Cooler Master X Silent Edge Platinum 1100W PSU Review
Power Efficiency and Ripple Testing
Voltage Ripple and Efficiency Testing
When reviewing new power supplies at OC3D, we use our dedicated SunMoon PSU Tester, one of the most expensive (if not the most expensive) tools in the company’s arsenal. Here, we can see exactly how well a unit functions. We look at both a PSU’s efficiency and power stability. To do this, we utilise bespoke PSU testing equipment to give us an in-depth look at each power supply’s performance. This kind of data collection is impossible when using a PSU with standard PC components.
Power Efficiency
When it comes to power efficiency, Cooler Master’s new X Silent Edge 1100 is one of the most efficient PSUs that we have ever tested. That level of efficiency is necessary when you want to build a passively cooled PSU that can deliver over 1100 watts of power. After all, higher efficiency levels mean less heat production and lower cooling requirements. Simply put, you can make a passive PSU with a power-delivering capacity of over 1,000 watts without seeking high levels of power efficiency.
Voltage Ripple Testing
Voltage ripple is often overlooked by consumers. It is best described as the stability of specific voltages that the PSU delivers. A PSU with bad ripple will see voltages vary a lot more. In extreme cases, this can damage components or shorten their lifespans. Voltage ripple stability is one of the many reasons you should buy a high-quality power supply. That means buying from a reputable brand and avoiding anything that isn’t 80+ certified.
An important thing to note here is that none of the PSUs in this graph are “bad.” Even units at the bottom of the chart, like the original Corsair RM1000 (2014), are usable within your system without any issues. We used this specific power supply within one of our main workstations for years, and we had no trouble with it. As we said before, only extreme levels of voltage ripple are dangerous.
When looking at the X Silent 1100, we can see that voltage ripple results are near the middle of our charts, and much lower than what we see with Cooler Master’s SFX-Platinum series PSUs. This is probably the only real area where Cooler Master could improve their Silent X series. Even so, voltage ripple levels remain low, and are not in any way concerning.
