The BitFenix Whisper M 450W & 850W PSU Review
by E. Fylladitakis on February 15, 2017 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- PSUs
- 80Plus Gold
- bitfenix
- Modular
Cold Test Results (Room Temperature)
For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts. For a thorough explanation of our testing methodology and more details on our equipment, please refer to our How We Test PSUs - 2014 Pipeline post.
Both the 450W and the 850W version of the BitFenix Whisper M PSU honored their 80Plus Gold certification without issues. The 450W version actually fared a little better, with an average nominal load range (20%-100%) efficiency of 91.2%. It is only slightly higher than that of the 850W version (91%), but we can see the 850W version only barely surpassing the 92% mark at 50% load, where the 450W version exceeded it with ease, peaking at 92.5%. We can also notice that the 450W model is substantially more efficient with loads lower than 300 Watts. This is not an issue of any kind; the narrow power range of the 450W model simply allows it to perform much better when lightly loaded. The powerful 850W model technically reaches its nominal load range with a load of 170 Watts and above, in the range where the 450W model is already moving towards peak efficiency.
With loads lower than 300 Watts, the higher efficiency of the 450W model allows it to maintain lower internal operating temperatures, but not lower noise levels. The fans of both units seem to copy each other, with the fan of the 850W model simply speeding up further with loads above 450 Watts. Regardless, the sound pressure level with loads below 300 Watts is below 34 dB(A) with both units, which corresponds to a very soft humming noise if one gets an ear very close to the PSU.
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Chaitanya - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
Those cables certainly look nice, especially the 24pin cable.HomeworldFound - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
The 24pin cable looks pretty good. The 24pin ATX cable has really gotten annoying for me. Is there no way to further innovate in that area?The_Assimilator - Thursday, February 16, 2017 - link
Barring another revision of the ATX spec, the best we can hope for is right-angled 24-pin connectors on motherboards a la EVGA.DanNeely - Thursday, February 16, 2017 - link
As stagnant as the desktop's become about the best we could hope for is to declare about 1/3rd to 1/2 of the pins in the big connector optional (-12v, most of the 3.3/5v, and a few of the corresponding grounds) and have a big sparsely wired connector.I'm not sure a right angle 24pin socket is actually a good idea in general. Cable routing is far worse with it in a compact case without wiring space behind the mobo. Even if you have wiring space behind the mobo, it's still a much more cramped space to be trying to make the tight bend you need to get it into position. It also makes having a cable hole mis-aligned with where the mobo connector is a lot more problematic; with a vertical socket you can just feed an extra few inches up to shift to the side, horizontally not so much. Lastly I'd be a bit leary about it just in terms of general strain relief. The great big fat cable can pull on the socket really hard if it's alignment is off and a tall cable loop coming up gives a lot more potential slack to dissipate the force than a tight 180* turn coming through the cable hole.
BrokenCrayons - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
It's easy to overlook a typo on the box to pick up a very reasonably priced PSU with high efficiency and good test results. The absurdly long warranty is a bonus. I think we've got a winner here.jardows2 - Thursday, February 16, 2017 - link
Maybe it's intentional, and should be read as Perf-Romance - as in you'll fall in love with the "perf" of this product!fire400 - Sunday, February 19, 2017 - link
lol.. great marketing strategyDrumsticks - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
How does this compare to the RM550x, which made it onto your best of list last year?It looks like a pretty good unit, though, and for a little bit less than the 550x. Hopefully we can see more stock like you said. I can't find it in the US at all.
fanofanand - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
These PSU reviews might not gather as many comments or as much appreciation, but the next time someone is putting together a new build they will appreciate the time and effort spent. BitFenix has been doing some really great things lately and it looks like this PSU will continue that trend. Nice job with this review.wolfemane - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
I really wish this review had come out just a few days earlier. Wound up getting a RM550x for a bit more. BUMMER!