.

3. Unplug power connectors (continued)

Locate power connectors supplying the hard drive(s) and CDROM drive(s) and unplug them. Note that if you already have a SilentDrive™ installed, as shown in the picture, you will need to pop the cap off it to remove the power connector from the drive inside. Thus if you are installing a SilentDrive; and a power supply at the same time, it makes sense to install the power supply first!

4. Remove old unit and fit new one

Finally, remove the connector to the motherboard by pushing the plastic latch to release it so it can be pulled upwards. If you have an AT PSU, then you will also need to disconnect the cables between the power supply and the power switch. The old power supply can now be carefully removed from the case and the new Ultra-Quiet one installed. To coin a phrase, "re-fitting is the reverse of removal"!

Do not connect power to the PSU yet. Ensure all connectors are plugged back in and checked thoroughly. Please remember that if you have an ATX motherboard, there is no physical power on/off switch directly connected to the PSU. Instead, a low-voltage power switch is connected to the motherboard and when pressed, the motherboard signals to the power supply through the block connector that it should begin to supply power.

If your motherboard is for Pentium 4, you will need to connect the square 4-pin ATX12V connector, and possibly also the long 6-pin AUX connector, if your motherboard has sockets for either or both of them.

5. Set the voltage selection switch if applicable

BEFORE APPLYING POWER, ENSURE VOLTAGE SELECTION SWITCH ON THE POWER SUPPLY IS SET CORRECTLY! (for example, 230V in the UK/NZ/Australia etc, or 115V in the USA). Failure to ensure this switch is set to the correct voltage will probably destroy your PSU.

If in doubt as to the correct voltage for your country, look at the setting on your old PSU.

Some Ultra-Quiet 300W PSUs and all Ultra-Quiet 400W PSUs have an auto voltage select feature, so there is no switch to worry about, in which case please ignore this step.

Finally, refit the case and connect back all the cables to the computer.

Switch on and enjoy the silence!