Certification & Efficiency
Certification
Be Quiet! offers this PSU now as a Platinum 80+ product certified by the 80 PLUS organization (the people that certify and test efficiency). We already explained a little what that literally means. But what does such a certification entail? Well, 80 Plus (trademarked 80 PLUS) is a voluntary certification program intended to promote efficient energy use in computer power supply units (PSUs). Launched in 2004 by Ecos Consulting, it certifies products that have more than 80% energy efficiency at 20%, 50% and 100% of rated load, and a power factor of 0.9 or greater at 100% load. That is, such PSUs will waste 20% or less electric energy as heat at the specified load levels, thus reducing electricity use and bills compared to less efficient PSUs. Sometimes, rebates are given for manufacturers who use 80 Plus-certified PSUs.
Well, there is plenty to choose from, we have Standard, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and even Titanium certifications. A PSU that is certified 80 PLUS Gold or 80 PLUS Platinum is far more efficient than your regular unit. The Straight Power 11 power supplies are certified by the 80 PLUS organization to deliver an 94% energy efficiency at 50% load and 88% efficiency when your PC idles (at 230 Volts). The Pure Power 11 units have active PFC with a power factor up to 0.99 and are ErP compliant with a standby power drain below 0.1 watts.
These days we suggest you get at least a 500 Watt PSU for any mediocre PC, but considering your PC / PSU is the most efficient and energy friendly at half its load, it might be wise to get a higher rated power supply. The 300 Watt model tested is most efficient at 300 Watts, which is pretty much what a reasonably powerful PC with a high-end graphics card uses during a game of hefty fragging.
Pure Power stands for peerless dependability and best-in-class features at a competitive price point. Models with and without modular cables make Pure Power 11 extremely versatile in various applications. As a mainstream power supply, Pure Power 11 is best suited for silent PC configurations, powerful gaming- or workstations, and multi-GPU setups. Its predecessor, Pure Power 10, introduced DC-to-DC technology to the “essential” range of power supplies by be quiet!, improving crossload performance, and voltage regulation on the minor rails. Pure Power 11 keeps this proven topology, but upgrading a lot of passive and active components enables higher efficiency up to 92% with 80PLUS Gold certification. Higher efficiency leads to less heat generation and quieter operation. Compared to the predecessor, be quiet! also added an additional heatsink and removed the caps at the end of the 24-pin cable. Highlighted where applicable, this document lists all Pure Power 11 variants’ specifications, with and without cable management, and ranging from 300 to 700 watts models. Availability of different wattages may be subject to regional limitations.
Advanced technology
The Platinum models use a modern and high-quality power supply topology to achieve the best possible efficiency, signal stability and reliability. For this purpose, the power supply features full-bridge conversion, LLC, Synchronous Rectifying (SR) and DC-to-DC converters. These make the Straight Power 11 Platinum one of the most technologically advanced power supplies from be quiet!.
Virtually inaudible
Just as with the 80 PLUS Gold-certified Straight Power 11 models, be quiet! continues to rely on its proven high-end Silent Wings 3 135mm fan with a funnel-shaped inlet to increase airflow and reduce unwanted turbulence. The 6-pole motor and the fluid-dynamic bearing (FDB) ensure silent operation and, at less than 200 revolutions per minute, has a low startup rotational speed for quiet operation. The near-inaudible operating noise makes semi-passive fan curves unnecessary and ensures constant cooling at a low noise level. Straight Power 11 Platinum uses high-quality, 105°C-certified Japanese capacitors to prevent high-frequency electronic noise that can occur during extreme load changes, especially when using modern graphics cards.
Maximum longevity
Straight Power 11 Platinum has a wire-free design on the DC side; all connections run directly through the PCB. With no cables to obstruct airflow inside the power supply, component temperatures and signal quality are significantly improved, while signal interference from magnetic fields is reduced. It also significantly increases the lifespan of the power supply components.
Extended connection options
Modular cable management allows for easy installation, as cables can be routed and installed separately from the power supply unit. The detachable cables also avoid cable clutter, improving the look and airflow in the PC case. The cable harness now includes a second P8 connector from 650-watt upwards to supply high-end mainboards and processors with sufficient power.
Extensive protection circuits
As usual, safety plays a significant role in power supplies from be quiet! Straight Power 11 Platinum includes all available protection circuits, including overcurrent protection (OCP), overvoltage protection (OVP), undervoltage protection (UVP), short-circuit protection (SCP), overload protection (OPP), and the often overlooked but no less critical overtemperature protection (OTP).
Pricing and availability
Straight Power 11 Platinum will available in retail stores in the coming weeks, at recommended retail prices of €125 / £109.99 / $119.90² (550W), €139 / £124.99 / $134.90² (650W), €155 / £139.99 / $149.90² (750W), €179 / £164.99 / $174.90² (850W), €215 / £199.99 / $209.90² (1000W), and €239 / £210.99 / $249.90² (1200W). US dollar prices may vary in the United States of America. The power supplies include a 5-year warranty.
