XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

PSUs: The source of DC power for all components in the PC & often a big noise source.

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pes
Posts: 34
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Location: Sweden

XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by pes » Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:09 pm

SB has finally come back in full over all mobo makes and I will put in a order in the following days. My choice of PSU is narrowed down to these two:

XFX Black Edition 750W
Coolermaster Silent Pro 700W

The XFX is a OEMed M12D (or something close to it) with an Adda fan. Also it lacks OCP apparently but I dont know what to think of that.
The CM peaks at 250w to 21db in the SPCR measurements and continues at 300w, to 25db, while the Seasonic M12D sits at 14db through those wattages.

My expected power draw is probably around 200W. Sandy bridge, 1 HDD, GTX 460.
The main issues are hot summers as well as the overall noise level which will be low (most likely 20db seek noises of the HDD being the highest), and fluxes.

The question is if the Adda fan would skew the noise output of the M12D beyond the CM. In one review it was noted that the XFX was noticeably louder than the MD12 and it was attributed to the fan, but probably at high loads.
The Antec TP uses Adda fans, as well as other Seasonic PSUs. But as far as I can see - not the one used in the XFX.

To sum up if anyone has a wealth of experience with psu fans and psu behaviour (or can make a guess better than mine), keeping the M12D bench in mind, and the Adda fan, should it be the better choice? Or should I go with the CM?
I am really splitting hairs here it is just that they are the same price so thought I might ask more thoroughly.

quest_for_silence
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Re: XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by quest_for_silence » Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:29 am

The actual noise level/quality depends of placement: those SPCR figures may be referred to a top mounting PSU, while CPU and GPU heat it up. Therefore, if you have (for example) a bottom mounting enclosure, YMMV (those figures are not directly applicable).

That said, IME the XFX BE is subjectively about on par with the M12D, I've tested the former and still own the latter (even if just as a back-up PSU for testing purposes).

Providing what that I said above about placement, I guess that the XFX should be still a quieter option than the Silent Pro M, but if you own some well damped enclosure, such as an Antec P18X, I think you won't regret either of this latter.

pes
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:28 pm
Location: Sweden

Re: XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by pes » Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:29 am

Thank you quest_for_silence, great that you have actually tried the XFX. It will be in a Solo (w a GTX460). Would the Seasonic have a higher chance of exhibiting coil whine? I have read around, and apparently this can be one of the downsides to Seasonic, not just the MD12. Its one thing I would really want to avoid. If Enhance (or if its ACbel) psus are generally better in this regard I would just go with the CM disregarding basic noise performance. Probably impossible to say. The RMA process for the XFX in this particular case would be a pita, that is why I am asking.

quest_for_silence
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Re: XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by quest_for_silence » Mon Apr 04, 2011 1:40 am

pes wrote:Thank you quest_for_silence, great that you have actually tried the XFX. It will be in a Solo (w a GTX460). Would the Seasonic have a higher chance of exhibiting coil whine? I have read around, and apparently this can be one of the downsides to Seasonic, not just the MD12. Its one thing I would really want to avoid. If Enhance (or if its ACbel) psus are generally better in this regard I would just go with the CM disregarding basic noise performance. Probably impossible to say. The RMA process for the XFX in this particular case would be a pita, that is why I am asking.

Well, as you already said, it's almost impossible to say by me.
First because usually coil whine is due to interaction with other components (CPU, VRM, GPU, et c.).
Secondly because I never pushed those units to their usual power levels: I bought the M12D-850 because it's the quietest unit (well, my first choice was the Antec CP-850, but the CPX form factor prevented me from buying) I could get at that time which has a 3A rating for the 5VSB rail (continuous), which was what I needed to have a DFI platform to work.
But since then I think that I have never passed the about 200W DC mark with it. So all that I can say is that at those levels the XFX BE 850 was almost or about on par with the M12D-850, and slightly better than my Antec Signature SG-650.
Another factor inside not ample enclosures would be the cabling issue: the M12D platform doesn't love them, too long and a bit thick cables lead to an annoying mess-up, while the Silent Pro M is IMHO far better than the XFX, with reference to that, due to full modularity and flat cables (as Corsair does).

For using within a Solo, I can argue that you have to look at SPCR hotbox findings.
Here there are, for your convenience, the complete ones of the last months reviews, up to 500W DC.

