Again, we have had these units ... we have not seen issues... we always test every build for voltage instability is too high, it doesn't go out the door. We have used dozens of these units w/o a single noise issue. We have had CX and CXM series PSUs come in the door and they were definitely louder. Been here in this forum for over a dozen years and you just don't see complaints on the S12 and M12 units ... now compare that with the CX series where forums (i.e. overclock.net) that have entire threads dedicated to poor experiences with the CX / CXM series PSUs. More on fan noise later.
Look at what THG wrote about the CX750M .... hardly flattering and certainly not of the magnitude of the S12 comments. Your claim about reviews being more picky is arguable ... but look at it this way.
It's pretty much universally agreed that the original CX series was to be avoided. The CX-M was better but still not so hot. But today (... well Sep-12-2016) we read:
Last time, I remember recommending passing on this unit and going with the CS-M series instead. And that range is still superior to this one, I think.
And even more importantly ...
No way is anyone buying one of these when a Seasonic G-750 is the same price. Fry's is much better, but which version are we getting?
Is the noted similarity in packaging and naming convention intended to help clear the shelves of the old units that no one bought ?
The S12 520 and 620 were on the old GB Bronze platform, the 750 S12 is on the Seasonic G. So when JG says no one is going to be buying the CX750M when the Seasonic G is the same price, I am gonna be among the bunch that isn't buying them. I have had dozens of S12's in here and having not experienced any noise issues, your claim of noisy fans... if you pardon the pun "is gong to fall on deaf ears". But let's take a look at this. The Yate Loon sleeve bearing fans do not have a Fluid Dynamic Bearing (S12 does) and THG writes in this review that they wonder if it will last thru the 5 year warranty
We do know that the CX750M v2 uses the exact same fan as the previous CX750M (Yate Loon D14SH-12)....noise therefore can be expected therefore to be no different than the older model ... and we can dig up a long history about that. In addition to the above noted personal experience ...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2319845/corsair-cx750m-noise.html
I have a corsair cx750m and its fan is noticeably the loudest component in my system. Its a low-pitched humming sound with a little bit of a whining noise to it.
Now I have seen S12s and M12s with problems w/ fan noise ... but it was never endemic, some peeps had it some didn't. When i stayed with the thread, an RMA solved the problem
So i gotta ask ... Does the impact of noise change when a different label is on the side ? Surprised that you find the S12's FDB fan a problem but don't consider the CX750Ms history of noise issue of significance.
You used HardOCP as a **your source** to argue the poor of the s12, and yet HardOCP writes (your link)
to date the single quietest power supply we have reviewed (the X-750) was produced under Seasonic's own brand so we had great hopes that the M12II-620Bronze would follow more in its footsteps. These hopes were largely realized as the M12II-620Bronze stuck to Seasonic's roots of being almost dead silent. In general, the M12II-620Bronze easily matches all other Seasonic units, save for the X-750, that we have seen to date in its perceived noise output. There was no time during our load testing or working with the unit that it became audible in our test environment. As such, with the M12II-620Bronze Seasonic continues to produce products that are certainly appropriate for quiet cooling environments.
On to the transient load tests.... which you indicate is "something just as important if not more than standard voltage regulation tests". I agree that it is certainly an important test ... but it is important in a different respect than voltage stability. Certainly variances in voltage stability beyond the ATX spec are worrisome in that you can damage equipment if you stray outside that realm. The same is true with regard to transient tests as, again, if you exceed the ATX spec, you can damage equipment. But as long as you stay inside the ATX spec, the threat is just not something I am too concerned about in a $65 PSU.
I don't have that equipment so I can't address the issue of what *a* reviewer got when others didn't. I can only rely on my own experience, and what I have read in the forums over the last 6 years ... and that doesn't include a lot of complaints from S12 owners.
And while you see this comment about transient response being significant for the S12, somehow the same comment by THG on both reviews with regard to the CX650M and CX750M has no significance. Why is it that's a big negative for the S12 and of no consequence for the CXMs ? Yes, the transient response is not all that great, but none of them are $150 PSU ... your own reference goes on to say...
On the downside, the older group regulated design shows some weaker 12v regulation and transient load response. However, with a current price of $89.99 it is hard to find very many other units on the market currently that can continuously outperform the M12II-620Bronze at the same price point.
So yes, it doesn't compete with high end units, but at this price range it a) isn't expected to, b) you aren't going to find many units at this price range that can compete with it from a quality standpoint and c) your own reference that you used to imply poor quality of the unit gave the danged thing an Editor's Choice award !
Let's look at a more common thing we see in every day life. We all want to own a waterproof watch and a waterproof cell phone for when we fall in a pool or wade / swim in a lake. And while it's kinda cool to have devices that are waterproof to 100 foot depth ... is one that is waterproof to 100 feet as opposed to 50 feet of any real value if you're not "Diver Dan" ? So when your only risk is falling in a pool or swimming / boating in a lake where ya head barely ever dips below the surface ... is being waterproof to 100 feet really an issue ? If we are are talking about a $50 - $65 PSU, we are certainly not talking about a 4.8 GHz CPU OC and 28% overclocks on SLI'd GFX cards.
Group regulated designs are not known for great performance in crossload or transient response testing. Using group regulation is a means to cut costs and this is not considered a bad thing. Jonnyguru writes with regard to the S12
Those new to the site may need some explanation as to how these overshoot transient tests go. Well, these tests are intended to go looking for power on spikes that exceed ATX specifications. What you do is, you load the unit being tested to 100%. Then you apply power, all while watching the rails on an oscilloscope to see if you see a spike that exceeds 10% over mean value.
What do the above shots tell me? First, the 5VSB rail is very well controlled. There is a brief spike there before that rail settles in for the long haul, but it's nowhere near the spec. Over on the 12V side, even with me running the thing to full power from a "no power applied" condition as seen in the third shot up there, the only spike we get is a measly little 3V dimple in the scope shot. This is one of the better controlled units I've tested, I would have to say.
This unit does 80 Plus Bronze down to load levels you'd probably never see in real life, crossloads exceptionally well for a group regulated design, and has almost no ripple and noise to speak of. While I don't know that this unit deserves the scoring of a much more expensive independently regulated design, I also cannot punish a group design just for being a group design. Group designs aren't supposed to do well in crossload testing. And yet this one did. A half point off for voltage regulation that slipped outside the 1% number on the progressive tests, and that is all. 9.5.
When ya look at the CXM, I don't see you you can so easily ignore the noted poor efficiency, sleeve-bearing fan (if ya gonna use a sleeve bearing, at least provide FDB), poor hold-up time,
poor performance in Advanced Transient Response tests, less than satisfactory inrush current with 115V input, inadequate distance between peripheral connectors, high fan speeds and resultant noise at light loads...and then choose it over another less expensive unit which reviews note just one of those things. And, on top of that, your chosen reference to support this conclusion, comes froma source that gave the unit you consider inferior an Editor's Choice award.
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