It is the final weekend of June, 2010, and here we are prospecting for gold again. Today's review sample is the Kingwin Lazer 1000W, the most powerful in a series of four Kingwin models that promise 80 Plus Gold level efficiency at modest prices. The last time I looked at Kingwin, it was way back in the latter months of 2009 when I load tested the 80 Plus Bronze Lazer 1000 watt unit. We'll have to find out what's changed to bring the line up from Bronze to Gold, and we will. Oh yes... we will. But first, we're going to look at a bunch of box and product pictures, as we always do.

On this part of the box, we get all our marketing. I reckon you're all going to make me type this out, aren't you? Put down the squirt gun, sir, I was gonna do it anyway. But first, what is that I see there, amongst the fancy logos on this side of the box? Is that a three year warranty being advertised? Why, yes it is. Kingwin, I'd suggest extending that by a little bit. Your competition has you outclassed, there.

• Support Intel Core i5/Intel Core i7/Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo & AMD Phenom X4/Phenom X3/Athlon 64 X2 High Performance CPU
• Compliance with ATX 12V v2.2, EPS 12V v2.91, and SSI EPS 12V v2.92 Specification
• Crystal Cube Modular Plug w/ Patented Power Connector Cable Management System
• More than 2,000 Times ON/OFF Test
• 80 PLUS® Gold High Efficiency Power Supply Certified
• Full Range Design from 115V~240V (Active PFC)
• 87%, 90%, and 87% Efficiency @ 20%, 50%, and 100% Load
• PCI-E 6Pin & 8(6+2) Pin Connector Satisfy High-End Graphic Card Requirement
• Over Power/Under Power/Over Voltage/Short Circuit Protections
• Stable +12V Current
• 140mm Blue LED Fan
• Intelligent Auto Fan Speed Control
• Compatible with Crossfire/SLI (LZG-550/LZG-700)
• Compatible with Crossfire/SLI/3 Way SLI (LZG-850/LZG-1000)

Mostly pretty standard marketing stuff up there, yes? However, I would like to compliment Kingwin on knowing that the autorange voltage input is a direct benefit of the active PFC circuit. Too many review samples come into my lab trying to make them into separate marketing points, and then I have to sit here and type out a great big long sentence going into all the details on how the automatic voltage input is actually a side benefit of APFC, and not necessarily something that really should be marketed as a separate point on the outside of one's power supply box, and it really drives me crazy having to type out great big long sentences like that when so many companies could have saved me all that trouble like Kingwin has here today.

I'm just glad I didn't have to do that today, is all.

Another side of the box for your perusal. There is one more box panel that has a few more interesting details, like an assertion that the operating temperature of the unit only extends to forty degrees, but I decided to spare you from having too many box pictures to look at. Gotta warn you, Kingwin, my hot box may not stop at forty degrees. We'll have to see how this unit holds up in the box on page three.

To get into the box, you have to open up a flap on the top of the box first. Then, you can open the lid and see this:

I'll just unpack for you now.

Power supply. Bag of modular cables. User guide. Power cord. Bag of screws.

This is the user guide - as they go, this one is lacking a bit, and yet still contains more info than many units I've tested.

Done up in matte black, the Lazer Gold looks just like the Lazer Bronze I looked at last year.

You will recall that the last Lazer also had these same types of modular connectors, and I for one am glad Kingwin is still using them rather than the circular ones they used on the old Mach 1. I seem to remember that these connectors lit up on the last version of the Lazer. Considering that this one is lacking the LED control switch on the back, I wonder if this one lights up the connectors at all. I'll find that out soon enough on the next page when I start the load testing.

Here's the exhaust grille, nice and open and unrestrictive.

The side of the unit has a Lazer Gold sticker shiny enough for Mr. Fuji to see his reflection in it. Look out, Mr. Fuji! There's a... a guy the size of a house behind you! Oh... that's just me. Sorry, dude.

Here's the label on the unit. Of particular interest is that this unit carries a single 12V rail weighing in at a staggering 83A. That amounts to 996 watts on a 1000 watt unit! That can mean only one thing - this unit likely uses DC-DC conversion on the secondary side for the minor rails.

Here's a somewhat up close look at the cube modular cable connectors. Kingwin has thoughtfully included some soft silicone caps for these connectors.

Featuring sleeving inspired by grandma's old vacuum cleaner, here are all the cables laid out for you. I'm not wild about the stripey look of the sleeving, but it's not terrible looking either.