Cooler Master Silent Pro 700w Modular PSU

Test Results

Published: 13th June 2008 | Source: CoolerMaster | Price: £94 approx. | Author: James Napier

Load Testing

To provide our readers with the most accurate results, Overclock3D uses a custom-built PSU load tester on all reviews. This not only gives much more reliable results than the testing methods employed by other sites, but also allows for all current and future review results to be compared side-by-side. The following table shows the load (in watts) that was applied to the Silent Pro 700w during testing.

Compared to the results from the other rails seen below, the +3.3v rail seemed extremely solid and quite isolated from any load exerted on the +5v and +12v rails. This could possibly indicate that the smaller transformer pictured on the previous page is actually dedicated to the +3.3v rail, with the +12v and +5v rails sharing the larger transformer.

Under normal circumstances, we'd discuss the performance of the +5v and +12v separately, but as we can see from the graphs above, the results from the two rails are in some way directly related to each other...

With 0w load applied, the +12v rail is at a rather dangerous 12.95v, whereas the +5v rail is at the opposite end of the scale producing just 4.76v. Obviously no system is ever going to use 0w, so these results should not be taken into account when assessing the performance of the unit - but they are interesting never less.

Placing a 10 amp load across all three rails to produce a total load of 203w, the +12v rail comes down to a much more reasonable (but still slightly high) 12.48v. This seemed to have a see-saw effect on the +5v rail, with the voltage actually increasing to 4.90v. The same was also exhibited when placing a further 10a load on the +12v rail (Total load: 323w), with the +5v rail rising to 5.00v and the +12v rail falling to 12.35v.

Increasing the load to 20a on the +3.3v and +5v rails and 30a on the +12v rail saw the results swing back in the other direction. This time the voltage on the +12v rail increased to 12.39v while the +5v dropped sligtly to 4.97v.

Applying additional load to the +12v rail in 10a increments up to a total of 50a (Total load: 766w) saw an expectable result of the +12v rail voltage dropping down to a minimum of 12.01v, but strangely, yet again the +5v rail increased up to 5.13v.

Efficiency Results

Efficiency tests are performed by measuring the wattage consumed by the power supply at the mains (Mains Draw) against the power consumed by the OC3D power supply stress tester (PSU Load). These results may not be 100% accurate, but have proven to be extremely close to results obtained from professional equipment.

Throughout the testing, the Silent Pro managed an efficiency level of at least 81.9%. Depending on the load applied to each of the PSU rails, this efficiency level went as high as 85.7% at times, reinforcing Cooler Master's claims that the unit is able to achieve >85% efficiency.

Temperature, Fan Speed & Noise

As with all components in the modern computer system, the performance of a PSU can be directly affected by heat. Excess heat inside the PSU can easily have a negative effect of the maximum power output of the unit and lead to voltage instability. For this reason, Overclock3D includes temperature recordings taken from the PSU's exhaust using a thermal probe to highlight any potential issues that the PSU might have obtaining its rated output.

Under normal circumstances, we'd also use a sound meter to record the dBA noise level output by the fan. However, the Silent Pro certainly lives up to its name and was so quiet that it was almost impossible to take an accurate dB(A) reading from the PSU without ambient noise affecting the results. Even with the fan voltage hitting 7.02v when at 766w load, the noise emitted by the fan was too low to measure and could only be distinguished from the din of a nearby motorway by placing my ear within 30cm of the cooling fan.

Most Recent Comments

13-06-2008, 15:20:53

Jim

"With a powerful single +12v rail and Silicone vibration dampening, can the Silent Pro be the best of both worlds?"

http://www.overclock3d.net/gfx/artic...214535437s.jpg

Cooler Master Silent Pro 700w Review

13-06-2008, 15:43:30

Kerotan

Nice review mate- interesting idea with the gaskets- sure should reduce some noise, but if you're mounting a normal PSU in cases where it's at the bottom like a 900 there are rubber pads which do a pretty good job of dissipating excess vibration. I'm just hoping PSU requirements for the 4870 won't be over 520W tbh, don't fancy replacing my HX520 just yet.

13-06-2008, 17:16:27

MikeEnIke

Nice write-up and not a bad PSU especially like the silent aspect. Good work Jimbo

14-06-2008, 03:01:24

Rastalovich

Decent, modular and silent. Some excellent attributes.

(U know I`d love to be able to do a search of OC3D reviews, with the options of the awards given to each review. e.g. Silence award.. and all the silent awarded stuff comes up, likewize performance, value.. etc)

14-06-2008, 13:56:23

MikeEnIke

Quote:

Originally Posted by name='Rastalovich'

That's an awesome idea, we'll have to pass that around to Jim see if he feels like working

15-06-2008, 06:28:31

mrapoc

Like my suggestion here? lol

23-06-2008, 14:31:57

Nick R

And mine, albeit posted after this was posted, here: http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=23280.

Looks like a pretty solid PSU.

