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Pros, Cons And Final Verdict
There currently aren't many options if you need a compact 750W power supply with modular cabling. As far as we know, you're picking between SilverStone's ST75F-GS V2 and this new V750. In PSUs with such high power density, issues tend to crop up when the operating conditions get tough and the ambient temperatures exceed 40 °C. However, in this case, the V750 easily handled our hot-box tests, although it did so with its small fan screaming along. The crowded components on its small PCB don't allow for optimal airflow, and on top of that, it's not possible to use a larger fan due to the enclosure's dimensions. Cooler Master tried to skirt these limitations with a high-quality LDB fan that operates quietly and offers up to 160,000 hours of effective use. Indeed, under normal operating temperatures, the V750 does run quietly. Even after prolonged operation at full load it barely goes above 40 dB(A). Its high efficiency reduces thermal output, allowing the fan to do its job effectively.
Cooler Master implemented a significant upgrade to its VSM models, bringing them up to the level of the higher-capacity V series with fully modular cabling and a Silencio fan. Given such compact dimensions, the V750 (along with its smaller siblings, the V650 and V550) will be an ideal choices for small form factor PCs requiring a strong and reliable PSU. This platform delivers good overall performance and is quiet enough under normal conditions. It'll satisfy enthusiasts sensitive to noise, who want the performance of two graphics cards in CrossFire or SLI.
The biggest downside we identified, aside from a high price, is the performance of its 3.3V rail during our Advanced Transient Response tests, though that won't affect most of you in real-world conditions where 3.3V is only used lightly. A second con is the quality of the bundled modular cables, especially the main ATX cable, which we had a really hard time connecting and disconnecting. With the PSU inside inside of a chassis, you should be able to detach its modular cables easily and without using extra tools like we had to, so Cooler Master should immediately check on the quality of its cables. Maybe the sample we received simply came from a bad batch. Still, we can only judge based on what's in the lab. Finally, the price difference between the older VSM750 and Cooler Master's V750 is large. With the same amount of money, you could find a lot of good alternatives. None of them are going to be as small, but if compact dimensions aren't an issue, then there's no reason to pay a premium to get the V750 while there are options like Corsair's RM750x and EVGA's SuperNova 750 G2 for less money. But if you need a fully modular compact PSU with 750W capacity, then the new V750 is a winner since it outperforms its main competition, the SilverStone ST75F-GS V2.
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Aris Mpitziopoulos is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware, covering Power Supplies.
