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Quiet psu around $100?

A

AuroraProject

Gawd
Joined
Dec 13, 2004
Messages
820
I'm looking for a quiet power supply for around $100. I am currently considering two models: an OCZ Modstream 520 and PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470. Any thoughts on other models I should look at? If it helps I will be powering the following:

Asus P4P800-E
3.06ghz P4 533fsb w/ XP-90 & Panaflo H1A fan
ATI 9700 Pro
Audigy 2 ZS
Orange Micro USB 2.0 expansion card
Happauge TV tuner card
2-120gig Seagate 7200rpm IDE hard drives
2-400gig Seagate 7200 rpm SATA hard drives
1-74gig Raptor SATA hard drive
all in a Lian Li PC-7077B case (dual 120mm & dual 80mm fans)

Edit: I'm also concerned that the Modstream cables may not be long enough for use in a full tower case, any thoughts?

Thanks.
 
I have the 420watt powerstream which is basically silent. The Seasonic S12 range is supposed to be very quiet also.
 
The Seasonic S12 around $100 would be the 430W model. Very quiet.

I'm not totally clear why you want a quiet psu for such a non-silent computer. A Panaflo H1A and 4 case fans will drown out most power supplies, quiet or not.
 
templarknightx said:
Panaflo H1A and 4 case fans will drown out most power supplies, quiet or not.
Click to expand...
Good call. I know that even with a bunch of Panaflo L1As, my OCZ Powerstream 420W is drowned out.
 
Definately the Seasonics. My friend has a Super Tornado (now replaced with the S12 line), and it's EXTREMELY quiet.

What voltages do you run your fans at? You're system could be very quiet if you drop them to 7v or even 5v.

I have 2x 120's, 2x 80's (including psu), an NV5 on my 6800gt, and the 92mm on my zalman 7000cu. They are all running at 5v, except the rear 120 (silenx) running at 7v. You can't hear my system over the amient room noise unless you put your ear within a few feet.

Check out this list for good quiet PSU's:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article28-page6.html

Hope that helps.
 
I have a super tornado 350 and it is very quiet, even at full tilt I can't really hear it since my the fan on my graphics card is the loudest offender right now.
 
I'm not looking to build a super silent pc, but in my SLI rig the psu is the loudest part, so I'm trying to avoid that for my next build.
 
well Im a big proponent of getting the best quality power you can and damn the noise
then addressing the noise issue seperately through modding, where a little duct work and a few replacement fans can take the loudest supply and make it far far quieter, yet maintain and normally improve its operating temperature. (ensuring its lifespan, and increasing its capacity)

as soon as you stop thinking of the thermal solution as limited to a turnkey solution that ends at the PSU enclosure, and look at the PSUs thermal solution as a larger whole in the boxes total scheme, your available options dramatically increase.

But then many dont want to be bothered with modding and really do want a turnkey solution.

The Seasonics have a stellar reputation when it comes to the sound signature
 
Ice Czar said:
well Im a big proponent of getting the best quality power you can and damn the noise

Hoorah!!

as soon as you stop thinking of the thermal solution as limited to a turnkey solution that ends at the PSU enclosure, and look at the PSUs thermal solution as a larger whole in the boxes total scheme, your available options dramatically increase.

But then many dont want to be bothered with modding and really do want a turnkey solution.
Click to expand...
So true. Also, the second you open the PSU up to do any mods, you void the manufacurer warranty which will scare off a lot of prospective modders. This is where etailers such as FrozenCPU and Performace-PCs come in. They'll do certain mods for you and offer at least a 1 year warranty (at a price in some cases). Performance-PCs even claims to be "certified as Grade A by PC Power and Cooling and therefore we can now offer you their full warranty on our modified power supply. We are very pleased to receive this certification and to offer you this very fine product customized to your wishes." But most of these modified "Turnkey Solutions" do not give you much of a choice in fan selection if any.
 
well if you slit the sticker thats true
but there is this interesting class of liquids called solvents :p

not that Id encourage anything fraudulant or deceptive
you bust it you buy it ;) but if you didnt bust it well thats a different ethical matter
Ive come across a few "new" PSU with slit stickers
 
I got an Ultra X-Connect (which is NOT a PowMax PSU by the way) 500 watt and it is really quiet. It does put out quite a bit of hot air but I love it plus it's nicely modded already. I paid $89 bucks for mine two months ago. I think you can get them for as low as like $69? Not sure but they're out there...
 
CORVETTEZ06 said:
I got an Ultra X-Connect (which is NOT a PowMax PSU by the way) 500 watt and it is really quiet. It does put out quite a bit of hot air but I love it plus it's nicely modded already. I paid $89 bucks for mine two months ago. I think you can get them for as low as like $69? Not sure but they're out there...
Click to expand...

Just because they aren't manufactured by Powmax doesn't mean they are high quality power supplies.
 
It works well for my needs. I wouldn't OC too much unless I had like an Antec True or something more exact. I'd say this is a decent PSU for running multiple hard drives, cd-drives, or a big graphics card. For OCing, listen to what the other guys talk about lol...
 
just for the record
Ultra Products X-Connects are Youngyear Electronics

and they are neither as good or as bad as they are often made out to be
Ive yet to see a crossload chart for em or an oscilliscope trace
till I do its just conjecture and ancedotal evidence based on static configs with typically unknown loads
Mike Chin mapped them a bit (65W > 500W rail ratios unkown)
and came up with
+12V: 12.25 ~ 12.49V
+5V: 4.86~ 5.13V
+3.3V: 3.1 ~ 3.38V
they are known for having a consistently high baseline on the +12V rail

there are several Ultra threads to choose from if thats the topic youd like to discuss
but lets leave the main direction of this thread to recommendations of silent PSUs under $100

the Ultra X connect 500W came in at
33dBA/1m for loads between 64 & 150W
and
35dBA for a load at 200W
a good comparative database for sound
http://www.silentpcreview.com/section4.html
 
Alright, so the Seasonic S12-430W looks good, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. Is it brand new or being discontinued?
 
popular

the 380 & 500 S-12s which newegg stocks.... well arent in stock :p
 
I found the S12-430W at a site called ewiz.com, they have a good reputation on resellerratings.com, anyone bought from them before?
 
yeah, I bought my zalman 7000cu from them. I paid, they shipped, I recieved. I didn't have any problems with them.
 
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