By: Jonathan Kwan
November 18, 2011
The meaning of words change over time, and so does the value of things. For example, let's take a look at the word "apologize". According to Merriam-Webster, the definition we usually go by is "an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret". However, if you lived a few hundred years ago, the same word probably meant "the defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions" instead. Now with regards to the value of things, did you know that aluminum was worth more than gold before the Hall-Héroult process was invented? In fact, it was reported that Napoleon III of France gave a banquet where only the most honored guests got aluminum utensils -- the rest had to do away with, well, 'inferior' metals like gold. So how does this relate to our topic today? When we mention the word "hybrid", the first thing that comes to your mind is probably a Toyota Prius. Now I don't know about you, but when I was younger, when we mention the word 'hybrid', it really means a combination of the best of both worlds -- not a car that robs you of your passion for driving in the name of saving gas. In the same way, would you rather have gold, or a hybrid? With the former still in excess of $1700 per ounce at the time of press, choosing gold probably makes a lot more sense. However, it does not take much to change one definition. In the past, we have reviewed both the Cooler Master Silent Pro M 1000W and Silent Pro Gold 1000W. With the top-of-the-heap Silent Pro Hybrid 1050W in our labs today, is it the product that takes back the definition and value implied by the word 'hybrid'? Read on to find out!
Our review unit of the Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 1050W ATX power supply came in a large, brown corrugated cardboard box from the company's offices in California, USA. No one was available to receive the packages from UPS when the driver came by, so the person kindly left the PSU along with a CM Storm Trooper chassis (To be reviewed by my colleague Devin next week) at our back door. Thanks to all the packing material inside, everything arrived in excellent condition. We took out our knife, opened the box, whipped out my camera, and got straight to work.
Have you ever had an awkward moment where you knew two people the longest time, and did not find out they were brothers or sisters until years later? Now normally, product packaging design of stuff within the same family should have some sort of resemblance, but in the case of Cooler Master's Silent Pro line of power supplies, things are a bit different. The Silent Pro M has a large square box with a picture of Earth behind it; whereas the Silent Pro Gold takes on a simple design that heavily emphasizes its 80 Plus Gold certification. So what about the Silent Pro Hybrid? Well, one could say it takes on a hybrid approach to its packaging design -- combining the graphical elements of the Silent Pro M, and the textual emphasis of the Silent Pro Gold, as you can see in our photo above. This is not a bad idea at all, haha. At the back, product highlights are presented in various languages, with two graphs representing the fan speed and efficiency curve, respectively.
Before we move on, let's take a look at the specifications of the Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 1050W, as obtained from the manufacturer's website:
Model: RS-A50-SPHA-D3; RSA50-SPHAD3-US
Type: Intel ATX 12V V2.3 & SSI EPS 12V V2.92
Dimension: 150 x 180 x 86 mm
5.9 x 7 x 3.4 inch
Input Voltage: 90-264V (Auto Range)
Input Current: 11-5.5A
Input Frequency Range: 47Hz-63Hz
PFC: Active PFC (>0.9)
Power Good Signal: 100-500ms
Hold Up Time: 17ms
Efficiency: 90% Typically
MTBF: 100,000 Hours
Protection: OVP / UVP / OCP / OPP / OTP / SCP
Output Capacity: 1050W
Operation Temperature: 0~40°C (Nominal Input Voltage)
Regulatory: TUV / GOST / CE / C-Tick / UL / BSMI / CCC / FCC / KCC
Fan: 135mm (Silent Hydraulic Bearings)
Certification: 80 Plus Gold
Connector: M / B 24 pins x 1
CPU 4 + 4 pins x 2
PCI-e 6+2 pins x 6
SATA x 12
Peripheral 4 pins x 5
Floppy 4 pins x 1
Fan cable 3 pins x 3
Warranty: 5 years
UPC Code: 884102012075
Upon opening the flap-top retail box described earlier, you will find the interior is partitioned into two sections. Situated between a pair of Styrofoam brackets inside a plastic bag is the Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 1050W itself, along with the included fan controller and its accessories wedged into a slot on the side. Modular cables for the power supply are placed into a separate Velcro bag in the adjacent partition. Other than that, you will also receive a power cord, warranty information card, mounting screws, and user's manual. In other words, all the important stuff are included, with nothing excessive at all.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