Code: Select all

PSU's acoustic performance tested by SPCR in the hotbox in the last months
                 WATTS/DB                   2011
MODEL       90 150 200 250 300 400 500  NEWEGG PRICE
AX-850     <10 <10  12  15  18  25  35      180$
GX-700      15  15  18  20  25  32  35      180$
TP-750      12  12  14  14  18  33  40      100$
X-400FL    <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10*     130$
MODU87+     11  11  11  11  14  20  23     >130$
NX5000      11  11  12  14  22  24  25      ---$
CX-400      19  26  32  35  35  35  --       50$
ECO80+     <11  12  16  19  26  32  33      >70$
X-650      <10  11  12  14  16  31  31      135$
CP-850      12  12  12  14  14  26  40      120$
RX-8500     14  14  18  23  28  32  32      ---$
M700W       14  14  18  25  27  27  34      110$
CP700M      15  15  15  15  17  30  34      ---$
VALUE430    11  12  16  18  18  19  --       75$
M12D850     14  14  14  14  14  24  37      130$ #
SG650       15  15  15  18  18  28  36     ~180$ #
DA700       18  18  18  28  23  32  35       92$ #
ECS7001     22  22  22  25  26  35  37      ---$
ZM1000HP ±  20  20  20  20  20  20  26      240$
TX-650 ±    21  21  21  21  23  38  43       90$
PRO82+      13  13  14  15  16  26  36      110$ 
MODU82+     13  13  14  15  16  26  36      145$ 
 
PSU's acoustic performance tested by SPCR out of the hotbox in the last months
                 WATTS/DB                   2011
MODEL       90 150 200 250 300 400 500  NEWEGG PRICE
AX-850     <10 <10 <10 11~13 12 13  17      180$
GX-700      15  15  15  17  21  25  35      180$
TP-750      12  12  12  14  15  27  31      100$
X-400FL    <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10*     129$
MODU87+     11  11  11  11  11  11  18      130$
NX5000      11  11   12 12 12.5 14  19      ---$
CX-400      19  19  24  30  35  35  --       50$
ECO80+     <11 <11  12  16  20  23  28      >70$
X-650      <10 <10 <10 <10 <10  16  27      135$
CP-850      12  12  12  12  12  14  20      120$

* = overload
# = price not from NewEgg 
± = not tested in the anechoic chamber 

But generally speaking, if a platform just encompass a single GTX 460, probably I would not pick any of them, but probably a 500W Enermax 87+.

pes
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:28 pm
Location: Sweden

Re: XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by pes » Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:37 pm

I was too fast to assume the testing rig used in the CM review was the hot box. Thanks. Seeing those figures I am inclined to get the XFX. Are the length of the cables an issue even if the one assembling knows what he/she is doing?

quest_for_silence
Posts: 5275
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:12 am
Location: ITALY

Re: XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by quest_for_silence » Tue Apr 05, 2011 12:54 am

pes wrote:Are the length of the cables an issue even if the one assembling knows what he/she is doing?

IMHO it depends.

In an enclosure like an Antec NSK3480 (which however won't fit such a PSU and an ODD at the same time), definitely yes.
In a larger enclosure, like the Antec Solo (so with a top mounting PSU and virtually no cable management), maybe (probably it would be with largest heatsinks and/or powerful GPU which deserve a pair of power connectors).
In a similar (to the Solo) enclosure, like an Antec P180 Mini (so with bottom mounting for PSU, enough far from mobo and bays and with a better cable management), IMHO no.

pes
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:28 pm
Location: Sweden

Re: XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by pes » Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:50 am

Thanks. I guess Mugen 2 would qualify as a large heatsink.

Another option to the M700 might be a Fractal Design Newton R2 650W, same price point.

Heres some numbers from a swedish testbench:

Load |Exhaust temp. |RPM
25% 30°C 608
50% 32°C 785
75% 33°C 1161
100% 36°C 1498

So probably similar, especially in the Solo. Probably better than the CM at lower loads/temps.

hmhmhm. This is driving me nuts :D~

lodestar
Posts: 1683
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 3:29 am
Location: UK

Re: XFX Black Edition vs Coolermaster Silent Pro

Post by lodestar » Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:22 pm

In the UK the Fractal Design Newton R2 650W is somewhat more expensive than the M700, by around 18%. So if you can get it for around the same price as the M700 it could well be a better buy. In the UK the higher price of the Newton R2 puts it very close to some of the 'Gold standard' alternatives such as the NZXT Hale90 650W. The Newton R2 has a 135mm fan as does the M700, and this is a factor in the quietness of both of them. The NZXT Hale90 has a 140mm fan, and from the reviews on the web seems to be both an excellent performer and extremely quiet. For some reason NZXT insist on painting their Hale90s white, but apart from this they seem to be a credible Seasonic X-series alternative if the price point is right.

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