Bitfenix whisper 450w review in Spanish (complete analysis)

A few months ago we had the honor of taking a look at the Bitfenix Formula font, which left us with great impressions for a fairly low cost product. Today we bring you the analysis of its older sister, the Bitfenix Whisper M. Specifically, the 450W model.

The main difference with the Formula is in the 100% modular wiring and two more years of warranty, reaching 7. The interior is also manufactured by CWT, but we will find some improvements, and both the fan and the source itself are larger.

The quality that the Formula showed us leaves us quite confident about this Whisper M, but the only way to see if the legacy continues is to analyze it, so do not hesitate to join us. Let's start!

We thank the German store Caseking for trusting this source for analysis:

Technical specifications Bitfenix Whisper M

External analysis

The front of the box presents the fountain elegantly. It is worth noting the generous warranty period (7 years) and the 80 Plus Gold efficiency certification.

The reverse side shows the organization of the wiring, the dimensions of the source, the modular connectors, the power distribution and a graph with the profile of the fan. Here are several things to comment on.

On the one hand, the number of connectors is more than correct, even generous, for a 450W version. We have 2 6 + 2-pin PCIe connectors, 8 SATA, 4 Molex connectors and, unsurprisingly, 1 CPU and 1 24-pin ATX. Its length seems more than enough to us.

Regarding the power distribution, we are dealing with a multi- rail source , something that we love since it allows us to include overcurrent protection (OCP) in the 12V rails, which offers an extra layer of protection to the components.

This protection is implemented almost exclusively in multi-rail sources such as this or digital (which are only seen from € 300). Many brands do not do this because it greatly increases production costs and the myth that single-rail sources are ' more powerful and safer ' has become quite widespread, so bravo to Bitfenix.

Finally, the fan graph suggests that the source will enjoy quite quiet operation, starting at just 500rpm, which is a fairly low speed. We will confirm this later in the tests, but we are sure that it will be super quiet thanks to Cybenetics' LAMBDA A ++ certification, the highest silence rating of the certifying company.

We open the box and find a bag containing the cables and the source, plus a user manual. Protection is excellent, ensuring that it reaches our homes in perfect condition.

As seen, the external appearance is refined and elegant, without standing out in this regard. Anyway, remember that beauty is inside, especially in power supplies?

One of the SATA / Molex sockets can be seen on the modular board of the source. It is because the 450 and 550W versions share this board, something that does not concern us at all.

All cables are flat, which seems perfect to us. However, we found that the ATX cable carries capacitors, hidden under a large piece of plastic. Unfortunately, it is not something that improves performance enough to be considered necessary, but it dramatically worsens the mounting experience:

This is not a serious problem, mounting will still be possible in any box, but we think it is not worth adding capacitors to the cables. These are included to reduce ripple and noise at the output, but in most cases the impact is minimal. For now everything looks great, now let's take a look inside, see what they surprise us with.

Internal analisis

We open the Whisper and salute the manufacturer's powerful internal design CWT. Specifically, the "GPU" platform, somewhat different from the "GPS" found in the Bitfenix Formula.

Something very visible is the almost total absence of internal cables, which allows an improved air flow and increases efficiency. A large number of heatsinks have not been used, but with the clean design and considering that it is actively cooled, we are not concerned.

The primary filter is made up of 4 Y capacitors, two X capacitors and a pair of coils. These components prevent electromagnetic interference with the electrical network, an important task and in this case well performed.

In addition, a varistor or MOV (reduces surges), an NTC thermistor together with an electromagnetic relay are present (the latter prevent the source from being damaged due to current spikes that occur when turning on the equipment).

It should also be noted that the rectifier diode bridge, a GBU606, is cooled by a heatsink.

The main capacitor is signed by the Japanese Nichicon, with a voltage of 400V and a capacity of 330 uF which seems somewhat low. Its quality is excellent, with a temperature rating of up to 105ºC.

On the secondary side, half of the capacitors are made of so-called solid or aluminum polymer (that is, the ones with the highest quality and durability), made mostly by Nichicon, while the rest (electrolytic) are also Japanese, from Nippon Chemi-Con, belonging to the KZE, KZH, KY and KMQ series.

Here are the DC-DC modules, responsible for generating the 5V and 3.3V rails. If you are wondering the importance of its use, take a look at this article in our forum.

To ensure the implementation of all protections, two supervisory circuits are used, the Weltrend WT7518D and the Sitronix ST9S429-PG14.

Welding quality is acceptable, not the best we've ever seen but welds are completely safe and ready to last.

