Replacing my PSU

[wa128]

Hello everyone,

I bought a silent case for my system a while ago together with some silent 140mm fans.

In this silent setup the sound produced by my current 750 watt Antec Earthwats psu has become very noticeable all of the sudden and I intend to replace it.

System specs:

- Intel Core i7 2600
- Socket LGA 1155 Mobo
- Gigabyte Geforce 770GTX
- Coolermaster 412s cpu cooler
- 4x 2GB DDR3
- 4 x 1TB Western Digital HDD's
- 4 x 140mm fans
- 1x DVD RW
- Fan controller

I only care about silence..

I hear there's a lot of PSU knowlege on this website. Can anyone suggest me a decent psu for this system?

(I don't know if 750watt is necessary btw)

*My budget is ~€100 which is $140


Thanks in advance guys!

 

[x2ezx]

My Corsair AX850 is dead silent (145$ on sale)

 

[runs2far]

What online stores are available to you?

If you don't min doing some "leg" work, check out silentpcreview.com and jonnygruru.com for quiet/good PSU choises.

 

[wa128]

@runs2far Mainly Dutch online stores, but we have roughly all the same product as you guys in the states. Don't know if you guys have the German PSU manufacturer Be Quiet. They seem nice but I don't know if the quality is any good.

http://www.bequiet.com/

Anyone with any experience with them?


@x2ezx I think 850watt is a bit overkill for my system. I see that a lot of people use even less than 750watt on the forum.

How do you guys calculate what PSU wattage you need?

 

[Unknown-One]

How do you guys calculate what PSU wattage you need?

Well, most PSU's reach peak efficiency at 50% load, so the ideal scenario (if you can afford it) is to get a PSU that is rated roughly double your average load.

So if you pull around 375w at load, a 750w PSU would be working within its peak efficiency band.

 

[wa128]

Well, most PSU's reach peak efficiency at 50% load, so the ideal scenario (if you can afford it) is to get a PSU that is rated roughly double your average load.

So if you pull around 375w at load, a 750w PSU would be working within its peak efficiency band.

Is that important for the life expectancy of the PSU or just power draw?

 

[Unknown-One]

Is that important for the life expectancy of the PSU or just power draw?

It helps all-around, really.

Some PSU's operate at close to 95% efficiency at 50% load, so it's a good thing to aim for. Means lower power consumption, less waste-heat, probably less noise, and potentially longer lifespan for a given level of power draw.

That said, the "optimal range" tends to be pretty wide on most units. As long as you aren't consistently above 70% of a PSU's maximum output, you're still pretty close to ideal (which means even a 550w unit would be just fine for 375w worth of load).

I only care about silence..

Consider one of Corsair's RM-series PSU's. They automatically turn their fans off (100% passive operation) when load is less than 40% of the PSU's rated maximum.

With the specs you listed, an RM 750 would only have to turn on its fan while you were gaming. An RM 850 might never need to turn its fan on at all

 

[wa128]

It helps all-around, really.

Some PSU's operate at close to 95% efficiency at 50% load, so it's a good thing to aim for. Means lower power consumption, less waste-heat, probably less noise, and potentially longer lifespan for a given level of power draw.

That said, the "optimal range" tends to be pretty wide on most units. As long as you aren't consistently above 70% of a PSU's maximum output, you're still pretty close to ideal (which means even a 550w unit would be just fine for 375w worth of load).


Consider one of Corsair's RM-series PSU's. They automatically turn their fans off (100% passive operation) when load is less than 40% of the PSU's rated maximum.

With the specs you listed, an RM 750 would only have to turn on its fan while you were gaming. An RM 850 might never need to turn its fan on at all

That sounds amazing. So if I'm not gaming there's no sound at all from the Corsair PSU?


Is this the one you are referring to?

http://azerty.nl/producten/product_...-240-v-750-watt-modulair.html?channel_code=57

 

[Unknown-One]

Yup, that's the one. As long as you're pulling less than 300w through it, the fan will stay turned off.

Just keep in mind, it's slightly longer than the average ATX power supply. Most cases wont have a problem with this, but you might want make sure you have enough room.

 

[Henri108]

It helps all-around, really.

Some PSU's operate at close to 95% efficiency at 50% load, so it's a good thing to aim for. Means lower power consumption, less waste-heat, probably less noise, and potentially longer lifespan for a given level of power draw.

That said, the "optimal range" tends to be pretty wide on most units. As long as you aren't consistently above 70% of a PSU's maximum output, you're still pretty close to ideal (which means even a 550w unit would be just fine for 375w worth of load).


Consider one of Corsair's RM-series PSU's. They automatically turn their fans off (100% passive operation) when load is less than 40% of the PSU's rated maximum.

With the specs you listed, an RM 750 would only have to turn on its fan while you were gaming. An RM 850 might never need to turn its fan on at all

Lol, I have a identical system to the OP's system (I7 2600, GTX770 OC, 16gb ram) and the RM650 never spins up, even under gaming (BF4 on Ultra). I think a RM550 is sufficient for a system like yours, a 650 will give you some more headroom for the future. And they say the fans in the RM650 are almost silent. (maybe they have been spinning, but I didn't hear even when placing my ear against the PSU)
A 850 watt is overkill and frequently less efficient at idling a low-watt system.

 

[[Spectre]]

@runs2far Mainly Dutch online stores, but we have roughly all the same product as you guys in the states. Don't know if you guys have the German PSU manufacturer Be Quiet. They seem nice but I don't know if the quality is any good.

http://www.bequiet.com/

Anyone with any experience with them?

They are not a manufacturer, they are a brand.

Consider one of Corsair's RM-series PSU's. They automatically turn their fans off (100% passive operation) when load is less than 40% of the PSU's rated maximum.

