The Corsair AX850 power supply comes in a box that is 15.5" long. That's 390MM! And wow! Talk about setting the bar high. "Mission-critical stability", "one of the best", "90% efficiency at 50% load".... That's why we're here today folks!
This week, a very small package came was dropped off on my doorstep by FedEx. At first I thought it was more Gloria Jean's coffee for the Keurig coffee maker, but it turns out that SilverStone's latest SFX power supply was inside of this package. SFX power supplies are used in MicroATX and FlexATX chassis. They're considerably smaller in size than ATX power supplies and because of this they tend to be lower power. Typically SFX power supplies are typically around 300W. This SilverStone, on the other hand, is a 450W unit.
Once upon a time, Enermax dropped off a package at my door that contained one of the best units I've ever tested - the Revolution 85+ 1050W. Recently, they decided that this most excellent line could use freshening up. So, they've come out with a new platform at 920W and 1020W to use with the Revolution 85+ moniker.
I've got the new 1020 watt model on the bench right now. Let's see if the new platform can improve on what were already some of the best units I've seen before or since.
Our odyssey into a sea of 80 Plus Gold continues today with what is only the second power supply I've looked at to clear the Gold level at 1200 watts. The Coolermaster Silent Pro Gold series is a brand new line that looks very promising. Let's have a look and find out if Coolermaster has a winner here.
Lately, there have been a lot of new 80 Plus Gold power supplies coming to market. I've already looked at several of these, and no doubt will be looking at several more in the coming months. Today, I'm revisiting one of the first Gold rated platforms to hit the market in the Seasonic X Series. You may remember that I've already had the 650 watt model on the bench. Let's take a good look at the 750 watt model.
Everybody's jumping on the 80 Plus Gold bandwagon these days. And why not? Technology has now gotten to the point where such an achievement is no longer the stuff of fairy tales. Kingwin is the latest to make an attempt at Gold, with an update on their Lazer series. I seem to remember the last Lazer being a pretty good unit indeed. Let's see what's changed in the new Gold version.
Once in a while, we like to take a look at units a little different from the norm. Not everybody needs or wants a full PS2 size ATX power supply... some people need something rather smaller than that, and yet still decent quality. Today, I'm looking at a TFX form factor unit from Seasonic. Let's find out now what we can expect from such a small package.
Once in a while, something really cool comes into the lab here for me to look at. Today is one of those days. Corsair just dropped their latest and greatest into my hands, a 1200 watt model that just so happens to be rated at 80 Plus Gold, and I'm going to see just what it can do. Come on in - this should be fun.
Coolermaster joins us here in the lab today with their GX-750, a 750 watt unit that promises to bring you lots of capable power at a low price. Featuring such things as a single 60A 12V rail, 80 Plus Bronze certification, and no less than four 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors; this could be the budget power supply you've been waiting for. Come on in, and we'll see what this unit can do.
Things have become pretty tame around here lately. We've developed a fearsome reputation among power supply manufacturers for riding review units hard and putting them away wet, and everybody knows it. Often, they won't even send out review units that won't pass our testing methodology. But I must confess that I get restless. Reviewing units that pass testing week after week is rather dull at times.
So, I'm doing something different this time. Instead of waiting for trouble to find me, I'm going out looking for it. We've purchased a brand new Diablotek RPM-1050, a 1050W heatpipe equipped unit with an unusually low price, and I'm going to see what it can really do.