Quietest power supplies? Around 1000w - 1200w

[sastusbulbas]

Curious as to what are deemed as the quietest PSU brands these days.

Considering a cable kit and swapping PSU's around in my systems, but none are ATX 3.1, and a full cable kit to cover all eventualities can cost quite a bit when you want a black/silver cable theme, and only see the 24pin and 8 pin CPU cables.

In the past I used to go with Seasonic. I have a TX Prime 850w in another PC not 3.0 though, but the case fans drown it out, and it would need a cable kit for that if I decide to move it to my latest PC, but that old PC is still in use, the other is a Seasonic SnowSilent 650w and not enough wattage for the newer build. I may well just get a cable kit and transfer the PSU, but I could end up back where I started, the cable kit I like are Cablemod Pro Modflex, which also would be getting an additional 8 pin PCIe, 8 pin CPU, and 12v Nvidia cable as the kits are rather basic, full kit with extra cable costs are around £165. Classic is an option too, it's just that they don't seem to list seperate 8 pin PCIe or CPU cables.

Current PSU is a CoolerMaster V1000 1000w gold fully modular, with a CableMod Classic Modflex cable kit, it's a great piece of kit, based on one of the older Seasonic platforms. This has seen little use in it's life.
The problem is although the fan was rated as reasonably quiet in it's day, it's pulling through the dust filter of a thin steel NZXT H500 case, and the gentle whir of that fan seems to be amplified with the location and case.

It doesn't help that my PC sits on the top shelf of an audio rack, and that hard top shelf is pretty much ear height and the room is pretty dead sounding, making that PSU fan the 1st thing my right ear picks up. Obviously the rest of the fans are gently whirring away, but with no load or load the sound is not changing much and gets louder as my ear approaches the PSU area, it is simply that PSU fan signature I am noticing due to it being at ear height about 1.5m away.

 

[mickyflinn]

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[momo56]

Coolermaster x silent edge is a fanless psu. There are 850 and 1100w models.

 

[sastusbulbas]

The CoolerMaster X Silent range looks pretty good, never even knew that existed! Thank you for that!
Can't see any UK retailers though for actual pricing But I think these can be ordered direct?
Certainly could see that being great for Daw and audio work. Will look that.
First thing I notice though is a right angle connector which cannot be used with the Nitro+ 9070 XT. I wonder if they offer a straight 12v cable too, if not it's simply the 3x8 adapter.
2nd is the open top, indicating it would be better served with an open top or vented shroud, or direct to air side in a dual chamber. May need to work out what case I may get in future which is dependent on the CPU and Optical drive I end up with.

Seasonic 1600w Noctua edition was another I had looked at, if I had a full Noctua themed build it would certainly be easy to overdo that. Sadly they have no smaller variant.
That said, when I did look at simply getting the next model up from my current Prime TX-850, it's 1300w and £420. The Seasonic 1600 is £450, the Noctua 1600 is £430. It would simply be madness to not buy either 1600w needed or not for the price difference.

Low noise is important, and also the ability to future proof. I may look at what cheaper cables I can do from CableMod and maybe even look at a classic kit with a Seasonic or CableMod aftermarket 12v cable. I do like the idea of black and silver cables, I already have an extension kit, but well its like trying to bend plastic, way too stiff and awkward for a small case, and the whole idea is to drop extensions completely.

I am sure I have seen 210mm long PSU squeezed into the HAVN BF 360 too, one of the cases I have shortlisted if the 180mm fans can be as quiet as Noctua.

Not sure if 1600w would be laughable unless I had a 5090 and 9950X3D. Though those even with a 420 AIO, eight drives and a few extra's would still only warrant 1100w/1200w I think.

 

[Tetras]

Low noise is important, and also the ability to future proof.

Curious as to what are deemed as the quietest PSU brands these days.

Certainly could see that being great for Daw and audio work. Will look that.

It doesn't help that my PC sits on the top shelf of an audio rack, and that hard top shelf is pretty much ear height and the room is pretty dead sounding, making that PSU fan the 1st thing my right ear picks up. Obviously the rest of the fans are gently whirring away, but with no load or load the sound is not changing much and gets louder as my ear approaches the PSU area, it is simply that PSU fan signature I am noticing due to it being at ear height about 1.5m away.

When you're doing Daw and audio work, what is the typical load level of the PC?

