A Closer Look
The Silencer 750W Quad CrossFire edition power supply we received for review features a bright red paint job. I get the impression the red paint was applied over a standard black enclosure as it appears to flake off rather easily and is not as durable as a good powder-coat finish. (The Silencer 750W is also available with a matte black or bright copper finish.) The Ferrari-red paint is striking and goes nicely with the black sleeved cables and trim.
Editors note 7-30-07: I found out from PC Power & Cooling today that the unit they sent me for review has a pre-production paint job – yes, the bright red paint was sprayed on over a chassis that had already been painted black. I was told that all retail units are shipping with a high-quality paint job, just like you would expect.
The back panel contains an 80mm cooling fan, power receptacle, and On-Off switch. All the Silencer 750W power supplies incorporates universal AC input (automatically adjusts to the AC line voltage) so there is no little red voltage selector switch.
The single 80mm cooling fan is made by Adda (AD0812UB-A71GL). This is a popular high-speed fan that features dual ball bearings and is rated for up to 3,900 rpm, 50.0 CFM, and 41.0 dBA at 12V. To help minimize noise, the fan speed is automatically controlled by the internal component temperature (speeds up as the combined load and temperature increases). As we will see in the next section, PC Power & Cooling also leaves plenty of clearance around the intake area of the fan to minimize turbulent airflow created by nearby components. This was done to help reduce noise.
The slotted grill on the front and side allows air to flow into the power supply for cooling the internal components.
The Silencer 750 Quad CF power supply is rated for a combined, maximum output power of 750 watts (825W peak) at up to 40°C ambient air temperature (internal case air temperature). It is interesting to note that all of the PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool series power supplies are rated for up to 50°C. This is one of the key differences between a Silencer and Turbo-Cool unit. Reducing the airflow to make the PSU quieter also limits the maximum safe operating temperature.
Specifications for the Silencer 750W Quad CrossFire Edition (courtesy PC Power & Cooling)
Single +12V output
The PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W CF PSU incorporates a single, powerful +12V output. This is a trend we are seeing in newer power supplies. Some manufacturers are no longer creating multiple +12V outputs by implementing current limiting circuits into their design to conform to the 240 VA maximum guidelines – no single output should exceed 240 VA (12V x 20A = 240 VA). Having multiple current limited +12V outputs can lead to power distribution problems, particularly with some power-hungry video cards. Delivering a single, powerful +12V output is a much better approach IMHO.
