Cooler Master upgraded all of its VSM models except for its 450 W unit, now offering them under the V-series name. These upgrades include a modified platform with a re-designed 3D circuit, which is just a vertical PCB, a higher quality fan, and Japanese capacitors. Overall, the performance of the V550 is good; however, it cannot match the VSM550's performance. The price difference between these two models is also huge, and Cooler Master should revise the V550's stiff price tag of 120 bucks, which is too much for 550 W Gold-certified unit. Such a high price literally cripples its performance-per-dollar ratio, which is a shame because it could be such an attractive proposition at a lower price tag. Many users probably prefer a fully modular PSU over a semi-modular one, and the LDB fan promises to last much longer, but I don't think these users would agree to pay the price difference for these features.

Despite its downsides, with the most important being its low hold-up time and high inrush current, the V550 performs pretty well overall, featuring amazing efficiency at light loads and a silent operation under normal conditions. The exclusive use of Japanese caps and an LDB fan also boost this product's reliability and longevity. If Cooler Master were to ask for less than 100 bucks for this unit, it could easily afford to face off against the competition in its category, given there are very few fully modular PSU with such compact dimensions. However, this clearly isn't the case, and the V550 will have a hard time competing not only against other offers by other companies, but Cooler Master's very own VSM550 with better performance at a much lower price. As such, you should get the VSM550 over the V550 if you don't mind the three native cables. Meanwhile, I expect Cooler Master to address all the issues I found, while lowering the V550's price to help it survive in its own category.