FAQ
- “Do higher powered power supplies cost more to run because they consume more power?”
- “I just bought an Ultra-Quiet power supply and I can't get it to work. Is it faulty or am I doing something wrong?”
- “Why should I buy a whole new replacement power supply when I could just replace the noisy fan in my existing power supply?”
- “Can I use the Ultra-Quiet power supplies with a non-Athlon PC?”
- “How do I know what wattage power supply I need?”
- “My new PSU came with a 24-pin connector but my motherboard needs 20 pins! Do I need an adaptor cable?”
Manufacturers
Nesteq Semi-Fanless ASM PSUs
 | Semi-Fanless ASM PSU, 620W [21 in stock]  (1 customer review) - Review this product | €130,08 (€152,85 inc USt.) | |
| Semi-Fanless ASM PSU, 520W [25 in stock](1 customer review) - Review this product | €111,99 (€131,59 inc USt.) | |
 | Semi-Fanless ASM PSU, 450W [12 in stock] Review this product | €100,67 (€118,28 inc USt.) |
We receive many power supplies on evaluation here at Quiet PC from manufacturers who claim their products are quiet or silent. However, we are dubious when a power supply is marketed as being silent where the unit has a fan installed. Common sense dictates that fans make noise no matter how slowly they run, so for a manufacturer to claim such a product to be silent would in our view be misleading!
When we received an evaluation PSU from Nesteq, it didn't say "silent" on the box, it said "Advanced Silent Mode"! Having become accustomed to this sort of marketing-speak, we were expecting this power supply to be as noisy as the rest of the samples we receive, but in fact we were pleasantly surprised.
Advanced Silent Mode (ASM) is a very simple feature. It allows the PC power supply to run virtually fanless, with the 120mm fan only switching on when absolutely necessary. During our evaluation we installed the PC power supply in a system which incorporated 2 x 6800 Ultra graphics card in SLI mode, just to see how long it would remain silent. We were astonished to see that the fan hardly moved at all! About every two or three minutes the fan rotated for about ten to twenty seconds before stopping again. This approach seemed to keep the power supply relatively cool to the touch in comparison to other fanless power supplies. In fact, Nesteq state that their PC power supply will be completely fanless for 99% of the time while ASM is enabled!
One of the main reasons the Nesteq ASM PC power supply can run so quietly is the fact that it has an efficiency rating above 80%, meaning that it will not generate as much heat as other PC power supplies! Not only does this allow the PSU to run cooler, it also saves money because it will not draw as much power as a lower efficiency unit.
As well as the ASM feature, it is also possible to make the 120mm fan to run continuously, either automatically or manually. From a noise point of view this setting is marginally louder (20 - 30 dBA). If low noise is the primary reason for purchase then we strongly recommend using the ASM feature. The PC power supply also comes with a massive 36 months warranty!
The PSU is supplied with all the connectors you would expect on a high quality power supply. It is possible to detach 4-pins from the 24-pin ATX motherboard connector, making it compatible with 20-pin motherboards. The 8-pin EPS12V connector can also split making two 4-pin connectors, one of which is for the ATX12V connector for the latest AMD and Intel processors. These Nesteq PSUs are also great for SLI systems because two PCI-E connectors are supplied on different rails.
Please note: Nesteq is the new name for Elan Vital. So if you are looking for an Elan Vital PSU then please consider the Nesteqs as a direct replacement.
Specifications
| ASM 450W | ASM 520W | ASM 620W | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | NA-4501 | NA-5201 | NA-6201 |
| ATX12V Version | 2.2 | ||
| +3.3V maximum output current | 25 A | ||
| +5V maximum output current | 30 A | ||
| +12V1 maximum output current | 18 A | ||
| +12V2 maximum output current | 18 A | 22 A | 30 A |
| Combined maximum output +3.3V / +5V | 150 W | ||
| Fan speed control | ASM or Manual | ||
| Acoustic noise level | 0 - 30 db(A) | ||
| Dimensions | 86 x 150 x 140 mm | ||
| +5VSB maximum standby current | 2.5 A | ||
| Mains input voltage | 90-264 VAC, 47-63 Hz | ||
| ATX12V (4-pin) support | Yes | ||
| EPS12V (8-pin) support | Yes | ||
| 20-pin ATX connector | Yes | ||
| 24-pin ATX connector | Yes | ||
| PCI-E support (6-pin) | Yes (x2) | ||
| Mains input voltage selection | Auto | ||
| Remote power on / off | Yes | ||
| Number of floppy drive connectors | 2 | ||
| Number of hard drive connectors | 8 | ||
| SATA connectors | 4 | ||
| Over voltage protection | Yes, on all outputs | ||
| Short circuit protection | Yes, on all outputs | ||
| Safety approvals | CE, CB, TUV | ||
| Monitor pass-through power socket | No | ||
| Master power on/off switch | Yes | ||
| Length of motherboard power cable | 55 cm (approx) | ||
| Warranty | 36 months | ||
Customer Reviews
ASM 450W
There are currently no reviews for this product.
Review this productASM 520W (1)
Anonymous - Posted: 20 Sep 2008 11:44 (8/10)
This is a great answer for reducing PSU noise when using a studio quality condensor microphone at home. I was pleased to find there were no rattles or whines with the fan running or with it turned off and cooling. In manual green mode you can run the fan so it's almost inaudible. In blue mode I have found that the fan kicks in every 4 minutes and runs for 1 minute at a third of its capable rpm.
Having purchased case and CPU fans that run off a fan controller capable of turning them off completely, you realise how noisy a high-end PSU can sound on a recording with a condensor microphone. After 3 hours at the Windows desktop I found with 2 x 120mm case fans and a 120mm CPU fan running at 660 rpm with an ambient room temp of 20C that the side temp of the PSU case was 33C and the top was 37C. Motherboard and north bridge temps were still ok with the reduced airflow from the PSU in ASM mode.
This then at last gives me control over my PSU and saves energy.
ASM 620W (1)
Nicholas Watkins - Posted: 25 Sep 2008 21:17 (9/10)
I own two of these the 450w and 620w models. Both have been fantastic and I have never had an issue with either of them. I run it with the fan off 99% of the time and its very rare for it to ever kick in.
I would not recommend them for gaming PCs where the PSU is put under heavy load but for media applications they are a godsend.
The only thing I would change about this would be that the cables are fixed and not modular so in an HTPC where space is often limited you have to find space for the cables that you do not require.
Still a wonderful PSU and I have and would recommend them to anyone thinking about making a media pc.
See also:
Ultra-Quiet PSUs 300W to 500W
Ultra-Quiet PSUs 501W to 600W
Ultra-Quiet PSUs 601W to 1000W