With the specs you listed, an RM 750 would only have to turn on its fan while you were gaming. An RM 850 might never need to turn its fan on at all

The RM series are not exactly quality power supplies. If all you care about is quiet they are quiet, but so are better quality units than the RM series so you will be sacrificing A LOT for the Corsair name and the same silence you can find elsewhere.

If you want silent, you are going to be looking at fanless units.

 

[plugwash]

Well, most PSU's reach peak efficiency at 50% load, so the ideal scenario (if you can afford it) is to get a PSU that is rated roughly double your average load.

However unless you are folding or mining your average load is likely to be somewhat less than your peak load. Once you size your PSU to be adequate (I wouldn't want to run any PC PSU at more than 80% other than very briefly) for peak load your average load tends to end up at 50% or less of the PSUs rating.

 

[wa128]

They are not a manufacturer, they are a brand.



The RM series are not exactly quality power supplies. If all you care about is quiet they are quiet, but so are better quality units than the RM series so you will be sacrificing A LOT for the Corsair name and the same silence you can find elsewhere.

If you want silent, you are going to be looking at fanless units.

What is wrong with the RM series then?

Can you recommend a decent fan-less unit? (for ~€100/$140)

 

[jameyscott]

They are not a manufacturer, they are a brand.



The RM series are not exactly quality power supplies. If all you care about is quiet they are quiet, but so are better quality units than the RM series so you will be sacrificing A LOT for the Corsair name and the same silence you can find elsewhere.

If you want silent, you are going to be looking at fanless units.

I've heard that a lot and that's not true at all. The RM series is a good PSU. Sure, they don't use all Japanese capacitors and that might be an issue for some, but for the OP's system it is a perfectly capable power supply. You are right though, he's is paying a bit extra because of the branding, but that's not inherently a bad thing. With how good Corsair's customer support is, I don't mind paying a few extra bucks to have a quality experience when things hit the fan.

To the OP. I'd go for the Corsair AX760, and if you want to save a bit of money go with the RM750. There is also the EVGA Supernova 750 G2. Great unit based on the Superflower Leadex Platform and you get the great service of EVGA to boot. However, I'm pretty sure it doesn't have a "hybrid mode" like the AX and RM do, and I can't be for certain about how loud the fan is. I have the 1300w G2 in my main system, and I can't hear it, but then again I'm not going for an absolutely dead silent build.

 

[wa128]

I've heard that a lot and that's not true at all. The RM series is a good PSU. Sure, they don't use all Japanese capacitors and that might be an issue for some, but for the OP's system it is a perfectly capable power supply. You are right though, he's is paying a bit extra because of the branding, but that's not inherently a bad thing. With how good Corsair's customer support is, I don't mind paying a few extra bucks to have a quality experience when things hit the fan.

To the OP. I'd go for the Corsair AX760, and if you want to save a bit of money go with the RM750. There is also the EVGA Supernova 750 G2. Great unit based on the Superflower Leadex Platform and you get the great service of EVGA to boot. However, I'm pretty sure it doesn't have a "hybrid mode" like the AX and RM do, and I can't be for certain about how loud the fan is. I have the 1300w G2 in my main system, and I can't hear it, but then again I'm not going for an absolutely dead silent build.

Is the AX also semi passive? I see there's a regular Corsair AX760 available but also a Corsair AX760i, what is the difference?

 

[[Spectre]]

I've heard that a lot and that's not true at all. The RM series is a good PSU. Sure, they don't use all Japanese capacitors and that might be an issue for some, but for the OP's system it is a perfectly capable power supply. You are right though, he's is paying a bit extra because of the branding, but that's not inherently a bad thing. With how good Corsair's customer support is, I don't mind paying a few extra bucks to have a quality experience when things hit the fan.

You have heard it a lot, because actually it is true (poor electrical performance relative to lower cost options, poor quality components, bad fan controller design, etc). But then again, what do I know Corsair support? No better than what you can get from any brand with a name these days. Everybody has a problem with somebody and everyone loves somebody....in the end there are very few people who will go out of the way for people like the old PC P&C (their one legitimate claim to fame) and Corsair is not one of them.

 

[[Spectre]]

What is wrong with the RM series then?

Can you recommend a decent fan-less unit? (for ~€100/$140)

Look at any of the ones we have reviewd from the Seasonic Fanless units to the Kingwin Stryker to the SilverStone Nightjar. Any of those that you can find are quality units.

 

[wa128]

Someone advised me to buy the Cooler Master V650S as it should be just as silent as the Corsair RM series but with better build quality..

Is the Cooler Master any good?

 

[bigsnyder]

The Seasonic KM3 units have the hybrid fan mode operation.

 

[Henri108]

This is one of the best/most reliable reviewers out there (not to say the best).
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=363

That's about the RM650, conclusion is a good PSU for which you pay a silence premium.

 

[wa128]

This is one of the best/most reliable reviewers out there (not to say the best).
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=363

That's about the RM650, conclusion is a good PSU for which you pay a silence premium.

I don't mind paying a silence premium. I don't mind if the PSU fails after a few years...

What I don't want however is that other components die because of PSU failure...

Do you think silent PSU's are more risky when it comes to failure?

 

[[Spectre]]

I don't mind paying a silence premium. I don't mind if the PSU fails after a few years...

What I don't want however is that other components die because of PSU failure...

Do you think silent PSU's are more risky when it comes to failure?

Depends on how they get to being quiet and what the components/build quality is like. If it is truly silent like a fanless unit with very good build quality, QC, and components...no. If it gets to being quiet by having an overly aggressive fan controller and poor quality components....yes.

It is why what you are looking for will cost a bit more to get a good quiet unit as opposed to a quietish unit.