Corsair CX650M 2015 edition

[jeb.jr]

Corsair has a new (well, 2015 new) series of semi-modular CX power supplies. These differ from previous versions, at least in the 40 degree C ambient spec. http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13055

I was planning to order a power supply online but when I was at Microcenter buying parts, I saw the CX650M, regular $90, on sale for $50. On the box was a graph of sound vs load, and it was 14dBA up until about 30% load. So hoping they were right, I bought it, took it home and hooked it up, and...

Clickety, clickety, click...

It is not a loud click but it "ain't no" 14dB either. Maybe it is defective, or is it just loaded too lightly? It powers a non-overclocked i5-6600K system with no graphics card.

They have a CX450M also for $50, maybe I should try that one instead?

[Fire-Flare]

Is it an electrical clicking or mechanical? Maybe you got one with a bad fan or something's obstructing the blades?

[jeb.jr]

It is definitely coming from the fan.

Once I turn the case around and put it underneath the desk, I don't hear the sound. But it still bugs me that it makes more noise than the stock rear case fan (Cooler Master N200, which is quieter than I expected) or the CPU fan (Cooler Master TX3).

[quest_for_silence]

but it "ain't no" 14dB either.

14dB is a clearly audible SPL, your expectations are probably excessive (besides it's a cheaply built fan running at no less than 800rpm).

cx650m.jpg

Maybe it is defective, or is it just loaded too lightly?

I guess it's fine, but you may put a video on the net, in case.
I don't know about Microcenter return policy, but you might also roll the dice asking for a RMA.

[jonnyGURU]

It is definitely coming from the fan.

Once I turn the case around and put it underneath the desk, I don't hear the sound. But it still bugs me that it makes more noise than the stock rear case fan (Cooler Master N200, which is quieter than I expected) or the CPU fan (Cooler Master TX3).

It's defective. Not "by design". Orientation shouldn't have an effect on fan noise. Go back to Microcenter and have them swap it out for you.

[quest_for_silence]

It's defective. Not "by design". Orientation shouldn't have an effect on fan noise. Go back to Microcenter and have them swap it out for you.

Sorry for hijacking, but... what do you think about that, Jon?

[pino800]

since cx-m is on my shortlist I wanted to ask if you have any complaint about noise here.

the web is full of reviews of units that you normally don't buy, because they are generally too expensive, but when a new unit comes out in a market segment which is more appealing for a large number of users, no review is made ...

so we simply don't fuc*ing know how these units perform from a noise standpoint ..

unless we refer to the chart on the box of course..

[quest_for_silence]

since cx-m is on my shortlist I wanted to ask if you have any complaint about noise here.

Hi Pino, welcome aboard.

As you may see above, the Santana platform (CX-M and Vengeance) has a min fan speed of about 850rpm: though not obtrusive, I wouldn't call it quiet (or enough quiet per SPCR "standards"), as any large fan is quite audible at that pace. The "box" above comes from Corsair itself.

So it all comes down to your personal expectations: just run a fan at that speed and you will get an idea about it. In case you might pick it on Amazon Italia at about 57 bucks, and send it back if you shouldn't like it (AFAIK declaring it as "not compatible" saves return expenses).