Finally, it is time to comment on the fan, a 135mm Martech DF1352512SEMN, which is announced with a 'dynamic fluid bearing' (FDB), although everything points to it being a hydrodynamic bearing or 'rifle'. This is a problem? Well, on the one hand the warranty period is quite generous (7 years), and on the other hand the fan is very quiet as we will explain in the performance tests.

Test bench and performance tests

We have carried out tests to regulate the voltages, consumption and speed of the fan. To do this, we have used the following equipment, which charges the source to approximately 75% of its capacity:

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel Core i5-4690K
Base plate:	Asus Maximus VII HERO.
Memory:	16GB DDR3
Heatsink	Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
HDD	Samsung 850 EVO SSD. Seagate Barracuda HDD
Graphic card	Sapphire R9 380X
Power supply	Bitfenix Whisper M 450W

The measurement of voltages is real, since it is not extracted from Software but from a UNI-T UT210E multimeter. For consumption we have a Brennenstuhl meter and a laser tachometer for fan speed.

Test scenarios

The tests are divided into several scenarios, in order from lowest to highest consumption.

	CPU load	GPU charging	Actual consumption (approx)
Scenario 1	None (at rest)	~ 70W
Scenario 2	Prime95	None	~ 120W
Scenario 3	None	FurMark	~ 285W
Scenario 4	Prime95	FurMark	~ 340W

To measure the fan speed, an initial scenario is added that is measured just when the equipment is turned on, while the rest of the scenarios are measured after 30min of use (2h in the case of Scenario 1)

Voltage regulation

The voltages are almost spiked to the 12V nominal value, great?

Consumption

Consumption is on par with 80 + Gold sources like the Be Quiet Straight Power 11 that we discussed earlier.

(The Straight power 11 was tested again to compare with the Whisper, due to a change in the conditions of this test)

Sonority

As promised by the brand, the fan of this Whisper has an extremely relaxed profile, with which it is practically impossible to hear the source without sticking your ear to it. We start at just 450rpm and the speed is maintained at similar levels.

Bitfenix leaves further proof that 100% quiet operation can be achieved without the semi-passive mode that sacrifices cooling capacity.

As with the Bitfenix Formula, the Martech fan bearing does not produce any noise typical of poor quality fans. We are, once again, facing one of the quietest sources on the market that do not use semi-passive mode. Bravo for Bitfenix…

Final words and conclusion about Bitfenix Whisper M

It seems that Bitfenix has taken the power supply market seriously. The two ranges we have analyzed, Formula and Whisper, are the result of their renewal in this complex market, and they show great interest in doing things well and competitively positioning their products.

The brand manages to stand out for its competitive prices, the use of a modern, clean internal design with excellent components, as well as being one of the few models with a 100% complete protection system, thanks to the inclusion of overcurrent protection (OCP) in 12V, thanks to a well-designed multi-rail system.

The 7-year guarantee helps us to dispel our doubts about the fan, of which we do not know its quality. It's also gratifying how quiet it is, thanks to its very relaxed speed profile and the absence of noise in its bearing. Good proof of this is that it has achieved the highest Cybenetics loudness certification (LAMBDA A ++) despite not using a semi-passive mode.

We recommend you read the best power supplies on the market

The organization of the wiring would be perfect if it weren't for the capacitors in the ATX cable, which make it considerably more difficult to manage. If this had been omitted, perhaps some headaches could be saved during the assembly of the equipment.

Its market price is around 80 euros for the 450W model, € 90 for 550W, € 110 for 750W and € 125 for 850W, very competitive prices, but nevertheless with the great drawback that its availability is quite limited. If you are looking for a source in a store that has Whispers available at these prices, we encourage you to take it into account since it is one of the best options on the market.

Let us summarize the main advantages and disadvantages of this Whisper M:

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
- ADVANCED INTERIOR, OF EXCELLENT QUALITY	- LIMITED AVAILABILITY
- PRACTICALLY INAUDIBLE WITHOUT SACRIFYING REFRIGERATION	- CAPACITORS IN THE ATX CABLE THAT DIFFICULT THE ASSEMBLY
- FULLY MODULAR
- 7 YEARS WARRANTY
- MORE COMPLETE PROTECTIONS THAN ALMOST ALL COMPETITORS

The Professional Review team awards you the Platinum Medal and Recommended Product.

Bitfenix Whisper M

INTERNAL QUALITY - 94%

SOUND - 94%

WIRING MANAGEMENT - 86%

PROTECTION SYSTEMS - 98%

PRICE - 90%

92%

Quality, absolute silence, promising price. We love to see some brands striving to offer complete protection systems, something that the competition often ignores.