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MP3 SOUND RECORDINGS
Each of these recording start with 6~10 seconds of the ambient sound of the room, followed by 10 seconds of
the product's noise.
Sound Recordings of PSU
Comparatives
HOW TO LISTEN &
COMPARE
These
recordings were made with a high resolution, studio quality, digital
recording system, then converted to LAME 128kbps encoded MP3s. We've
listened long and hard to ensure there is no audible degradation from
the original WAV files to these MP3s. They represent a quick snapshot
of what we heard during the review. Two recordings of some noise level
were made, one from a distance of one meter,
and another from one foot away. More details about how we make these recordings can be found in our short
article: Audio
Recording Methods Revised.
The
one meter recordings are intended to give you an idea of how the subject
of this review sound in actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical
distance between a computer or computer component and your ear. The
recording contains stretches of ambient noise that you can use to judge
the relative loudness of the subject. Be aware that
very quiet subjects may not be audible — if we couldn't hear it from
one meter, chances are we couldn't record it either!
The
one foot recordings are designed to bring out the fine details of the
noise. Use this recording with caution! Although more detailed, it may
not represent how the subject sounds in actual use. It is best to
listen to this recording after you have listened to the one meter
recording.Each recording starts with 6~10 seconds of room ambience, followed by 10 seconds of
the product's noise.
For the most realistic results, set the volume
so that the starting ambient is just barely audible.
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CONCLUSIONS
The Sparkle Power SPI250EP is the lowest capacity 80 Plus approved ATX form factor power supply we've tested thus far. Our sample meets the 80 Plus requirements, and it is 80% efficient even down to a low 50W load, which is better than most other PSUs.
Parameters such as voltage regulation, power factor, ripple and low load performance were all fine. The SPI250EP is a more convenient and probably lower-cost all-in-one alternative to the more complex, multi-part picoPSU for energy efficiency. It's not quite as efficient, but the convenience and far greater power headroom may make up for the few watts difference.
The acoustics are very good, good enough for this modest Sparkle to be considered an excellent, no-fuss, solution for a quiet, low power system. With a little bit of work, an experienced system builder could easily create a silent PC incorporating the SPI250EP. For the green-and-silent PC system builder, this is a very useful product. The biggest challenge for DIY computer enthusiasts may be to find a store that sells it.
Much thanks to Sparkle Power International for this review sample.
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SPCR Articles of Related
Interest:
Power Supply Fundamentals
Recommended
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Power
Distribution within Six PCs
SPCR
PSU Test Rig V.4
picoPSU
EnermaxModu82+ 625
Corsair VX450W
Seasonic SS-300SFD 80 Plus: Little Big PSU
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Discuss this article in the SPCR
Forums.
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