PCPC don't do a modular unit - the company has certain "issues" with the use of extra connectors:
3. DON'T LOSE POWER WITH MODULAR PLUGS
Due to their look, convenience, and cost savings for manufacturers, modular plugs have become a popular power supply feature. Unfortunately, there has been little or no discussion of the impact of this feature on overall performance and reliability. The fact is, modular plugs limit power by adding to electrical resistance. The voltage drop can be as much as would occur in 2 feet of standard wire. Worse yet, modular plugs utilize delicate pins that can easily loosen, corrode, and burn, creating the potential for a major system failure. That's why professional system builders specify uninterrupted wire!
As much as I trust PCPC's years of excellence, I still find it hard to believe it makes that much difference compared to the space saving it can afford, the overall improvement to airflow and most importantly for us modders - how much more aesthetically pleasing it can turn a case internals to be.
Having half a ton of unused cables strewn into a corner somewhere looks tacky, and that's providing you can find a spot to stuff them. I'd suggest PCPC talk to some audio engineers to find out how they get electrical signals effectively from point A to point B, because those guys are arguably the most pedantic on the planet.
The whole web page about why PCPC does what it does is certainly an enlightening read, with some great points. However I personally feel that some issues, such as modular cables, are overly dismissed as non-issues; it is still a good reference resource. PCPC is a company focused on performance above everything else which makes them particularly niche, especially for those of us who like a balance of features. So not making a modular unit is understandable but regrettable for those of us who favour them. We hope one day we'll get a compromise - even if it's a modular PCPC product sold under the OCZ brand so as not to "spoil" the reputation.
The units have a single black 80mm fan on the rear, unlike the 120mm or 135mm's on the top like many others. This fan uses ball bearings for a longer life, but these are also typically louder. Inside there are some very large aluminium heatsinks and other components attached to a single PCB. I understand PCPC doesn't "do" top down fans because it means that you have less space for components and you're limited by height and not depth in PSU space.
It says that two fans are needed if something needs to be spot cooled, however it also requires the internal layout to require less cooling the further you progress away from the fan. There's a limit to the type of components that you can use, without reinventing fundamental electronics, and we have found a multi fan arrangement can offer a more balanced, average airflow between the front and back of the unit. A top down fan may force smaller component use, but generally larger fans push more air at lower speeds and quietness is something very high on many PC users lists.
We are again getting the performance over everything without compromise ideology, however thankfully the PCPC Silencer is actually an extremely quiet unit despite the single 80mm ball bearing fan.
3. DON'T LOSE POWER WITH MODULAR PLUGS
Due to their look, convenience, and cost savings for manufacturers, modular plugs have become a popular power supply feature. Unfortunately, there has been little or no discussion of the impact of this feature on overall performance and reliability. The fact is, modular plugs limit power by adding to electrical resistance. The voltage drop can be as much as would occur in 2 feet of standard wire. Worse yet, modular plugs utilize delicate pins that can easily loosen, corrode, and burn, creating the potential for a major system failure. That's why professional system builders specify uninterrupted wire!
As much as I trust PCPC's years of excellence, I still find it hard to believe it makes that much difference compared to the space saving it can afford, the overall improvement to airflow and most importantly for us modders - how much more aesthetically pleasing it can turn a case internals to be.
Having half a ton of unused cables strewn into a corner somewhere looks tacky, and that's providing you can find a spot to stuff them. I'd suggest PCPC talk to some audio engineers to find out how they get electrical signals effectively from point A to point B, because those guys are arguably the most pedantic on the planet.
The whole web page about why PCPC does what it does is certainly an enlightening read, with some great points. However I personally feel that some issues, such as modular cables, are overly dismissed as non-issues; it is still a good reference resource. PCPC is a company focused on performance above everything else which makes them particularly niche, especially for those of us who like a balance of features. So not making a modular unit is understandable but regrettable for those of us who favour them. We hope one day we'll get a compromise - even if it's a modular PCPC product sold under the OCZ brand so as not to "spoil" the reputation.
The units have a single black 80mm fan on the rear, unlike the 120mm or 135mm's on the top like many others. This fan uses ball bearings for a longer life, but these are also typically louder. Inside there are some very large aluminium heatsinks and other components attached to a single PCB. I understand PCPC doesn't "do" top down fans because it means that you have less space for components and you're limited by height and not depth in PSU space.
It says that two fans are needed if something needs to be spot cooled, however it also requires the internal layout to require less cooling the further you progress away from the fan. There's a limit to the type of components that you can use, without reinventing fundamental electronics, and we have found a multi fan arrangement can offer a more balanced, average airflow between the front and back of the unit. A top down fan may force smaller component use, but generally larger fans push more air at lower speeds and quietness is something very high on many PC users lists.
We are again getting the performance over everything without compromise ideology, however thankfully the PCPC Silencer is actually an extremely quiet unit despite the single 80mm ball bearing fan.
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