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CONCLUSIONS
The CoolerMaster Silent Pro M2 720W offers a nice array
of positive benefits. Energy efficiency at 200~400W is nearly in the Gold class,
a nice bonus given its Bronze rating, which can be attributed to its drop in
efficiency at the low and high end of the power curve. Its 12V voltage regulation
is superb, and the lower voltage lines are good enough. The noise and ripple
performance is excellent, on par with some of the best tested recently, and
it has no problem keeping itself cool. The build quality (with manufacturer
Enhance) looks solid, too. While not the quietest at <250W load levels, its
soft, smooth, broadband acoustic signature is very easy on the ears and increases
slowly with load.
Given the overall acoustic and efficiency curves, this CoolerMaster
might be just about perfect for an often-used gaming system with a somewhat
higher idle or low load power, game play loads of 200~500W, in a modern case
with good intake venting for the PSU. That power envelope covers a vast range
of systems with CPUs from either Intel or AMD, and graphics cards of mid-to-high
end from both nVidia and AMD that are not the latest generation — ie, cards
that don't have as low an idle power as the latest. In such a system, the very-low-load
inefficiency of the Silent Pro M2 720W is not a detriment, its high mid-power
efficiency taken good advantage of, and its smooth low noise character will
always remain below the acoustics of the graphics cards.
About the only real quibble is the configuration of those power
cables for graphics cards with 6+2 pin and 8-pin connectors, which is poorly
thought out. This is not an insoluble problem as the 8-pin connector can hacked
for 6-pin operation if necessary. It could be that the latest shipping samples
have two 6+2 pin connectors for the graphics power cables, but if not, I'd call
CoolerMaster out on it. Finally, current retail pricing seems a bit on the high
side, especially as money has been saved by the exclusion of packaging fluff
like velour bags and cable pouches, but modular cables and a 5-year warranty
from a big brand like CoolerMaster might be worth paying for.
It's easy to recommend the CoolerMaster Silent Pro M2 720W, especially
for the noise-shy gamer.
Much thanks to CoolerMaster
for the review sample.
CoolerMaster Silent Pro M2 720W is Recommended by SPCR
* * *
SPCR Articles of Related Interest:
Power Supply Fundamentals
Recommended Power Supplies
SPCR PSU Test Rig
Enermax Platimax 600W
Kingwin
Stryker STR-500
Seasonic G360
Enermax Modu87+ 500W 80 Plus Gold
Seasonic X-650: Seasonic Hits
Gold
CoolerMaster Silent
Pro M 700W
* * *
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