Cooler Master MWE White 230V V2 MPE-5001-ACABW

Modern circuitry with DC-DC converters

The MWE White power supply formally belongs to the low-cost series, so it costs and looks accordingly: an ordinary black box with a classic 120mm fan, a pack of protruding cables, no backlight or modular cables. However, it has a few distinguishing features that put it a notch above many of its competitors. Firstly, it is made on the basis of modern circuitry with DC-DC converters, which are more commonly seen in power supplies of a higher class, and not in state employees. Secondly, it uses, again unusual for its class, a semi-passive cooling system with a fan based on a quiet and durable hydrodynamic bearing.

Work on bugs

Unlike the first version of MWE White, which was released a couple of years ago, the new one from Cooler Master supports the ATX 12V V2.52 standard instead of ATX12V v2.3. It looks like the company did a competent job on the bugs and redesigned the circuitry (LLC + DC-DC + Taiwanese capacitors, etc.) because the new product handles well with stress tests: with test loads on +12 V, +5 V and +3.3 V voltage remained in excellent condition, the ripples were barely noticeable, and the voltage did not sag. And in stress tests for overload, this 500-watt baby took the bar at 600 watts without any problems, which we decided to limit ourselves to. The first version of MWE White did not know how to do this due to the strong heating of the internal components.

Warranty 3 years

The hydrodynamic bearing fan pleases with efficient operation and high reliability. Up to the 100W power mark, the MWE White 230V V2 is very quiet. Between 100 and 250 watts, it can be described as quiet. Above a load of 250W, the sound from the fan becomes more audible, but remains at a comfortable below-average level. And even under peak load, it does not emit any additional noise in the form of an annoying squeak of chokes or the characteristic buzz of a transformer. Of course, one could complain about the lack of overload protection (but there is UVP and OTP), as well as Taiwanese capacitors instead of Japanese ones, but these points are more than covered by the $50 price tag and a three-year manufacturer's warranty.