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In general, we feel that Thermaltake Silent PurePower 350W fanless power supply is a component that should be purchased only when your computer system meets certain requirements: a chassis with a square cut-out for the power supply, and an efficient airflow/layout in the chassis. When used with a system that meets these requirements, the Silent PurePower definitely brings a benefit to the table: no noise. While our test system produced its own fair share of noise, when going from the double fan power supply to the Silent PurePower there was a very audible difference in terms of noise level.

It is unfortunate that using the Silent PurePower caused system instability in our case, and that is why we recommend that its use be limited to a chassis that is well-ventilated, or at least fairly large. As mentioned earlier, the instability was definitely as a result of the extra heat added to the internals of the system, which pushed it over its stable operating temperatures.

Power output performance of the unit was well within acceptable results. Under load, we were within spec, and we are sure that if the heat problem were to be alleviated, this power supply would make a very good performer, even in the systems of heavy users with many high-power peripherals.

One last item of note is the lack of Power Factor Correction on the W0029 model that we received. Power Factor Correction (which comes in Active and Passive types) is a mechanism for more efficiently utilizing the AC input source, and leveling out the "noise" introduced into AC lines by the power supply. Regular kitchen appliances, for instance, usually draw a steady, non-fluctuating amount of AC power. A computer power supply draws varying levels of AC power, as the power draw of various components can change from minute to minute. These fluctuations make it difficult to utilize the AC input to its full potential. PFC was introduced in order to alleviate these issues.

We were quite surprised that the W0029 does not come with even passive PFC, as it is nearly a standard among higher-end power supplies in today's times. It is important to note that the W0050 model comes with passive PFC.

To summarize, the Thermaltake Silent PurePower 350W fanless power supply is a very innovative product, and worthy of purchase if you are interested in reducing the noise output of your computer system, but only if your chassis can properly accommodate it.