Most modern higher-end PSUs will be fanless up until around 30-40% load, which may be cheaper (a hybrid/passive mode) than buying a truly fanless PSU, which ultimately is often just an overbuilt/overspec regular PSU. It is also worth noting that fanless modes and fanless PSUs are best used in a particular config. I've actually seen manufacturers go as far as "do NOT buy/install this PSU to use that way up".

Personally, I would be happy enough to buy a PSU that is optimised for quiet(er) running (like the latest be quiet or a higher-end Seasonic, e.g. Vertex) and maybe overspec the wattage to ensure longer fanless operation, but I wouldn't be prepared to pay £400 for a Noctua edition.

 

[deviation]

I have the NZXT C1200 ATX3.1, it has a zero RPM mode switch, and even with that not enabled, I'm yet to hear it. If you look at the reviews, you'll read nothing but great things!

It's fully modular 80+Gold with a 10 year warranty, it's often on sale but if not it's only £160 posted, and I cannot recommend it highly enough

 

[sastusbulbas]

When you're doing Daw and audio work, what is the typical load level of the PC?

Most modern higher-end PSUs will be fanless up until around 30-40% load, which may be cheaper (a hybrid/passive mode) than buying a truly fanless PSU, which ultimately is often just an overbuilt/overspec regular PSU. It is also worth noting that fanless modes and fanless PSUs are best used in a particular config. I've actually seen manufacturers go as far as "do NOT buy/install this PSU to use that way up".

Personally, I would be happy enough to buy a PSU that is optimised for quiet(er) running (like the latest be quiet or a higher-end Seasonic, e.g. Vertex) and maybe overspec the wattage to ensure longer fanless operation, but I wouldn't be prepared to pay £400 for a Noctua edition.

Bear in mind my other PC runs a Seasonic Snow Silent 650w.
Another runs the Seasonic TX Prime 850w Titanium. Drowned out by Phanteks 140mm fans but not much headroom left if I want to upgrade.

I mean as sad as it is, the cables on that PSU suck, piggy back PCIe and ugly spaghetti mess 24pin.

I Am contemplating Cablemod cable kits and extra cables just to bring 12v cable capability or run three black silver modded cable to a GPU.

That's about the same price as a new PSU or a fair chunk of something that was a step up on my older £270 PSU.

Hence the thread. It's either cables for the 850w for a while or simply upgrade to a higher wattage 3.1 model that is renowned for quite operation and reputable. And getting a feeling for what is out there.

The CM silent gets some decent reviews, looks like it may be €300 direct, so around the same price as my old PSU or twice as much as a cable upgrade.

That said the 12v right angle isn't suitable.

The 1600 is overkill, but if you wanted brown PSU cables to the extent of what is supplied, that would be around £200.

But I don't know, I just know that the V1000 is currently intrusive with no load, CPU is starting to annoy me as on occasional CPU increases the cooler ramps up and can be noted for a minute or so. Will be seeing how the 9900x serves my lad and how his noise levels are.

 

[sastusbulbas]

I have the NZXT C1200 ATX3.1, it has a zero RPM mode switch, and even with that not enabled, I'm yet to hear it. If you look at the reviews, you'll read nothing but great things!

It's fully modular 80+Gold with a 10 year warranty, it's often on sale but if not it's only £160 posted, and I cannot recommend it highly enough

Not a fan of NZXT, no after market cable kits and the cables they come with are not exactly great. The old ones were stiff and had piggy back cables for the GPU.

Great value and well made, just finished wiring up my lads C750 from his old build to his new build.

 

[deviation]

Not a fan of NZXT, no after market cable kits and the cables they come with are not exactly great. The old ones were stiff and had piggy back cables for the GPU.

Great value and well made, just finished wiring up my lads C750 from his old build to his new build.

I don't have a problem with the cables, nicely sleeved (unlike my previous Corsair ), plently long enough, loads of input sockets for future proofing and it's got a dedicated 12VHPWR connector.
It is built like a tank, and runs silent, and doesn't get hot. The 10 year warranty and countless reviews made it a no brainer.

Hmm, I would never use third party cables with something as important as a PSU supply - CableMod had some hilarious QC issues with melting their cables not long ago.
But each to their own

 

[sastusbulbas]

I don't have a problem with the cables, nicely sleeved (unlike my previous Corsair ), plently long enough, loads of input sockets for future proofing and it's got a dedicated 12VHPWR connector.
It is built like a tank, and runs silent, and doesn't get hot. The 10 year warranty and countless reviews made it a no brainer.