25-02-2009, 10:55:49

yonef

Hello,

I've just considering to buy Cooler Master Silent Pro 700w Modular PSU, I've read the review and noticed that the +12V Rail is running at almost 13V And droping to 12.3V. It wasn't mentionned in the review, but isn't it too HIGH!? I have a cheap psu wich doing 12.3V to 11.6V and I have s stability isues while gaming.

Can anyone confirm that this is HARMLESS to the hardware?

25-02-2009, 11:19:40

Jim

Hi Yonef,

13v could indeed damage some fragile components that don't have their own power filterin. However something I probably should have mentioned in the review is that the 12.95v output was only seen at zero load - obviously something no PC will ever run at.

After completing the review Cooler Master did also inform me that they was making changes to the unit based on my findings and that retail models would not only have better voltage stability, but also a more firmly secured rubber gasket.

Hope that helps.

25-02-2009, 12:52:42

yonef

Thanks for the realy fast response, Jim.

So, when idleing my pc will cosume about 120W wich means that 12V rail will run at 12.7V, and on load should go to 12.3V wich is not so bad.

But you mean that the retailed units that are now in stores shoud differ from the one you tested? If so, how can I determine wich revision they gonna sell me?

I'm considering this one because I need realy quite PSU, and can't find anything else 650-700W range that quite.

25-02-2009, 16:38:47

Jim

Quote:

Originally Posted by name='yonef'

As far as I know, the version I tested never made it on to the shelves. All the issues were fixed before they went to retail.

I have seen reviews of the retail version from other respectable PSU testing websites and their results look much better than the ones I got.

I think the easiest way to tell between the version I received and the retail version is the use of glue in between the PSU and the vibration dampening gasket.

25-02-2009, 18:18:04

yonef

Yeah, I have found couple of other reviews wich they tested the retail version(the one with new gaskets) and the 12V rail seems OK, it did 12.1V to 12.4V across the full range of power output. Is this OK ?

So what is your opinion? should I go for this Cooler Master Silent Pro 700w?

I've found it for £82 wich is not so bad.

P.S. I'm just RMA-ing OCZ Stealth XStream 700W because it is hell noisy, I thing the fan spins on max rpm (I can hear it from outside the room

) And a low whistleing sound coming out when the PC is off.

26-02-2009, 05:15:17

Jim

Quote:

Originally Posted by name='yonef'

) And a low whistleing sound coming out when the PC is off.

Are you looking specifically for modular/silent mate? Also what is your max budget? I think there are probably better PSU's out there for the price you are looking at.

26-02-2009, 05:45:25

yonef

I do not need to be modular, can go for non modular as well.

My budget is around £70-£80, 600-700W range, and most important for me is to be quite. If it is possible to provide ~550W continiously, I'm not using that much right now but I want it to be future-proof.

If it helps, my specs:

AMD Phenom II 940 OC @ 3.6Ghz 1.45V

cooler: Zalman CNPS9700-NT

ATI Radeon 4870 OC @ 850/1100

2x HDD Samsung SpinPoint F1 1TB

DVD-RW

2x LAN cards

27-02-2009, 09:32:16

yonef

any suggestions ?

27-02-2009, 10:14:38

Rastalovich

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Compo...roductId=27381

(with no 8pin pcie)

03-03-2009, 12:13:14

Ducky Spud

Good review

Im after a modular PSU thats pretty quiet and that seems to look alright according to your review. Just need to save up a bit, dont really have a spare £90+ at the moment

10-03-2009, 17:04:41

Gerisz

Is it quieter than the Corsair HX620?

I would like to buy one of this, what are your opinions?

Have it's fan the clicking sound like in the youtube review?

I'm afraid of it!

Thanks!

10-03-2009, 17:21:00

Hatman

I have the 600watt modal and I can quite happily say that I cannot hear a thing from it : )

And thats running 4830xfire and 3.4quad.

11-03-2009, 07:14:12

Gerisz

Quote:

Originally Posted by name='Hatman'

I have the 600watt modal and I can quite happily say that I cannot hear a thing from it : )

And thats running 4830xfire and 3.4quad.

I could buy the 700W in the same price like the 600W now. That's why I will chouse the bigger one!

Thanks for your answer!

I would like a 4830CF too, but with a Phenom II 940

11-03-2009, 08:02:18

HypoglossalXII

Quote:

Originally Posted by name='yonef'

any suggestions ?

yonef, if you cannot wait for the revision of this PSU may I suggest the PC Power and Cooling SILENCER 700W PSU?

-HypoG

11-03-2009, 14:34:30

Gerisz

What kind of PSU would you buy in this price category?

Why get it 7.5point for performance?

Why get 9 point the 620HX? Why is it better?

Cooler Master Silent Pro 700w Modular PSU

Test Results

Published: 13th June 2008 | Source: CoolerMaster | Price: £94 approx. | Author: James Napier

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