Most silent PSU for SLI/CF setup, 700-800W load

[boxleitnerb]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for the most silent PSU for a system that draws about 700-800W from the wall. I've been using a Corsair AX850 and at about 600-650W it becomes clearly audible - too "loud" for my personal taste. Then I've been browsing reviews on kitguru, since they have excellent noise testing capability along with noise values for different wattages. Yet I'm still undecided. I favor the Corsair AX1200i, but kitguru has only 4 data points in the range I'm interested in and a friend of mine who has this particular unit says it is not silent when powering a similar system as the one I'm planning.

He then mentioned modding the unit, replacing the fan with another one. What would you guys recommend? I only want the best from the best and if need be, I will also open the unit, voiding the warranty and replace the fan. I'd much rather have that than trying 5+ PSUs, sending them back...too much hassle.

Thanks!

[quest_for_silence]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for the most silent PSU for a system that draws about 700-800W from the wall.

May you post your specs, btw?

[boxleitnerb]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for the most silent PSU for a system that draws about 700-800W from the wall.

May you post your specs, btw?

Why is that relevant? 50-100W more or less is not important and I cannot know what my components will draw anyway (depends on OC, voltage I have to raise, future cards drawing +/- 50W compared to current tech etc.).

Anyway, my system will be:
[email protected] GHz -> will be upgraded to a hexacore in the next 1-2 years
2x GM200/Fiji 250-300W GPU in 1-2 months or so.
External water cooling, pump, sound etc.

[CA_Steve]

I'm looking for the most silent PSU for a system that draws about 700-800W from the wall.

Just to clarify, did you mean this or that it will draw 700-800W from the PSU?

[quest_for_silence]

Why is that relevant?

Ok, you don't need my posts (not that it is important).

[email protected] GHz -> will be upgraded to a hexacore in the next 1-2 years
2x GM200/Fiji 250-300W GPU in 1-2 months or so.

JFYI: 4790K @ 4.5 + 2 x GM200 is no more than about 500W DC.

[boxleitnerb]

I'm looking for the most silent PSU for a system that draws about 700-800W from the wall.

Just to clarify, did you mean this or that it will draw 700-800W from the PSU?

At the wall. But that is only an estimate. Here a 290X CF setup draws 688W at the wall:
http://www.computerbase.de/2013-12/gefo ... 90-x-cf/4/
Another reviews sees power draw at 746W under full load:
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2014/10/ ... QcOzuEa6Uk

Both results were without manual overclocking on the GPUs and measured at the wall. Add at least another 50-100W per GPU and you could reach 800-900W at the wall under full sustained gaming load.

JFYI: 4790K @ 4.5 + 2 x GM200 is no more than about 500W DC.

Nope, see results above. With OC even more. Since I will use a mod bios for GM200 (if I chose Nvidia this round) to raise the allowed power target, the stock values are clearly conservative for my setup.

Please let's not make this about "do I need x watts". I know what I need, I just don't know how to get there silently

[quest_for_silence]

At the wall.

You can't size a PSU "at the wall" (i.e. conversion losses included).

JFYI: 4790K @ 4.5 + 2 x GM200 is no more than about 500W DC.

Nope, see results above.

Which term of the expression "4790K @ 4.5 + 2 x GM200 is no more than about 500W DC" is not enough clear?

[boxleitnerb]

At the wall.

You can't size a PSU "at the wall" (i.e. conversion losses included).

JFYI: 4790K @ 4.5 + 2 x GM200 is no more than about 500W DC.

Nope, see results above.

Which term of the expression "4790K @ 4.5 + 2 x GM200 is no more than about 500W DC" is not enough clear?

I can only use the values I have as reference. I know that there are conversion losses.

If one highend modern graphics card (without OC!) draws up to 300W from the PSU, how on earth do you arrive at 500W for two + OC + CPU + motherboard + RAM + pump + 9 silent fans (external) + sound card?
http://ht4u.net/reviews/2013/nvidia_gef ... ndex17.php
HT4U measures the power consumption of the graphics card with a dedicated setup, not at the wall.

Please can we put this discussion to rest? I already regret asking here because people while clearly trying to be helpful always think they know better than the OP. I have a specific problem/question, let's focus on that.

[CA_Steve]

Ok, the reason I asked my q was to clarify the DC power used. Drilling into the two reviews listed, you can find that they both used Enermax MaxRevo supplies. One was a 1350W, the other was a 1500W. Looking at Jonnyguru's reviews of both power supplies and their efficiencies at the given "at the wall" loads, leads to 91% for the computerbase review and 90.5% for the [H] review. So, the DC load for what you want is 626 - 675W plus whatever you want to add for the overclocking factor. If, 50W per, it's 800W-ish, if 100W per it's 900W-ish.

I'm suprised your friend can hear the Corsair 1200i at these loads. Both Kitguru and Guru3D show results that would be completely eclipsed by the noise generated by SLI 300W gfx cards. I'd keep this PSU as a contender.

Another possibility is the Rosewill Tachyon 1000W. It's the same platform as the Kingwin LZP-1000 reviewed here.

The Enermax Platimax 1200/1350W is another possibility.

If you aren't pressed for time, you might wait for AMD's intro of the R9 3xx cards this spring (should be between now and Computex - June) to see what they did for TDP. I'd hope they'd follow Maxwell's lead and we'd see top end TDPs in the 200W range rather than 300W. That would greatly expand your silent PSU options.