Hmm, I would never use third party cables with something as important as a PSU supply - CableMod had some hilarious QC issues with melting their cables not long ago.
But each to their own

I never knew Cablemod were a bad company.
Most places seem to still say nice things.

I do think they are expensive, but never heard of anything bad with them. But I was out of the PC loop for some years.

The C750 my lad uses is the 1st generation, they had a reputation for failing apparently. But like I said well made, I just don't like cables bunched together in a nylon braid, or piggy tailed ribbon cables.

If they came with individually sleeved/braided cable I would like them more.

 

[deviation]

I never knew Cablemod were a bad company.
Most places seem to still say nice things.

I do think they are expensive, but never heard of anything bad with them. But I was out of the PC loop for some years.

The C750 my lad uses is the 1st generation, they had a reputation for failing apparently. But like I said well made, I just don't like cables bunched together in a nylon braid, or piggy tailed ribbon cables.

If they came with individually sleeved/braided cable I would like them more.

Yeah, that's the trouble with all this brainwashing on Youtube and social media, they're all sponsored by companies such as them, to push product - so you rarely hear/see them being honest about a product that's paying them to promote it

Really? My friend has a C850, so that seems hard to believe, as that should be a well known Seasonic that was built like a tank? Hence my friend buying it. Maybe the 750 was a different brand underneath versus the C850.

Oh I see, I'm the opposite, I hated the individually sleeved Corsair cables I had with my previous PSU that failed, I thought it was lazy and cheap. By the time you'd messed around with cable ties or whatever, it looks tacky and cheap, compared to a proper sleeved cable. The NZXT's are very malleable which I like.

 

[KompuKare]

To be fair to Cablemod, I though their main problem was attempting the impossible of trying to tame 12VHPWR without being able to change the standard?

I still would not trust 12VHPWR but the recent changes to the standard make it a lot better than it was.

Those passive supplies are interesting but let's assume a 750W load on the 1100W review:

Cooler Master X Silent Edge Platinum 1100W Review - KitGuru

If, like me, you value a low noise PC then today's power supply will be of particular interest. Cool

www.kitguru.net

So 93% efficient as using 806W for 750W, that means the supply still has to get rid of 56W of heat. These passive supplies do rely on good airflow in the case.

And compared to semi-passive supplies of that kind of wattage which mostly do not turn their fan on until > 400W or, do these supplies gain much?

Unsure what kind of a load the OP's DAW work needs but if it is under 400W then a good semi-passive should suffice?

I always though that the ultimate DAW work in a soundproof room would be for the PC to be in another room. Surely USB, audio, and display cables can easily cope with that these days?

 

[deviation]

To be fair to Cablemod, I though their main problem was attempting the impossible of trying to tame 12VHPWR without being able to change the standard?

I still would not trust 12VHPWR but the recent changes to the standard make it a lot better than it was.

Those passive supplies are interesting but let's assume a 750W load on the 1100W review:

Cooler Master X Silent Edge Platinum 1100W Review - KitGuru

If, like me, you value a low noise PC then today's power supply will be of particular interest. Cool

www.kitguru.net

So 93% efficient as using 806W for 750W, that means the supply still has to get rid of 56W of heat. These passive supplies do rely on good airflow in the case.

And compared to semi-passive supplies of that kind of wattage which mostly do not turn their fan on until > 400W or, do these supplies gain much?

Unsure what kind of a load the OP's DAW work needs but if it is under 400W then a good semi-passive should suffice?

I always though that the ultimate DAW work in a soundproof room would be for the PC to be in another room. Surely USB, audio, and display cables can easily cope with that these days?

CableMod didn't change anything about the cable design, they just produced an even poorer product that the original, that clearly lacked any form of quality control, and was manufctured using the usual greed based cheap Chinese corner cutting - they rightly got caught doing so once things started melting/burning.

This is seen time and time again with overpriced tacky products like this.

Regarding the PSU I mentioned, the C1200 is not passive, it has a 135MM FDB fan that can run in an optional zero RPM mode at lower loads if desired, until it reaches a peak substantial load, upon which, the fan kicks in, which is pratically inaudible. Or you run it, as I've mentioned, with the fan on the whole time, and you still cant hear it, it's a well reviewed proven PSU, and a quiet one at that.

@Zeebedy has the same PSU, and will echo the same as me, it's silent with or without the fan on, and can hold it's own easily, against higher priced PSU's, that offer nothing else other than 'gamer' scene tax.

