PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 400W
by Martin Kaffei on May 19, 2012 2:05 PM ESTVoltage Regulation
| +3.3V Regulation/Ripple and Noise | |
| Load | Voltage |
| 5% | +2.06% (3mV) |
| 10% | +1..94% (5mV) |
| 20% | +1.79% (5mV) |
| 50% | +0.39% (6mV) |
| 80% | -0.91% (10mV) |
| 100% | -1.67% (15mV) |
| 110% | -1.85% (17mV) |
| Crossload +12V max. | +1.15% |
| Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | +0.60% |
| +5V Regulation/Ripple and Noise | |
| Load | Voltage |
| 5% | +1.56% (4mV) |
| 10% | +1.44% (5mV) |
| 20% | +1.12% (5mV) |
| 50% | -0.32% (8mV) |
| 80% | -1.74% (12mV) |
| 100% | -1.92% (15mV) |
| 110% | -2.02% (16mV) |
| Crossload +12V max. | +2.36% |
| Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | -5.25% |
| +12V Regulation (Worst Ouput)/Ripple and Noise (Worst Output) | |
| Load | Voltage |
| 5% | +1.58% (4mV) |
| 10% | +1.54% (4mV) |
| 20% | +2.06% (4mV) |
| 50% | +1.88% (7mV) |
| 80% | +1.73% (9mV) |
| 100% | +1.31% (10mV) |
| 110% | +1.18% (11mV) |
| Crossload +12V max. | -0.90% |
| Crossload +3.3V/+5V max. | +4.92% |
Noise Levels
| Loudness and Temperatures (Δϑ to 22.5 °C ambient temperature) | |
| Load | Opinion |
| 5% | small fan noise (1.1 °C) |
| 10% | small fan noise (1.9 °C) |
| 20% | small fan noise (3.7 °C) |
| 50% | small fan noise and choke chirping (5.8 °C) |
| 80% | fan noise and choke chirping (9.9 °C) |
| 100% | strong fan noise and choke chirping (12.3 °C) |
| 110% | strong fan noise and choke chirping (13.4 °C) |
Efficiency and PFC
| Efficiency and Power Factor 115 VAC | ||
| Load | Efficiency | PFC |
| 5% | 70.69% | 0.843 |
| 10% | 75.80% | 0.945 |
| 20% | 82.24% | 0.957 |
| 50% | 86.20% | 0.989 |
| 80% | 84.08% | 0.991 |
| 100% | 83.76% | 0.993 |
| 110% | 83.39% | 0.993 |
| Efficiency and Power Factor 230 VAC | ||
| Load | Efficiency | PFC |
| 5% | 71.47% | 0.724 |
| 10% | 79.22% | 0.877 |
| 20% | 82.70% | 0.952 |
| 50% | 86.71% | 0.988 |
| 80% | 85.59% | 0.992 |
| 100% | 84.80% | 0.993 |
| 110% | 84.16% | 0.992 |
The lower voltage rails drop slightly more than 1.80% below the ideal value, while the 12V rail stays very close to what ATX specification requires. These voltage drops will not cause any problem at all when this PSU is in use in a system. The same is true for the ripple & noise results as this PSU has less than20mV on all outputs. One problem is the poor crossload performance since +5V and +12V are connected to the same feedback. With 230VAC input, the Silencer Mk III 400W starts at 70% efficiency loaded with 20W. It reached a maximum efficiency of 87% at medium load. Efficiency is somewhat lower with 115VAC, reaching up to 86% during 50% load. However, PC Power & Cooling is able to stay above the values they need for 80Plus Bronze. As hoped for the fan is quiet under low load. The choke chirping and fan noise at higher loads make the product a bit of unattractive.
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17 Comments
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iamkyle - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
How about the ability to compare this unit with the other ones that Anandtech has tested.So we can see the differences among units, no?
piroroadkill - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
If you want more indepth reviews of PSUs, you should head to http://www.jonnyguru.com/ first.iamkyle - Sunday, May 20, 2012 - link
But that's my point...every other review on Anandtech is very in-depth...except PSU reviews. It's the weakest link in the Anandtech review chain.I just want things to be on par.
ectoplasmosis - Monday, May 21, 2012 - link
Agreed.This review is particularly bad... in scope as well as being very poorly written, with many superfluous and awkwardly-worded sentences.
"A small sticker is within the scope of delivery as well"; what is that supposed to mean? Reads like something an immature student attempting to feign verbosity would write.
This sentence simply doesn't make any sense whatsoever: "The build quality is very good as always, though it seems the converter type is a very common choice these days, especially since the crossload performance is mediocre". Bizarre use of the language.
And describing sound levels as "small fan noise" and "strong fan noise" with no quantitative measurements? Ridiculous, especially for an Anandtech review.
Ditch the reviewer and get someone in that knows what they're doing when it comes to testing and writing about PSUs.
ETPrice - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - link
This whacky language is the kind of nonsense you can get from some machine translations from a foreign language. Someone may have taken foreign text and run it through a machine that is not up to speed with the complexities of the English language. You also get this kind of nonsense when a non-speaking-English author does a literal word-for-word translation from his or her own language. " It don't work!"The review should have been sent back to the author;i.e., rejected. That's what editors are for.
average_joe - Thursday, May 24, 2012 - link
Or http://www.hardocp.com/reviews/psu_power_supplies/jabber - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
Are baffling. I removed the huge one in my Corsair 750W. I also replaced the leaf blower fan for a low start power 1700rpm one. Works a treat now.plonk420 - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
and this company once said that modular was baaaaad. still, i have 4 PCP&C here... :DHomeles - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
PCP&C doesn't even exist anymore... they've been bought by OCZ, so this is essentially an OCZ power supply with some PCP&C stickers on it. This particular unit was built by Seasonic though, which was PCP&C's original OEM.Operandi - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
OCZ owns them but they still exist, a buudy of mine had to get a RMA for a refurbished Silencer that turned out to be DOA. PCP&C support is the same as it allwyays was, no holding on line and a real American on the other end as sell as a RMA number with minimal hassel.Product lines remain the same, this is just the continuation of the Silener line which was always OEMd by Seasonic.