The (new) Official PC building thread!

Its Not Silent...but it is Quiet...and produces a Lot more Power...and makes his system future proof as far as power needs...and it is comparable to the Corsair in the Noise Department...both are probably more quiet then the Cooler Master...though...

I have not used that particular P/S...I have used the 550 version in a HTCP...and it was replaced with a seasonic because of noise...

Frankly the P/S is hardly ever the culprit in a noisy system...

 

The Corsair VX is vulnerable to heat far more than the higher end Corsair series, but at a low wattage it is still far quieter than the PC P&C (which is as you say probably far quieter still than the Coolermaster).
The HX series from Corsair is better at keeping noise minimal during high load. Don't know what the TX series is like.

 

As I see it...
TX is there top of the line "Performance" series
HX is there medium line "Modder" series
VX is there "Budget" series

At full load No P/S is quiet...the only time you usually reach full load is in...tests...folding...or games...when sound does not matter...

Folding would be the only situation were noise could matter...

 

That all depends on how you configure your system. With my old config (Heatsink blowing into the power supply), just watching an HD film would put my PSU's fan to full speed (a noisy 42dB @ 1900rpm). However, getting a better heatsink that fits the right way round and getting a better motherboard with a lower voltage required to overclock my CPU resulted in me being able to play games for several hours with my PSU's fan at minimum speed (a still somewhat unsatisfactory c. 26dB @ 1050rpm)

 

"Configuration" you hit the nail on the head...
I prefer the PCP&C configuration better...No fan on bottom to interfere with CPU Cooler air flow...fan at back of P/S pulling air from front of P/S...from the drive bay area...not from CPU area...
There are configurations were the bottom mounted fan is preferable...but in most case configurations the back mount fan is preferable to overall case flow...

 

While that's technically a better system, the unfortunate downside is that you have to use an 80mm fan, so in order to pull sufficient airflow the fan has to spin fast, and generate a lot of noise, hence why none of the PC P&C units are that quiet.

 

@Sam

Your right...for me...I will sacrifice a little noise for cooling every time...Cooling is always my top priority...Heat is the #1 enemy of most electronic components...It is what limits computer performance...I solve the noise problem by installing a fan controller in every case that I spec and build...
However...I totally disagree with this statement...

The PCP&C P/S are not noisy by any means...they are one of the most Quiet P/S out there...It is misleading to classify them as a noisy P/S's...I am surprised that you do not use a Fanless...P/S...CPU Cooler...& Case...and go truly silent...

 

Rob, That's a hellava good deal on the Corsair 6400C4 memory... $87.00 - $40.00 rebate + free shipping... $47.00.
I always add an Audigy sound card but it's not necessary, you have the onboard sound.
Maybe add a floppy if you use them. Are the optical drives you have now SATA?

 

Lp, while I stick to my guns on the fact that PC P&C units are not as quiet as many (note, I did not explicitly say they were loud, althougn they certainly are if you draw a lot through them), I agree with your statement about cooling performance. I run my graphics card fanless, which considering my GPU uses 130W is quite something. However, I don't run my CPU fanless, simply because when overclocked, CPUs can't get that hot before you start encountering problems. I'm happy to let my GPU get to 75C under load because with the stock cooler it got to 90. However, I like my CPU running at 42C load, and seeing as the fan I use is a mere 18dB, it's silent anyway unless you put your ear in the blades!
At present, the only audible sources of noise in my PC are the hard drives (which are by no means noisy) and the PSU fan.
Consider that there are 4 case fans alone running in my PC (normally 5) and the PC is near silent even when playing games.


Edit: here's an interesting find. Turns out the PCP&C Silencer is a Seasonic! Note that Corsair PSUs are also made by Seasonic. It therefore stands to reason that they should both be considered to be similar build quality.

 

@Sam
I can agree with that...though I think "not as quiet as some" would be more accurate

My goal is 100 degrees Fahrenheit...on my CPU...
For the GPU that is unrealistic...so I shot for 140...that is were I have my controller Alarms set to go off...I hardwire probes from the controller into all my major components...
I wish that manufacturers would give an option for temps in Fahrenheit in the M/B bios...I do not relate to Celsius at all...

