Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W Power Supply Review

1. Introduction2. Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W (Bundle & Cables)3. Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W4. Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W Power Supply (Internal)5. Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W (Super High Res Gallery)6. Testing Methodology & Results7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

Be Quiet! have been creating a wide range of power supplies now for many years, with a focus on high quality, low noise designs for enthusiast gaming and media system builds. Today we are looking at their latest Straight Power E9 580W power supply, an 80 Plus Gold certified modular design with full 5 year warranty.

The previous Straight Power E8 models were Be Quiet!'s best selling product line. The latest E9 range attempts to improve on overall performance, while maintaining a good value for money ratio. The new range of E9 series is based around eight new models… there are 400w, 450w, 500w, 600w and 700w supplies which are non modular. The modular versions are offered in 480W, 580W and 680W power output configurations.

The company have targeted four key areas for improvement with the E9 range:

1. lowering the audible noise levels. This is a key factor for a be quiet! product as they have earned a reputation for creating the quietest performing power supplies on the market. The E9 series has been upgraded to a new 135mm Silent Wings fan. This new model is a Fluid Dynamic Bearing design and offers some unique technologies and design enhancements to lower emitted noise.
2. Improving the efficiency. The new Straight Power E9 models are now 80 Plus Gold certified. This is handled via a new topology design – Active Clamp plus SR (synchronous rectifier) as well as the use of newly developed integrated ciruitry which provide active control of critical power supply functions.
3. enhanced voltage stability and lowering ripple current levels, specifically on the 12V rails. They claim that a typical gaming PC may be drawing 85% of the power from the 12V rails at full load, so this is critical.
4. warranty has been improved to 5 years, from three years which was offered via the previous range of products.

The Straight Power E9 580W power supply is supplied in an attractively design box with the name and specifications underneath a high resolution image of the product.

Inside, the Straight Power E9 580W is stored underneath a cardboard panel, which houses a user manual and product range overview leaflet. The modular cables are stored in a separate section of the box at the side.

The user manual is well written and supplied in multiple languages. There is a regional specific power cable, although our review sample didn't ship with a UK cable, as it came straight from their HQ. They also supply some cable tidies and mounting screws.

Be quiet! have hardwired the main ATX cable, but all the others are modular. The cables are high quality, sleeved, which is indicative of a premium product.

Cable	Connectors
MB 20+4 pin	x1 (550mm)
CPU 4+4 pin	x1 (550mm)
PCI E 8 pin (6 pin +2)	x4 (550mm)
Sata power connectors	x8 (550mm + 150mm)
Peripheral 4 pin (molex)	x4 (550mm + 150mm)
Floppy connector	x1 (1250mm)

The cabling is well thought out and we specifically appreciate the PCIE cables which are all 6+2 pin.

The E9 580W follows a traditional Be Quiet! design, which is both attractive and immediately recognisable.

Taking centerstage is a 135mm SilentWings fan. This is a fluid bearing fan to offer a high life rating of 300,000 hours. The fan blade surface is flow optimised to give higher CFM at lower speeds while keeping noise to a minimum. The fan grille design and mounted are also carefully designed to lower noise emissions.

The power supply is fully vented to for maximum airflow. There is a power connector and power button at the side.

The sides of the chassis are subtlety engraved with the name of the company.

The modular cabling management system is clearly labelled and colour coded to aid with the system build phase.

Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W Power Supply
DC Output	+5V	+3.3V	+12V1	+12V2	+12V3	+12V4	-12V	+5Vsb
Max Output	24A	24A	18A	18A	20A	20A	0.5A	3A
Total Power	140W		564W (47A)				6W	15W
	580W

The supply can deliver a total of 47A from the +12V output. Be quiet! claim that all models in this range can deliver 95% of total available power to the 12V rails.

The Be Quiet! Silent Wings fan is a special 135mm model designed for these units, branded BQT T13525-LF15. It is a fluid bearing model and the company are keen to point out that each of the blades is ‘tared' to resolve any imbalancing. The company will add or remove weights when necessary. It produces up to 62.74 CFM (at a maximum of 1,500 rpm).

This is an FSP design, and is an ‘Active Clamp & Syncronous Rectifier' topology configuration. Be Quiet claim this is ‘the best topology to create power supplies with an 80 PLUS Gold certification in watt ranges up to 700W, at reasonable costs'. They are using zero voltage and zero current switching technology (ZCS, ZVS).

This topology uses additional active components including a set of MOSFETS, capacitors and a newly developed IC on the primary side. A second IC controls the rectification on the DC or secondary side. They are using a large heatsink for MOSFET cooling.

FSP are using CapXon capacitors … a mixture of 85c and 105c ratings. The primary side capacitor is rated 330uF-420V.

On this page we present some super high resolution images of the product taken with the 24.5MP Nikon D3X camera and 24-70mm ED lens. These will take much longer to open due to the dimensions, especially on slower connections. If you use these pictures on another site or publication, please credit Kitguru.net as the owner/source.

Additional technical assistance: Peter McFarland and Jeremy Price.

Correctly testing power supplies is a complex procedure and KitGuru have configured a test bench which can deliver up to a 2,000 watt DC load. Due to public requests we have changed our temperature settings recently – previously we rated with ambient temperatures at 25C, we have increased ambient temperatures by 10c (to 35c) in our environment to greater reflect warmer internal chassis conditions.

