The be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W PSU Review: Solid Gold
by E. Fylladitakis on March 11, 2024 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- PSUs
- 80Plus Gold
- be quiet!
- ATX v3.0
Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)
The Be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W PSU experiences a slight efficiency reduction under elevated ambient temperatures, as observed during its hot testing phase. Despite this, the unit maintains commendable performance levels, even when operating at maximum capacity. The marginal efficiency drop across its operational range, especially at peak loads, serves to illustrate the PSU's adeptness at managing heat dissipation under arduous conditions while underscoring the reliability of its internal components against high temperatures. It is particularly interesting that Be quiet! specifies that the maximum operating ambient temperature for this unit is just 40 °C, yet it performed admirably well despite the greater ambient temperature.
The Be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W PSU's fan speed is engineered to scale linearly with the load, reaching maximum velocity only when the unit is operating at full capacity. This strategic fan control, coupled with the PSU's sizable heatsinks and efficiency that exceeds the average for its class, contributes to its excellent thermal performance. Even as the load escalates, the system's acoustics are managed effectively, ensuring optimal cooling efficiency in balance with acoustics throughout the unit's operational range. The PSU is not quiet under these operating conditions but the noise levels are tolerable up to half load, which is pleasantly unexpected for a unit operating at an ambient temperature higher than its rated maximum.
Despite the fan reaching high speeds under the guidance of the thermal control system, the Be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W PSU effectively manages its thermal output, maintaining internal temperatures that are relatively low for its class. When operating under loads above 90%, where the fan operates at its maximum speed, the PSU still keeps the temperatures below critical levels, well away from triggering the over-temperature protection (OTP) mechanism.
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nikaldro - Monday, March 11, 2024 - link
2024 and they still want 100 bucks for 650W?PeachNCream - Monday, March 11, 2024 - link
Yeah, a third of the price of a laptop for just a PSU. Worse news is that PC hobbyists are muppets and will continue their empty-headed spending. Dolts will go right on buying as long as a review reinforces existing desires, but if not computer bits it'd be something else like LEGO or Star Wars toys or automobiles (something that can actually kill others more readily) so it may as well be a power supply that captures those with soggy bibs and short attention spans.blwest1978 - Sunday, March 24, 2024 - link
Does anything make you happy in life or is this it? Why do you care what makes people happy? Why do you call everyone names?I almost feel sorry for you. Almost.
mindless1 - Sunday, May 5, 2024 - link
Better question is why would it not bother you when people just parrot something they read, without really understanding it, then proceed to regurgitate information when some senseless post about products come along asking the question "what is best"?It matters what makes people happy because of the colossal waste, the spread of misinformation, and the time that could have been used more productively. In short, big black hole of fail.
Now here you come along and try to pretend to take the higher road, yet it isn't even on topic at all, just a personal attack. Clearly if this is what makes you happy, it is not time well spent.
qwertymac93 - Monday, March 11, 2024 - link
Isn't that a good thing? I bought a well reviewed, semi-modular 550w power supply for $70 back in 2011, with inflation that's right around $100. It's still powering my overclocked 12700k and 3070 without issue. 100w more, fully modular, with better efficiency all for the same price seems like a fine enough deal to me.LauRoman - Tuesday, March 12, 2024 - link
50$+ is not too high a price for peace of mind. I'm all for getting cheaper psus, if i know the oem behind that particular model and its behaviour compared with the model it's based on.Psus and storage are the two things i am most careful when recommending to others, because they're the two most likely hardware culprits to cause data loss.
Samus - Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - link
Corsair CX and Thermaltake Smart-series PSU's range from $45-$60 for 550w-700w models. They are 80 Plus Bronze, though.I have the 850w Be Quiet Pure Power 12M, which is basically the same as this 650w unit, except it has 2x8-pin EPS 12v connectors instead of 1x8-pin+1x4-pin. And the 12vHPWR handles 600w instead of 450w. Personally I wouldn't trust the 12vHPWR connector with 600-watts anyway. I paid $93 for the 850w model at newegg during a promo in December but they regularly sell around $100. If you need a basic 600-650w just get a Corsair CX for half the price.
Oxford Guy - Thursday, March 14, 2024 - link
'They are 80 Plus Bronze, though.'AKA garbage that has no business being produced anymore.
mindless1 - Sunday, May 5, 2024 - link
Don't be silly, the majority of the market does not need a super high efficiency PSU, because most people aren't running at even half the load rating for the PSU, many hours a day.Often the higher efficiency rated PSU use superior quality components but remember that the average PC isn't using 500W+ even during gaming, and if you are using a small fraction of the total capacity, then the superior components often don't matter, nor would the savings on your power bill, ever make up for the difference in PSU cost within the reasonable lifetime of its service.
meacupla - Monday, March 11, 2024 - link
I wish PSU manufacturers would stop using ribbon cables with 90 degree SATA power connectors in the middle.In my experience, the stiff ribbon cables snap off at the base of the plug or cause the drive side connector to warp/break.