Best silent PSU for a compact mini-ITX workstation?

Question

Hey everyone, I am currently in the process of putting together a compact mini-ITX workstation for my home office, but I am really stuck on picking the right power supply. Since the PC is going to sit right on my desk about two feet away from my ears, keeping the noise levels down is my absolute top priority. I do a lot of detailed audio work and late-night rendering, so I really need something that won't sound like a jet engine as soon as the system is under load.

I have settled on the Fractal Design Terra for the case, which means I am looking for a solid SFX or possibly an SFX-L unit. I am planning to run a Ryzen 9 7900X and a mid-range RTX card, so I am thinking I need at least 750W to have some comfortable overhead. My biggest concern is the fan curve; I have heard some small form factor units have very aggressive fans that ramp up and down constantly, which is super distracting. I am also trying to avoid units known for bad coil whine.

I have been looking at the Corsair SF series and some of the newer Seasonic units, but I am curious if there are better or more recent options that specifically prioritize a silent profile. Does anyone have experience with a particular model that stays dead silent during idle or light tasks?

What would you guys recommend as the absolute quietest SFX PSU for a high-performance small form factor build today?

John Riley · Accepted Answer

Respectfully, I'd consider another option. I've built in the Terra before and SFX-L units like that Loki are a huge pain cuz of the cable bulk. If you wanna save some cash but stay quiet, I'd suggest the EVGA SuperNOVA 750 GM. It's usually way cheaper than the boutique units and handles rendering loads easily without making a fuss. Just be careful with cable routing since that case is picky!! gl

CloudCaptain · Answer

Oh man, I totally feel u on this. Building a workstation in the Fractal Design Terra is a blast but yeah, that noise floor is a real concern when it is sitting right next to your ears. Since you are doing audio work, you lowkey cannot compromise on the PSU fan curve. In my experience, here is how the top contenders stack up for your 7900X build:

Corsair SF750 80 Plus Platinum SFX: Honestly, this is the gold standard. I have used it in so many ITX builds and the fan basically stays off until you hit like 300W. Even when it spins up, it is a low hum, not a whine. Plus, the braided cables are SO much easier to route in the Terra than the stiff plastic ones.

ASUS ROG Loki SFX-L 750W Platinum: This is an SFX-L unit, so it fits a bigger 120mm fan. Theoretically, it is quieter under heavy load, but be careful... SFX-L in a tiny case like the Terra makes cable management a literal nightmare. It takes up space you would normally use to tuck cables or mount a bottom exhaust fan.

Seasonic Focus SPX-750 SFX: Seasonic is usually amazing, but I have heard some people complain about a bit of coil whine on these compared to the Corsair units. I mean, if you want the absolute quietest experience without the SFX-L bulk, I would suggest just sticking with the Corsair SF750 80 Plus Platinum SFX. It is legendary for a reason. If you want a bit more headroom for future upgrades, maybe check the newer Corsair SF850 80 Plus Platinum ATX 3.1 SFX which just launched. It is pricey but seriously dead silent. gl with the build!!

jwvfzllszg · Answer

Wow ok that changes things. Gonna have to rethink my approach now.