 

[Zefan]

Not sure I do have the same, case of mistaken identity I think!

 

[deviation]

Not sure I do have the same, case of mistaken identity I think!

Whoops It was @Zeebedy that has the same PSU as me

 

[Tetras]

The 1600 is overkill, but if you wanted brown PSU cables to the extent of what is supplied, that would be around £200.

Ah, I didn't even notice it had brown cables, my screen is really dark

Something like Seasonic's Vertex or Antec's PSU derived from it (HCG Pro) would probably run passively for your audio work, if you got the 1200 version and still be a decent upgrade on the 850, though I don't know if the stock cables would pass muster.

hwbusters considered the 1200 watt Vertex PX he reviewed very quiet, so that'd be good enough for me.

 

[sastusbulbas]

My friend has a C850, so that seems hard to believe, as that should be a well known Seasonic that was built like a tank? Hence my friend buying it. Maybe the 750 was a different brand underneath versus the C850.

I bought the original C750 when it was on sale for £70 I believe and I bought it knowing it was a Seasonic platform, it was reviewed as having the same platform as the Seasonic Focus Gold, but wasn't reviewed well for noise. Tom's Hardware August 2020.
Not sure how reliable the failure reports were but there were numerous posts online inc Reddit. We only noticed these recently and not that bothered.

The original cables were a little stiff, the 8 pin had to have it's piggyback zipped in place as it sat dangling in the case with a single 8 pin connection, and the 24 pin looked awful bent back in an NZXT case due to the pressure of the cable hiding bar. Rather ugly.

The PSU's may have improved, but they still sport cables that look like a non modular 90's throwback with nylon braid on top of spaghetti. Which is fine and doesn't affect the PSU, and looks great in a closed case.

 

[deviation]

I bought the original C750 when it was on sale for £70 I believe and I bought it knowing it was a Seasonic platform, it was reviewed as having the same platform as the Seasonic Focus Gold, but wasn't reviewed well for noise. Tom's Hardware August 2020.
Not sure how reliable the failure reports were but there were numerous posts online inc Reddit. We only noticed these recently and not that bothered.

The original cables were a little stiff, the 8 pin had to have it's piggyback zipped in place as it sat dangling in the case with a single 8 pin connection, and the 24 pin looked awful bent back in an NZXT case due to the pressure of the cable hiding bar. Rather ugly.

The PSU's may have improved, but they still sport cables that look like a non modular 90's throwback with nylon braid on top of spaghetti. Which is fine and doesn't affect the PSU, and looks great in a closed case.

Interesting. I didn't know that, but then TBH I didn't really look as deep as that, I just know my friends had his years, and it's been trouble free, and silent, even with the fan on - so I simply had a look at some reviews for his, of which all seemed great.
Then I looked at the higher wattage models, and spotted the C1200 ATX3.1 variant, researched it, it reviewed very well, so went with that, and it's been flawless so far all whilst being inaudible.

I think that's just the initial 'break-in' esque flex, once you've played about with them, they quickly become malleable - however I do agree with the piggybacked 8PIN, of which no-one with a brain will use, I would prefer it to be singular, but as you say, a cheeky slim ziptie and it's hidden away.

Can't see any spaghetti with mine, however the rubbish individually braided Corsair cables I had, were garbage, now. that looks like a right mess of spaghetti, on a top end product too, embarassing - no-one wants to spend an hour bodging them up the entire length with zip-ties, it just looks cheap and tacky.
But then it could be worse, it could be all on fire whilst looking cheap and chinesium tacky like a CableMod set

 

[sastusbulbas]

Ah, I didn't even notice it had brown cables, my screen is really dark

Something like Seasonic's Vertex or Antec's PSU derived from it (HCG Pro) would probably run passively for your audio work, if you got the 1200 version and still be a decent upgrade on the 850, though I don't know if the stock cables would pass muster.

hwbusters considered the 1200 watt Vertex PX he reviewed very quiet, so that'd be good enough for me.

Yeah I have looked at the Antec and Seasonic Vertex, not much between them apart from two years guarantee and price, though it look's like the Antec has the waxed laces look cables.

Still undecided on a case too. I feel that this old NZXT H500 is actually amplifying the noise somewhat, the PSU looks like it sits on bare metal in this system. Could be other factors contributing to the sound I think I hear. GPU is 1" away from the lower front fan for example.

 

[clone]

You don't tend to hear your psu fan as the system fans hide it, of all the psus I've had this has been the case.