Introduction

We would like to thank be quiet! for supplying the review sample.



Almost three years have passed since the last time we reviewed a Straight Power unit, and two newer generations have been released since. Currently, the series is in its tenth generation. It includes four non-modular members with capacities ranging from 400 W to 700 W and four modular units with 500–800 W capacities. In this review, we take a detailed look at the strongest modular unit with model number E-10-CM-800W. The CM abbreviation in its model number stands for cable management.

be quiet! says the E-10-CM-800W and all members of the line to operate very silently since they come equipped with a high-quality 135 mm SilentWings fan. This fan features airflow-optimized blades and a 6-pole motor for less vibrations, along with a Fluid Dynamic Bearing. The unit is 80 Plus Gold certified, and its high efficiency allowed for a more relaxed fan profile. Taking a look at the unit's specifications, it doesn't feature a semi-passive operation, which isn't necessary since its SilentWings fan operates at incredibly low speeds for as little noise as possible. Every cable except for the main ATX cable is also modular, which will help with its installation. be quiet!, contrary to the popular fully modular cabling designs, insists on keeping some cables affixed. However, doing so doesn't look strange in this particular case given the 24-pin ATX connector will always be put to use, though many users would probably prefer installing all PSU cables separately to avoid any problems while routing and managing cables. That said, we don't believe a single native cable will increase cable-management and routing difficulty noticeably. Users who use sleeved cables would obviously prefer modular cables. While most of today's PSUs are single +12V rail units, the E-10-CM-800W has four of these because Germans are incredibly sensitive to noise and safety matters, which had be quiet! consider both of the above-mentioned factors while designing the unit.

Specifications

The unit's specifications include its Gold-certified efficiency, a high quality FDB fan, a semi-modular cabling design, and a full set of protection features. The maximum operating temperature at which full power can be delivered continuously is unfortunately restricted to 40°C, which won't stop us from testing the unit at much higher ambient temperatures.

This PSU is fairly compact for its capacity and comes with a hefty warranty of five years. It is also ATX v.2.4 compliant, making it Haswell ready, and its price is high, putting it into a difficult category with many hard competitors.


Half of the +12V rails can deliver up to 20 A of current, while the other two can go a little higher, 24 A. These amperage levels may look low for power hungry VGAs, but you also won't need a monster of a PSU to power a system with 2-3 VGAs since Nvidia's recent GTX 980 and GTX 970 release. With 160 W combined, the minor rails are very strong - a modern system's components will never draw as much. The 5VSB rail is also strong enough for a PSU of this category.

Cables & Connectors, Power Distribution

As has already been mentioned, only the main ATX cable is affixed, with all the others being modular. All cables are long enough for a trouble-free installation in even large, full-tower cases. The distance between connectors is also enough for most cases.

be quiet! used peripheral cables with both SATA and 4-pin Molex connectors to provide you with the opportunity to install a smaller number of cables. They also equipped the unit with two pure SATA cables for HDD/SSD arrays. A smaller distance between connectors would prove convenient, especially if the HDDs/SSDs are installed very close to each other. All EPS and PCIe cables also use 16AWG wires, while all other cables use normal 18AWG gauges.

Power distribution is optimal since the peripheral, EPS, and PCIe connectors draw their power from separate +12V rails. The latter are also fed by the stronger rails with 24 A maximum current output.

Packaging

The unit's box is quite large and at its face are the series name and the capacity description. The 80 Plus Gold badge resides in the top-left corner, along with two frames with descriptions of the SilentWings fan and the PSU's modular cables. The word "premium" has been placed inside a platinum frame on the front, and in the middle is a photograph of the PSU with its nicely designed fan-grill. This fan-grill's design is be quiet!'s trademark and looks so nice Corsair decided to offer something similar in their high-end PSUs.


All icons and descriptions on the box's face can also be found on this side.


A features description in French and Polish can be found on this side, along with several award badges be quiet!'s products have earned from various review sites.


This side holds several feature descriptions in two more languages and some certification icons.


Beginning with a scheme which includes each cable's length, its connector, and the overall count, some interesting information can be found on this side. Another scheme provides the unit's dimensions and a table includes the unit's power specifications. Several paragraphs in two languages, English and German, cover some of the product's most crucial features.

Contents

The unit is inside the box's middle compartment and comes wrapped in protective by bubble wrap. On top of it is the user's manual.


The bundle includes three Velcro straps, several zip ties, a set of fixing bolts, the AC power cord, and the user's manual, which is the same for all Straight Power 10 CM PSUs.