Best "Silent" PSU?

Marmotta

Marmotta

Marmotta

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Joined
5 Feb 2006
Posts
115
OK, I need some advice as to what power supply to buy. My current PC is cooled by a Zalman Reserator and I was hoping to make it totally silent as its a HTPC (using a Silverstone LC17 case), but wasn't sure what to buy or indeed what solution I should use.

The way I see it, it is always going to be rather difficult to get a 100% silent PC as even most fanless PSUs will usually require some airflow otherwise the hot air that builds up will just stay inside the PC chassis :( So, what I need to know is can I use a fanless PSU and indeed not use a fan? Otherwise, I was considering getting Silentmaxx's 500W Water Cooled PSU, but would that be OK for a passively watercooled PC?

Otherwise, what "silent" i.e. low noise PSUs would you suggest? How about Antec's Phantom 500? http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=05501
 
Well, for the timebeing I'm running a 2.66Ghz P4 and chances are I'll upgrade to a Conroe but same speed. Also, my graphics card isn't anything worth shouting about - just enough to support my current 1440x900 display. So is the Seasonic really quiet? Its just that I'm pretty sceptical of "silent" PSUs that still have a fan, which is why I was looking at the Antec, as I can set a temp at which the fan will start if needs be.
 
I have one and even with my heavily OCed pentium D the fan it in only runs at 900rpm and it is a yate loon I believe (the same ones nexus use) so very quiet
 
In windows my psu uses 199 -200watts
in windows using tv card, psu uses 234 -237watts
playing games psu uses 320 -335watts
Intresting hey

I got that info from a "plug-in mains power & energy monitor"
 
Friend of mine wanted a quieter PC (his sounded like a helicopter). Replaced all the cooling system, and we went to the local highstreet store (In Olso Norway), we wanted the Antec Phantom 500, but none of the shops sold it.

So, the next choice was the Seasonic. We picked the 430W unit as he had no intention to run SLI. Anyway it is very quite. Its 3.3V rail seems a little low, but checking with a multimeter it looked fine.

Anyway, quiet, cool, and and his computer seems nice and stable.
 
430W should be ample as I'm not going to be playing any games on it. Thanks for the tips; I'll have a look into reviews of the Antec and Seasonic.
 
Raikiri said:
What will you be running?

A 430w seasonic should be ample for most HTPC systems
Click to expand...

Top recommendation,what i fitted in my htpc/mce system amazed how quiet it is v happy with it,just wish i had splashed out more on my main machines psu instead of this so called quiet 580w hiper type-r :( ,would definately buy seasonic again :)
 
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