THG: Do you plan to integrate new features in future devices? Some manufacturers offer manually adjustable voltage or an input display, for example.

Be quiet!: We regard these kinds of functions on a power supply unit as neither necessary nor useful. We value developments that serve to improve functionality and protect sensitive components inside the computer. Characteristics which have a purely visual function are not the focus of product development for power supply units at Be quiet! What is more, we see dangers in the use of manually regulated voltage. We don't want to unnecessarily increase the price of our power supply units by installing visual effects and functions.

THG: Current power supply units transform 20 to 25 percent of output into heat, which makes itself noticeable in electricity costs. What efforts are you making to improve efficiency?

Be quiet!: This subject is very important to us. At the moment, we are working overtime to improve efficiency. We also want to reduce the heat produced within the power supply units by using new components and by increasing the circulation of air inside the computer. And it is also important to us that we will be using vibration dampers in the area of transistors. The new series, which will be on the market at the end of the year, will demonstrate improved efficiency values.

THG: Noise levels play an ever-increasing role for businesses as well as private users. Why don't you offer a hybrid or passive power supply unit, which would enable a better work environment?

Be quiet!: Be quiet! power supply units really are very quiet. At the moment, the drawback of passive power supply units is that they produce a great deal of heat. We want as little heat generated inside the PCs as possible. Passive power supply units in the housing require additional ventilation to channel off the heat. There has to be cooling noise somewhere. We would thus reject this type of solution. If we look at the results of our surveys, we see that the passive power supply units on the market at the moment do not sufficiently cool PC components and are rather expensive to boot. For this reason, passive power supply units have not made a breakthrough on the market.

THG: How do you see your ranking in the market compared to the competition? How large is your market share?

Be quiet!: At the moment there are no independent studies by market research institutes; as a result it is hard to make statements about market shares.

In looking at our power supply units, the focus is more on the technical characteristics and the services, which we offer to customers as part of a complete package. Here, we are less interested in our competitors and our market share. If, however, we look at the results of the surveys conducted by different media providers, as well as the results from the THG Reader's Choice awards in January 2005, we see that Be quiet! continues to be extremely popular among users.

THG: Do you plan to enter the mobile sector with your power supply units? The new digital home devices also work with compact external power supply units.

Be quiet!: At the moment we are concentrating on developing and improving ATX power supply units. As soon as our most important goals have been achieved in these segments, we might start looking at other fields of business activity.

The interview was conducted by Frank Völkel, Bert Töpelt and Daniel Schuhmann.