SilenX 350W PSU - Overclocked and Stressed
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Overclocked & Stressed
When OCed, the MBM minimum reading on both the 12V and 3.3V lines dropped by .06V and .02V, respectively. MBM maximum on the 3.3V line gained .03V. Everything else stayed the same. Not too shabby, I'd say.
The multimeter readings barely even changed. In fact, only two changes occurred, and that was a gain of .01V along the 12V and 5V lines. Extra voltage is always nice.. and it's also nice to see that the SilenX PSU can definitely stand its ground.
Conclusion
Overall, the SilenX 350W PSU impressed me more than I thought it would. Looking simply at its specs and boring exterior, I expected it to perform like a cheap OEM PSU. But after hooking it up to my system and performing a few tests, the SilenX proved me wrong. Although the 12V line voltage was a little weak, it remained constant. Not many PSU's output a full 12 volts or more, anyways. There wasn't much fluctuation on the 5V and 3.3V lines either.
SilenX 350W PSU was also indeed very quiet. Rated at 14dBA, I could honestly only hear the fan spinning by putting my ear up to the PSU casing. And even after hours of usage, the air being pumped out was only mildly warm, confirming my suspicious that the PSU is indeed constructed from very good quality parts.
The only major downfalls I see about this PSU is that a) it provides zero to very, very little cooling for the computer case it's installed in, b) for its price, you get no "flashy" features like LED fans or mesh wrapped cables.
Pros
Very quiet, if not silent
Doesn't generate much heat
6 total molex connectors, 50 cm length cables; just right for mid sized cases
Stable voltage rails
Cons
Cables come out of the right side of the unit making them visible and difficult to reroute
With no extra features, it's a bit pricey
Provides little cooling for the rest of the case
12V line isn't getting enough voltage
If noise is not your biggest purchasing factor, then the SilenX series is something you may want to pass on. On the other hand, if you're in the market for a silent PSU, then I can wholeheartedly recommend this SilenX 350W PSU here today. It is quiet, and power wise, will not fail you. It certainly lacks a few common features we see on other PSUs, but don't forget this one is silent. Got any family members who are always complaining about how loud the computer you built for them is? I sure do. In that case, a SilenX PSU will definitely shut them up.
OCA'd like to thank ExoticPC.com for providing the unit for review. We'd also like to thank you for joining us here today. Feel free to hit our homepage or reviews section for other GooSH!™ to read, or head into our forums to discuss this one. Want to pickup this PSU or maybe another model SilenX? Checkout the ExoticPC's wide selection for all your needs.
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