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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Samus - Monday, May 21, 2012 - link
I've mailed two of my PCP&C PSU's to Carlsbad, CA for custom recabling (connectors, lengths, sheathing) in the past few years, a service no other manufacture offers. I consider them to be quite alive and well, regardless of their OCZ inheritence.just4U - Friday, May 25, 2012 - link
I found that OCZ bringing PCP&C into their stable helped them a fair amount as they now had that companies expertise for the PSU's. Overall it didn't hurt PCP &C either as their quality didn't really go down..Ofcourse that can be argued here but this is a budget psu. OCZ should make their high end stuff under this brand. That's what we've come to expect from PCP&C
ImSpartacus - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
"The Silener Mk III provides one"http://www.anandtech.com/show/5844/pc-power-coolin...
Zaathras - Saturday, May 19, 2012 - link
Bought the Antec HCG-440M referenced in the article (as "same design") at Fry's, yesterday.$20.00 ($45 - $25 MIR).
Advert says the sale price is good through 5/24; but I don't know if they still have any left.
MrMilli - Sunday, May 20, 2012 - link
An excellent (not Seasonic based) PSU that I use a lot is the Chieftec A-80 & A-85 serie. Great power distribution, high efficiency, very silent and most of all, pretty cheap. If you live in Europe, I can highly recommend these PSU's.Pappnaas - Sunday, May 20, 2012 - link
I feel that a "seriuos" review cannot afford to omit physical dimensions of the tested psu.Because in that wattage size does matter, pointing at various itx and htpc cases.
buzznut - Monday, May 21, 2012 - link
But how many PSU's in this range offer a 5 year warranty? Actually, hardly anyone offers 5 years anymore. Not Corsair, not Antec. This company does, and it was mentioned briefly at the end of the article. But I would be willing to pay a bit more for another two years over what most power supplies offer. Believe me, I've had enough fail just after the 3 year mark to really pay attention to this.