The power supply typically isn't the noisiest component in a high-end PC. Nevertheless, many folks are serious about cutting noise, and go the extra mile for a quiet system. We step in with a comparison of two silent models against one low-noise PSU.
Given the number of massive CPU coolers and loud graphics cards that make their way through our lab, it's easy to overlook the noise coming from power supplies. In general, power supply fans are drowned out by other system components. Even a mechanical hard drive tends to be more noticeable than a nice, big 120 mm cooler lackadaisically blowing air through large vents in a PSU.
But just ask anyone who's been burnt by a cheap power supply, or someone who hasn't blown out their chassis in a couple of years: PSU fans can get really loud.
What if you simply want a super-quiet machine? A computer for the living room or bedroom, perhaps. There are such things as passively-cooled graphics cards. Even more effective, liquid cooling has the potential to draw heat away from your components and dissipate it using larger, slower-spinning fans that generate barely a whisper. Swap out that clacking hard drive for an SSD and really, there's not much left inside your PC to disrupt the glorious silence.
Well, almost. There's still the issue of that ever-turning power supply fan.
Today's energy-efficient power supplies waste less power as heat than they used to. However, they still require cooling. And of course, the easiest way to achieve that is with a fan. But there are passively-cooled power supplies without fans (and other models specifically equipped with low-noise fans) for applications that demand silence.
We grabbed three PSUs purportedly known for their acoustic qualities, hoping to find at least one worth recommending. Upon hearing our call for submissions, Seasonic and SilverStone each sent in a fanless model to test. The former gave us a look at its X-460, while the latter shipped off its SST-ST50NF. For the purposes of comparison, we grabbed a single fan-cooled unit that's supposed to be ultra quiet: be quiet!'s Straight Power E9 CM 480 W. Unfortunately, you can't get it in the U.S., so it's really serving as a point of reference here today.
It's also notable that none of these are designed to sustain more than 500 W of output. Higher-wattage power supplies generate more heat under load, even if they're very efficient. As a result, passive cooling generally isn't an option once you start looking at more enthusiast-oriented configurations.
- Two Fanless Power Supplies, Compared
- be quiet! Straight Power E9 CM 480 W
- Measurements: be quiet! Straight Power E9 CM 480 W
- Seasonic X-460 460 W
- Measurements: Seasonic X-460
- SilverStone SST-ST50NF
- Measurements: SilverStone SST-ST50NF
- Test Setup, Hold-Up Time, Inrush Current, Peak Load, And Short Circuit Protection Test
- Efficiency According To The 80 PLUS Spec, Temperature, And Standby Power
- Efficiency Across The Power Spectrum
- Which Fanless PSU Is Right For You?

Last time I checked, Americans aren't the only ones who enjoy a silent computing experience...
Many companies that are focused on silence such as Noctua and beQuiet! are not "American."
I think it is quite neat that they have fanless option. I would never take the risk, but if I did I would chose seasonic, my 750W has done me well.
Last time I checked, Americans aren't the only ones who enjoy a silent computing experience...
Many companies that are focused on silence such as Noctua and beQuiet! are not "American."
--> argument over.
For the record I am not an American and I don't live in the US
I've been buying Corsair and even $45 Thermaltake 500... and I cannot hear them... with the cover open. The problems with FANLESS PSUs and GPUs is that they become heat-sinks... sure they are quiet, but everything around them gets warm. You need to blow the hot air out.
Going from a fanless GPU to something with a huge fan (H.I.S. brand) - the fans barely makes noise and use a rear exhaust and I can run the system fans at a lower speed.
Mitko: get soundproofing material, apply to inside of case. Put case on floor.
My case is on the desk, a foot or so away from me... its no louder than the A/C vent blowing air in the room.
1. The heat stress is the factor No. 1 for the lifespan of the capacitors, no matter if they are conductive polymer or very high quality electrolytic brand.
2. The case should use more higher intake flow to make sure that the power supply's heat does not enter the case.
3. A noise level of 10-13 dB can be tolerated for the sake of sustainability and avoiding the risk of heating up your case with the heat from from the PSU.
Personally, in the last 10 years I admire Seasonic for their stile... But I would use a passive solution that is still in the PC case just for a while.
most of the voltage regulators are mostly the same though they may add a larger heatsink on them.
you could pretty much turn a standard PSU into a silent one by swapping the caps and heatsinks. High quality capacitors are about 3-5 times more expensive (may take the cost of a single cap from 5 cents, to around 15-20 cents)
Yeap, and you get a better, more reliable, energy efficient bit of kit too. Bit I don't think I'll be having a go a swapping them
Not an 'American' thing, but a medical one. Noise pollution is becoming more and more of a problem; and affects long term hearing quality.
No wonder people can no longer hear the difference between an MP3 and a CD recording.
Every now and then you can find it on sale for $120. A steal for the best 650W PSU in the world.
it'll be used in an HTPC/home media server. to those that have doubts about the usefulness of such a PSU, I will ask: "what's the point of having that nice audio system in your living room if all you're gonna hear is fan noise in the background?"
Another article is what got me hooked http://www.silentpcreview.com/Seasonic_X-400_Fanless_PSU, they basically had to resort to a hair dryer to make the thermal protection trip. A very good power supply that can put up with alot of heat before having to shut down.
translate please...don't understand...thanks in advance