It was getting too confusing with all the various types. So, after listening to the suggestions of a few forums voices and those of Alistair, the SPCR web tech, I revised the Recommended PSUs into 4 separate categories (the link takes you straight to p.2 where the tables are) --

- 250-400W rated models (well 399, actually)
- 400W+
- fanless
- <250W

Comments and ranking were also updated wherever appropriate based on the latest info, reports and experiences. These changes are not made casually; if you have any serious disagreement based on real first hand experience, please post your remarks here.

I think I have mentioned it a couple of times, but my experience with the Nexus NX-3000 showed it to be much louder than I expected, clearly louder than a modded Enermax, and even louder than a 120mm Fortron.

Would you post full details of your system config & conditions in which you found your nx3000 to be so loud? It certainly is NOT my experience either on the test bench, in the anechoic chamber or in systems. I have a couple in some of the test bench machines running folding 24/7 and they are quiet despite the constant 100% cpu load in a room that is now ~25C. These specific PSUs/PC systems are drawing ~140-150W AC, which means ~100W DC.

ALL thermister fan PSUs are subject to changes in noise based on case temp / airflow; perhaps your system did not provide enough airflow to keep the case/PSU cool enough.

Keep in mind that the rankings are against other unmodified PSUs. Any PSU with a Panaflo 80L running at 6V continuous will be quieter than any PSU on the fanned lists under mid-high loads -- though how long it survives will depend on a lot on case airflow, on how hot the PSU runs.

And it may just be possible that you got a lemon.

The only thing that I can think of that may be upsetting the PSU is my two Seagate 80G RAID 0 array, otherwise I have a fairly run of the mill system.

I may have a lemon (although the 120mm Fortron also showed some abnormal behavior in the same system) because the Nexus started with the fan at max speed and never dropped.

That is totally abnormal behavior. I would check it on another system to confirm, then do a RMA.

Hi Mike:

One hopes that you are planning to review the Fortron 120mm PS and the Heroichi 300AR-T -- so that you can list them?

The Fortron is on hand & on the review roster; I have yet to even see the Heroichi -- even on the web.

When I've finished setting up my farm, I'll post here what I can about the 180 watt sff fortron I've got. It uses an 80mm fan, and on initial tests, sounds even quieter than that 300w 120mm fan version. Of course, thanks to difficulties setting up the farm its never been in use for more than 1 minute at once yet, so I can't be sure yet.

Hello Mike:



This is the Heroichi that I think deserves a review or at least a brief mention:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=17-104-001

It comes stock in many Compucases, and it is a *very* quiet PS. A bit quieter than the Fortron, though it needs better case ventilation to maintain the low fan speed in the PS. Heck -- for $31 + $6 shipping, it is only $5 more than the (total steal) $27 + $5 shipping for the Fortron. I did modify the intake slots on the back -- I cut out every other one, and twisted the remaining ones to open it up even more. Even without that simple mod, it stays very, very quiet and it runs cool -- it just gets much better air flow afterwards and runs cooler!

It's got a quiet 80mm fan (YS Tech) and a wire grill, and the PS itself seems to be quite stable; though the heatsinks are less sexy than the Fortron's...

OK Neil, I found Heroichi -- http://www.heroichi.com.tw/
and their US branch -- http://www.compucasecorp.com/
I will contact them for some samples.

Thanks for the updates Mike. By the way, did you consider adding the SilentMaxx proSilence PCS-350 to the fanless list? Of course, it would have to receive a "O" in the Source category until you actually have a chance to review one...

Mike:

To add clarity might I suggest a revision. Instead of
0-250,
250-400,
and
400+

You really mean:
0-249,
250-399,
and
400+

I was looking for my 400 in the 250-400 part and rad on to find my SS-400 in the 400+ section. Nuaince, but more clarity.

Cheers,
Scott

shorton - done.

Hi Mike

I was browsing & reading about psu's and came across an interesting post on Slashdot. In short there are apparently a number of psu carrying UL certification fraudulently, but the trick is there is an online UL certification directory where things can be checked. Just type in a name and go from there. Interestingly FSP gets a result while Seasonic does not (Then again I dont know what Seasonic claim on their labels.)

May be worth bearing in mind on all psu matters (wasn't sure whether to start a thread on this).

Addendum: Sea Sonic does get a result!

