The power supply is an essential component in a PC, often more crucial than any other part. Choosing one that’s efficient, reliable, and safe is vital; otherwise, the few dollars you think you’re saving could end up costing you much more in the long run. In this article, we’re reviewing the be quiet! Pure Power 11 FM 1000W power supply to see if it meets modern gaming PC standards. Let’s dive in.
Our Unit
The Pure Power 11 series from be quiet! includes a variety of PSUs suitable for everything from basic office PCs to high-end gaming rigs featuring the RTX 3090. There are three lines within this series, with the FM (fully modular) version being the top tier. The FM 1000W model we’re examining is the most powerful in the lineup, but models range from 550W to 850W in 100W increments.
All Pure Power 11 FM units are 80+ Gold certified and come with a 5-year warranty. Here are some specs for our unit:
– Dimensions: 6.3” x 5.9” x 3.4”
– Weight: 4.2 lbs
– Modular: Yes
– Max 12v Power: 1000W
– Max 3.3V + 5V Power: 120W
– Certification: 80+ Gold
– Fan Size: 120mm
– Fan Speed: 2,000 RPM
– Max Operating Temp: 40°C
– Protection: OCP, OVP, UVP, SCP, OTP, OPP. SIP
– Warranty: Five years
Packaging
If you’ve bought products from be quiet! before, the packaging will look familiar with its sleek black design. The front features an image of the PSU along with its name, certification, and wattage. The back provides information on power rails and a QR code linking to more specs. While it doesn’t show the included cables, this isn’t a major issue.
Inside, the PSU is securely placed on the right side, wrapped in bubble wrap. A basic multi-language manual is on top, and a bundle of all-black cables is to the side.
Appearance & Cables
The Pure Power 11 FM boasts a stealthy look and is relatively lightweight. The modular design means all cables can be plugged into a clearly labeled and well-organized side. If this side faces the inside of your PC, the back will have the main power plug and an on/off switch. The sides feature rail information and an embossed company logo, while the bottom has a white-rimmed grille protecting the fan.
Even though the cables are all black, they are clearly labeled for easy connection. The ATX motherboard power cable is thick and cylindrical, but the rest are flat for a cleaner look. There are two EPS power cables for the CPU, one 8-pin and one that splits into two 4-pin connectors. Additionally, there are three PCIe cables for graphics cards and three more cables that can support up to ten SATA drives. Surprisingly, one SATA cable also has two Molex and an FDD connector for floppy disks, which might seem outdated but could be useful for some users.
The PSU measures 6.3 inches or 16cm in length, so it should fit most cases except the smallest ones. Most cables are 50 cm long, and the SATA cables are spaced 150mm apart, which should be adequate for most builds. However, if your PSU is mounted at the bottom of a large case, reaching the 8-pin EPS plug could be tricky.
Fan & Noise
Be quiet!’s extensive experience with cooling solutions is evident in the fan design. This PSU uses a 120mm rifle-bearing SilentWings fan with their signature wavy blades. The fan doesn’t stop running entirely, so it will always be in operation to some extent. It can ramp up to 2,000 RPM, but that level of speed is rarely needed unless you’re running an extremely power-hungry system.
For the most part, the fan stays true to its quiet branding. It creates under 20dB until the PSU reaches a usage of 600W and goes up to 30dB at 800W. At full load, the noise can peak around 40dB, but this is only likely in the most demanding situations.