[Abula]

If you want the best of the best, look into Superflower Leadex, JonnyGuru reviewed the 1000W some time ago, and was one of the best, i no longer see the 1000W available, used to sell for $480 or around, but there is a lower wattage version and cheaper, SuperFlower SF-850F14MP LEADEX PLATINUM 850W 80 Plus ATX Power Supply

Now if you are on a budget, check EVGA G2 PSU pretty decent for the money, similar to the Superflower leadex with worst components, you can find them ranging from 750W to 1600W
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000G2 1000W ATX12V/EPS12V 80Plus Gold Power Supply 120-G2-1000-XR

Now PSU reviewed by SPCR that furfill what you think you will draw, look into
Kingwin LZP-1000: Platinum Efficiency at a KiloWatt (there are also 650/750/850 versions)
Seasonic X-1050 PSU: Gold at Kilowatt+

Personally i like Seasonic, their platinum line is one of the best imo, just some people have issues with Coil Whinning, i think its more a combo of hardware, as i own two SS-860XP2 and they been perfect. I would suggest you look into the new snow silent series, SeaSonic Snow Silent-1050 1050W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply, if you are interested check JonnyGuru Reviews - Seasonic Snow Silent 1050W, almost got perfect scores if it wasn't for its high value, but this would be my pick for a high end multi gpu high overclocked aim, below $300.

After you build, would be interesting to see you power draw and specs, to see if you reach those values you think you will, its always good to see the outcome of a build.

[boxleitnerb]

The friend of mine with the AX1200i also has external water cooling, so his system is as silent as mine.

I don't want to sacrifice performance - 300W per GPU are a given for me. I will look at all the suggestions you made and also at the BeQuiet Dark Power Pro P11 1000W which is set so launch in May. Their 850W unit has been exceptionally quiet in the Kitguru review I've just noticed. I might give them a try.

[quest_for_silence]

I can only use the values I have as reference. I know that there are conversion losses.

But you can use the efficiency data of the PSU used in each testbed to estimate the DC value: in the HardOCP review they used a MaxRevo 1350 which have an efficiency (check the relevant HardOCP review) of around 89% (at the GTX-980 SLI power draw), and so the GTX-980 SLI setup should draw around 400W DC (which is the value you want to know to properly size the PSU wattage).

If one highend modern graphics card (without OC!) draws up to 300W from the PSU, how on earth do you arrive at 500W for two + OC + CPU + motherboard + RAM + pump + 9 silent fans (external) + sound card?

Because those are the values found by lots of reviewer: right now there's a fellow which run a an oc'ed 5930K (I don't recall right now whether to 4.2 or higher) with 2 GTX-980 and it draws at the wall (AC figure, measured with the classical home kill-a-watt) around 520W (including those PSU losses, then).
Whether you're talking about current generation Radeons, you are right, they are power hungry and deserve likely something like an 850W units (if not more, under specific circumstances). But on the other hand nowadays a much more powerful GM200 will actually draw A LOT less than a R9 290X, and to reach the same draw with two of those cards you will likely have to pair them with a 5960X (is your will to get that 1k CPU? I dunno, just ask) cranking up the relevant voltage over 1.2V (the point where Haswell-E becomes really hot).
Unfortunately, at least money-wise there's a steep difference to run quietly at around 500W DC or at 7-900W DC (even quietness is more probably that not less at 7-900W DC, comparatively), so maybe you should state some requirements, like "how quiet" or at least a budget in order to receive some relatively informed advice.

http://ht4u.net/reviews/2013/nvidia_gef ... ndex17.php

That GTX-780ti is not a GM200, do you agree?

Please can we put this discussion to rest? I already regret asking here because people while clearly trying to be helpful always think they know better than the OP.

Well, even the OP apparently shows such a right attitude, does he? He asked for comments but apparently only whether those confirmed his own ideas.
BTW, don't worry, as said I'm done (I've just corrected some not quite exact data in favour of any future reader).

[psycho888]

Hey I was on the same journey trying to find the best silent 800w psu and after going through 4 mainstream so called "Silent psu" ax860i, supernova 1500w (killed 3 hydro copper titans and 3930k), seasonic ultra silent 750w, be quiet straight power 10 800w.

Only the be quiet 800w took the crown for the most silent psu by a land slide.. I run 2 980's OC with block, 4930k OC with block, 2 ssd's, 2 d vario pumps. I run no fans in case or rad's, I cool cards and cpu by using 8 passive cooling rads and the pumps turned down to almost stalling speed and stays there under full load (dead silent with ear 2 inches from pump)

My psu (be quiet 800w) is the only component in pc that has a fan. Stress test's for cpu and gpu and playing games for complete full load for 3 hours and still can not hear psu... Yeah its that quiet.
I do use headphones hd 800's (open backs) so ANY noise in room or pc enter's headphones so as you can see I need COMPLETE silence and this psu pass's my approval. Also cables are long enough to fit in 900d case.

P.s. the electric current in my keyboard is louder than the psu

[boxleitnerb]

I haven't decided if I'm ging AMD for NV this round, so the 300+ Watt at the top oft the linked chart apply - also to GM200 since I will most certainly not run them with the default power target that harshly limits consumption to 260W@default. Both IHVs will show similar efficiency this round, I'm sure according to most recent leaks. Who cares about 50 W more or less per card? I have to leave headroom for OC and future cards anyway.

I do not want anyone to confirm anything about power use since I have not asked about it. And I have no problem with my attitude, I simply know my requirements best and from experience (Titan SLI@mod bios@water) I know there can be worlds between stock@air and my setups when it comes to power use (throttleing due to restricted power and temp target@stock).

I'm disappointed to have to constantly justify my requirements. I'm out and I will not post in this here again.

Please close.

[quest_for_silence]

I'm disappointed to have to constantly justify my requirements. I'm out and I will not post in this here again.

I can understand such a feeling, but we shouldn't justify our own lack of knowledge, at most we should fight it.

Please close.

Here's not where perhaps you're used to go.