Okay, I said I'd comment on the fortron FSP180-60SPV psu that I got for my farm; its a 180 watt Micro ATX PSU. Actually, its PS/3, whatever that is, it looks like a slightly shortened ATX psu. This means there's less heatsink space, and no room for a 120mm fan.... and, it also means its a pretty noisy bastard. I've got a full load Pally 1800+ on it, and pretty much nothing else, and it seems comparable in sound (though not pitch) to my 60mm 5000 RPM CPU fan....

I'm gonna look at modding it, since the air seems to be coming out very cool; its drawing in ambient air with only its internal restrictions; I don't think the noise control is thermal.

Another round of revisions to the Recommended PSU list -- Dec 8/03. Fortron 350W Aurora added & Seasonic Super Tornado 300 downgraded for inconsistency.

Is there any possibility of including oscilloscope traces in future reviews, to evaluate how "clean" the power provided by these supplies is? Ripple noise at 60 and 120 Hz or in the KHz switching region is particularly bad for HTPC applications (where silence is also very desireable); clean power is a necessity for good analog audio / video performance.

Know of a PC-based oscilloscope software?

This ought to get the job done, and it's free.

http://polly.phys.msu.su/~zeld/oscill.html

[Edit] You'll also need some sort of probe to block DC from blowing up your soundcard. If you're handy with electronics you could probably make a simple one out of an electrolytic capacitor and a resistor.

Regarding the HEC PSU, I got one in my Compucase 6A (same as SLK3700AMB).

While it is reasonably quiet when at low revs, mine had a annoying clicking noise which was present even at low speeds. I managed to get rid of this noise by removing the fan from the PSU and mounting it outside the case (using a ghetto like tuct-tape mod. )

However, even now when I've got rid of the clicking noise the PSU isn't that quiet as the fan speeds up quite soon after starting up the computer. In fact it is somewhat louder than my friend's Antec Sonata stock PSU (unmodded).
Perhaps my computer doesn't have that great airflow as I haven't removed the restrictive fan grills on my case.

Another thing I don't like about the HEC PSU is that the +12V voltage-line always stays at around 11.5V. The +5V and +3.3V lines are fine though.

My setup is as follows:
AMD Barton 2500+ (45°-47°C idle).
Zalman 7000-alcu heatsink (at 5V).
Enermax 120mm fan at back at ~ 4.5V.
Geforce Ti4200 w/Zalman ZM-80 heatsink.
Samsung 160GB Spinpoint at 35°-39°C idle - suspended using elastic cord as otherwise it reasonated with the case - causing unbearable seek noises.

Another round of smaller revisions --

- Added Enermax Noisetaker 475
- revised layout to reduce # of vertical columns
- corrected a few typos

To the forum member who just posted above whether I had intended to remove the 250-399W PSU table:

1) In my haste to consider what you referred to, I probably managed to delete your post. Sorry about that!

2) No I did not intend to delete that! Thank you for the quick response, otherwise, it would have meant hours of re-writing!!

It so happened that I had just finished a backup of all My Docs, which meant the previous copy of this file no longer existed anywhere on my system. There is a backup on the web site, but it is a laborious process to backtrack...

I did a google search for "Recommended PSUs", which luckily netted a cached version of that 3rd page! O thank Google!! I pulled the source from that cached page to quickly rebuild the missing table. It is now back in place.

Thank you very very much, again, dear reader, for posting that inquiry, and please identify yourself, because your quick response saved a Sunday afternoon.

Umm... That was me. And I deleted it myself, realizing it would be better netiquette to simply PM you, which I then did. I didn't want to waste everyone's bandwidth with administrivia. But I'm glad it you saw it!

Another small update.

Another update June 5 -- Rev. A3 Seasonic Supeer PSUs back up to the top, a couple other changes.

like many folks, i've not had great luck with the silentmaxx fanelss 350 ps, but i do have 2 running perfectly, and one currently rma'd. they told me that they have done a redesign, and in a few weeks i'll get a new and improved model.

i'm excited for that, because it performs distinctly better than the coolmax fanless unit, which works well with a fan for airflow, but doesn't have that big heatsink to get heat out of the case.

i'd love to see the zalman external ps reviewed - it looks incredible!

and lastly, thermaltake has a fanless model with external copper fins (probably heatpiped?) that looks quite cool, but isn't available yet.

thanks!
jef

A method of positively identifying a Rev A3 Seasonic prior to purchase would be quite helpful. Any hints?

The Rev A3 designation is in a small box on the label that's on the PSU -- but I don't think there is anything on the outside of the box. I suggest people email Seasonic and find out.