silentpcreview.com - Power

Recommended Power Supplies

Fri, 1 Dec 2006 17:36:14 +0000

Our short list of recommended power supplies for quiet or silent computers, updated at least once a quarter. Now separate from PSU Fundamentals. Latest update: Mar 16, 2008.

SPCR Power Supply Test Rig, v.4 (and v.4.1)

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:28:28 +0000

A little over a year after our last major update, we've made changes extensive enough to consider this the fourth iteration of SPCR's power supply testing system. PSU reviews have been popular bread-and-butter articles at SPCR for years, partly because of our close attention to detail, fundamentally sound test procedures, good test gear and thorough acoustic analysis. It is also because there were few serious PSU reviews done by other hardware web sites. Now, we've added crossloading, low AC input voltage, and ripple testing to complete our mix of PSU tests.

Power Supply Fundamentals

Wed, 6 Apr 2005 09:18:37 +0000

A reference article comprehensively discussing many aspects of power supplies and how they affect system noise, cooling, efficiency and stability. Also lists recommended quiet power supplies. This is a years-old article that has been updated numerous times. It remains the most popular article at SPCR, with nearly 900,000 reads as of April 2007. Last updated April 4, 2007.

Sparkle Power's 250W ATX12V 80 Plus SPI250EP

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:46:01 +0000

Sparkle Power's 250W 80 Plus SPI250EP seems a throwback to yesteryear. Is there any place in today's PC world for such a modest ATX12V power supply? Oh, most definitely.

80 Plus expands podium for Bronze, Silver & Gold

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:56:17 +0000

The 80 Plus program has been expanded with higher efficiency categories using the Olympic medal colors of Bronze, Silver and Gold. It's differentiation that has been called for by many participating PSU manufacturers for some time, and it may set the stage for continuing competition in the push towards ever higher efficiency.

Corsair TX650W ATX12V power supply

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:50:09 +0000

The TX650W is one of the middle models in Corsair's growing line of power supplies, which now stretches from 450W all the way to 1000W, and includes modular cable versions as well. Previous reviewed Corsairs have all made it to the top of our short list of super-quiet power supplies. Does the TX650W join its brethren?

Modu82+ 625 Power Supply: Enermax to the Forefront

Sun, 2 Mar 2008 22:17:45 +0000

Enermax offered us an opportunity to review a first-production sample of a new model hitting the US in early March. The Modu82+ is a line that Enermax believes will warm SPCR's cockles, and tickle your fancy, dear SPCR readers: It's said to be among the quietest and the most efficient in the world. Since these are the qualities that we value most in a power supply, we had to accept. We're pleased to confirm Enermax's claims. In fact, we're having to reshuffle our Recommended PSU list.

Seasonic M12II-430 modular cable PSU

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:44:20 +0000

Seasonic's original M12 was an excellent power supply marred by a small 60mm fan that didn't turn off once it started spinning. The M12-II is a lower power line that is modular that does away with the 60mm fan. Is it better than the original? By SPCR standards, yes.

Seasonic Goes Green: The Eco Power 300

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 05:29:29 +0000

Green has quickly become a veritable marketing cliche. What does it mean in the context of electronics? Most manufacturers say efficiency, RoHS compliance, and recycling friendliness. Seasonic's Eco Power 300 adds green packaging and sensible power sizing while retaining the brand's traditional strengths in efficiency and acoustics in a very small package.

Sparkle Power SPI220LE 80 Plus FlexATX PSU

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:46:07 +0000

Sparkle Power's SPI220LE 80 Plus FlexATX power supply has such a low power rating that it's invisible to the mainstream DIY retail market. Meant to be a part for commercial system builders, it has the distinction of being one of the "smallest" 80 Plus power supplies, which means it has 80% efficiency down to very low power levels; 44W to be precise. Could it be an alternative to the picoPSU for ultra low power, silent systems?

Seasonic S12II-380 Power Supply

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:48:10 +0000

Seasonic has been making quiet, efficient, high performance, power supplies for many years. The S12II series is their latest mainstream line. We test drive the 380W model on our torture track. It gets the checkered flag without a single glitch.

Corsair VX450W: Quiet Value PSU

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:24:31 +0000

Corsair's new VX450W power supply is a step down from the company's successful HX series. It's less powerful, and doesn't have a slick modular cable system. But it has a very friendly price and promises very quiet performance.

Nexus NX-8060 ATX power supply

Tue, 29 May 2007 18:39:04 +0000

Nexus recently introduced a new line of power supplies they say is 80-plus efficient, with modular cables, and extremely quiet. The NX-8060 is the flagship we torture test in this review.

Enermax Galaxy: A KiloWatt power supply

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 17:22:19 +0000

It is with some reluctance that we accepted the Enermax Galaxy for review. Let's face it, a kilowatt power supply isn't aimed at a quiet system for your living environment. Still, graphics card makers and gaming fanatics insist you need as many watts as you can get. No way it will be quiet at full power, but how about at idle? We run it through our gamut of tests and tortures to give you our usual detailed report.

Lian-Li HPC-600 power supply

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 03:58:25 +0000

Yet another brand is offering a new line of power supplies. Lian-Li, long known for their aluminum cases, steps into the retail PSU arena with the HPC-600 ATX12V model. It has features galore: Detachable modular cables, a golf-ball dimpled fan, the ability to double up with another PSU for more power, and ATX/BTX/EPS support, to mention just a few. We run the HPC-600 through our usual gamut of tortures.