PC Power & Cooling manufacture there own P/S...Not Seasonic (Unlees something recently changed)...however you are correct Seasonic manufactures Corsair...

 

At full load, my CPU makes around 42C (108F), which I think is more than acceptable given the noise level. At full load, my GPU runs between 72 and 80C (although usually only reaches this temperature after several hours with my case fans at absolute minimum fan speed) (thats between 162 and 176F)

As for the manufacturers, PC P&C design their PSUs, but the manufacturing is sent to Seasonic. This is true of at least the Silencer models.

 

If that is true...it is something new...They all use to be made in Carlsbad CA...They took pride that they manufactured there own P/S...I was afraid OCZ would screw up...and...out-source to make more money...
Were did you hear that?..

 

It was mentioned on the SPCR forums, and on a review site I found.
I'll grab some links, just a minute.
Update:
Here we go

http://www.pcpower.com/products/reviews/PCP/index.html
Also see this list
http://www.10stripe.com/featured/psu/brand.php

 

And why I'm considering the 2 different companies for my next build. I thought you already knew that sam. You're one of the best researchers that I know.

....gm

Lp you should know by now that sam is completely consumed with NOISE or lack there of really. You'll never win a "what makes less noise debate" with sam. lol. BUT I agree with you, COOL is the name of the game NOT NO Noise....

 

Hehe no, I was under the same impression as Lp in that the PC P&C units were built in house. It's interesting that PC P&C units are built by Seasonic considering that OCZ units are still being built by Fortron. (I'm not as fond of Forton units as many given some of the reviews I've seen, hence my less than enthusiastic support of the GameXstream). OCZ seem to me to be like Tagan in their approach, trying to find PSUs that put out as many watts as possible, and in doing so cutting short their ability to design top notch units. Granted, the build quality of either is well above average, but I sometimes feel the whole "we didn't have room to put a switch at the back, there's so much in there" argument flies in the face of sensible design.
As for keeping stuff cool, despite my 500rpm case fans, the air that comes out of them is no hotter than most PCs, so hey, I'm not concerned. The temperatures of pretty much all my components are lower than normal yet they make less noise, so how am I losing out?

 

I agree with that...LOL..

At least they are still doing there own designing...they should have continued making there own P/S...I am not a fan of out sourcing...You lose True Quality Control...

Your not...

Looks like I can't blame OCZ if they moved to outsourcing for manufacturing...5 years ago...

 

Out of interest With an ambient noise level of 27dB, PCPer.com recorded the following figures:

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750
75W Output: 29dB
150W Output: 31dB
300W Output: 36dB
450W Output: 39dB

Corsair VX 450W
75W Output: 28dB
150W Output: 28dB
250W Output: 28dB
350W Output: 32dB
450W Output: 38dB

It's worth noting, however, that the VX has as much steeper noise increase curve than the HX series, which will maintain 28dB up until 400W where the noise output is around the 34dB mark.
What's also worth noting is that the Corsair PSU will achieve a level of only 22dB in a 21dB noise level environment all the way up to the 300W level. From the readings given it doesn't look like the PC P&C will achieve the same.

 

sam that test seems a little unfair since you're comparing a 450W p/s to a 750W p/s. I'm not sure that the "upper" end p/s from Corsair could be quieter.

link to 650tx sound chart

just a thought.....yep i can do that....but not very often tho...

...gm

 

Actually it is. Silentpcreview have reviewed both units if you don't believe me. The reason seems partly due to the fact that there's a plastic baffle inside the VX unit, which while cooling more of the PSU, reduces the effect of the fan, so it has to spin faster to achieve the same airflow and same cooling performance. As such, the PSU will be noisier.

Unfortunately things like that are the traps that most people fall into regarding quieter PC components, that and buying anything with the 'silent' branding on the packaging. I've seen some 'silent' products that make a horrific amount of noise.
Even Antec call the 900 case quiet. I'll be honest with you, on high settings I don't know of any case that comes with louder stock cooling. Only if Vantec made a case that came with Tornado fans... lol

 

More important...what are the temps of the P/S internal component...in one of the reviews in Loco's build page...They stated the temps...and the PCP&C units internal components ran cooler at each stage...PCP&C has a quicker curve that delivered lower component temps...which is what I care about...I want my components to last...which is what low temps do...