We use combinations of the following hardware:
• SunMoon SM-268
• CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• Extech Power Analyzer
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter
• SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa)
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA

DC Output Load Regulation
Combined DC Load	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		+5VSB
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
110W	3.03	3.35	3.04	5.07	6.51	12.15	1.50	5.04
220W	6.21	3.32	6.23	5.04	13.50	12.07	1.50	5.03
340W	9.31	3.30	9.23	5.03	21.11	12.02	1.50	5.03
445W	12.45	3.28	12.41	5.01	27.53	11.97	1.50	5.02
580W	15.70	3.26	14.64	4.98	38.21	11.91	1.50	5.00

Voltage regulation holds well, with only minor fluctuation from the +12V output.

Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W	Maximum Load
	673.5

The power supply managed to output just over 673 watts before shutting down safely.

Next we want to try Cross Loading. This basically means loads which are not balanced. If a PC for instance needs 500W on the +12V outputs but something like 30W via the combined 3.3V and +5V outputs then the voltage regulation can fluctuate badly.

Cross Load Testing	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		-12V		+5VSB
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
493W	1.0	3.33	1.0	5.05	40.0	11.86	0.2	-11.98	0.50	5.02
153W	15.0	3.28	15.0	4.99	2.0	12.11	0.2	-12.09	0.50	5.00

Cross loading shows minor +12V fluctuation, dropping from 12.11 to 11.86 when hit with 40 amps. Not a major issue by any means, but recordable with the equipment.

We then used an oscilloscope to measure AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs. We set the oscilloscope time base to check for AC ripple at both high and low ends of the spectrum. ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output ripple and noise is defined in the ATX 12V power supply design guide.

ATX12V Ver 2.2 Noise/Ripple Tolerance
Output	Ripple (mV p-p)
+3.3V	50
+5V	50
+12V1	120
+12V2	120
-12V	120
+5VSB	50

Obviously when measuring AC noise and ripple on the DC outputs the cleaner (less recorded) means we have a better end result. We measured this AC signal amplitude to see how closely the unit complied with the ATX standard.

AC Ripple (mV p-p)
DC Load	+3.3V	+5V	+12V	5VSB
110W	5	10	15	10
220W	10	10	20	15
340W	10	15	30	20
445W	10	15	40	20
580W	15	15	45	20

Noise suppression is held well within rated parameters, peaking at 45 mV on the +12V output. +3.3V, +5V both peak at 15 mV at full load.

Efficiency (%)
110W	86.64
220W	89.57
340W	91.78
445W	89.56
580W	88.45

Efficiency is high, peaking at almost 92 percent at 50 percent load.

We take the issue of noise very seriously at KitGuru and this is why we have built a special home brew system as a reference point when we test noise levels of various components. Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.

Today to test the Power Supply we have taken it into our acoustics room environment and have set our SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa) one meter away from the unit. We have no other fans running so we can effectively measure just the noise from the unit itself.

As this can be a little confusing for people, here are various dBa ratings in with real world situations to help describe the various levels.

KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refridgerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 Player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum

Noise (dBA)
110W	28.0
220W	28.0
340W	28.0
445W	28.0
580W	30.5

This is one of the quietest power supplies we have ever tested, barely measuring on our test equipment, even at full load. Incredible results.

Temperature (c)
	Intake	Exhaust
110W	36	39
220W	38	42
340W	39	48
445W	42	51
580W	44	55

The active fan helps maintain good temperature variables, rising to a 11c above ambient intake at full load.

Maximum load	Efficiency
673.5W	86.7

Pushing the PSU above its rated limits generates an efficiency level of around 86.7%. This is not a viable ‘real world’ situation, but its interesting nonetheless.

The Be Quiet! Straight Power E9 580W power supply will be a very popular choice among enthusiast users who want to build the quietest system possible. In this regard it is one of the most impressive power supplies we have tested to date, barely registering any noise emissions at all via our test equipment, even when fully loaded.

Aesthetically, these designs are both appealing and unique. The orange trim is instantly recognisable as ‘be quiet!', but also has a practical implementation in reducing fan related vibration. The modular cabling is high quality and the chassis paintwork proves resilient to surface damage.

Technically, the FSP design is competent, accomplishing impressive noise suppression and high levels of efficiency. We noticed minor load regulation fluctuation, noticeable during the intensive Cross loading test but not significant enough to raise a red flag. The creditable efficiency helps ensure the fan never has to be ruthlessly tasked.

Be Quiet! are currently producing a wide range of fantastic power supplies, specifically directed to the enthusiast audience who may be susceptible to not only fan noise, but annoying vibration hum. This Straight Power E9 design is one of the quietest on the market, and thanks to modular cabling, the build can be clean and tidy.

Currently, in the United Kingdom, this product retails for £101.50 at Scan, so it certainly costs more than many competing products in the same sector. That said, If noise is a primary concern then it certainly deserves to be shortlisted.

Pros:

• Looks great.
• one of the quietest power supplies we have tested to date, even when loaded.
• good overall internal design.
• modular.

Cons:

• It has a high price tag.

Kitguru says: If you are in the market for a quiet, mid range system, then this should be shortlisted.

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