I purchased this power supply in an attempt to reduce the jet-engine noise level on my system.
A bit of back story: My previous 550 Watt power supply, manufactured by Ultra, was a nightmare. The first one had an unacceptable/poorly manufactured fan inside of it. I argued with Ultra for days about a replacement. The whole process was a nightmare. I finally received a replacement. And though it was functioning normally, it was VERY loud. The fan would operate at full speed. The only thing my computer needed was a pair of wings, and it might have passed for a jet. It also generated an incredible amount of heat. Enough was enough...
I searched for some reviews on silent power supplies, and SeaSonic appeared on every search. Upon further searching, I found that there are some power supplies with "80 Plus" certification. Meaning that you'll get more efficiency out of your power supply. More efficiency = Less heat = Less fan noise. There are several levels of 80 Plus certification, each with increasing levels of efficiency: 80 Plus, 80 Plus Bronze, 80 Plus Silver, 80 Plus Gold, and 80 Plus Platinum.
I ultimately decided to purchase this SeaSonic 750W X750 Gold Power Supply. Excellent decision.
The packaging alone made me feel like I was going to be impressed. The embossed black and gold box made it appear sleek and elite. Upon opening, I found the power supply inside of a black velvet-like bag with gold writing on it. Cooool.
Aside from the packaging, the product itself was very easy to install in my extremely quiet
Cooler Master HAF X
case. This particular case positions the power supply on the bottom, rather than the top. Didn't have any problems with positioning on the bottom. There is a vent on the bottom of the slightly raised case, allowing for the SeaSonic fan to pull outside air from it's own source.
The power supply is modular, meaning that you can plug individual cables into it, based on your needs. The cables are covered in a black mesh/net material, which appears to be standard among today's power supplies, blends in nicely with the black case.
And finally, the most important factor, the noise level. Virtually non-existent. This thing is completely silent, all you hear is a click when you turn on the system. The fan only turns on when power consumption is high and more heat is generated (which is minimal due to it's 80 Plus Gold certification). Even at full load, you can't tell that the fan is on. VERY impressive, a HUGE change from the Ultra power supply I had been using prior.
If you want silence and performance. Don't even think about anything else, just buy this. Sure it's on the slightly pricey side, but you'll keep it forever.
For complete silence, I opted for some other performance components: The
OCZ 60 GB Agility 2 Solid State Drive (SSD)
, and the
Corsair H50 CPU Cooler
(no headache water cooling).
Now when I walk in the room, I can't even tell that my computer is on. Perfect.
| Brand | Seasonic |
|---|---|
| Item model number | SS-650KM3 |
| Item Weight | 6.6 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 6.3 x 5.9 x 3.4 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6.3 x 5.9 x 3.4 inches |
| Color | gold |
| Manufacturer | SeaSonic |
| ASIN | B002VA7RPS |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | May 19, 2010 |
