2003 Power Supply Roundup Part II: Better Faster Cheaper
by Kristopher Kubicki on July 31, 2003 1:58 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
After our last review, we got dozens of emails begging for PCP&C power supplies. Thankfully, our good friends at Directron.com were able to help us obtain a sample. Unfortunately, our initial looks at the unit were slightly mixed.
Our largest amazement was that the TurboCool 475 unit had no power switch. Out of almost 20 represented power supplies, this was the only unit that did not have a simple on/off switch. The TurboCool 475 was also the loudest power supply we had ever heard, definitely louder than the TTGI or Vantec units on full fan speed.
On the other hand, the TurboCool 475 does have a few things going for it. For one, TurboCool is one of the only units we have seen that contains onboard line purification. This definitely will help our signal and generate great results in our ripple test. To justify the loud fan speed, the TurboCool 475 also stays extremely cool during operation, even under load.
Albeit subtle, the TurboCool 475 has variable voltage settings inside the unit. The Antec TrueControl puts them on the fan control in the front of the case, which makes it a little more user friendly. PC Power & Cooling makes you void the warranty to get at the variable voltage controls, so its definitely something that is not recommended unless you know exactly what you are doing.
Wattages
|
|
3.3V |
5V |
12V |
-12 |
-5 |
+5vsb |
combined theoretical |
actual combined |
advertised total |
|
PC Power & Cooling TurboCool 475 |
148.50 |
200.00 |
216.00 |
24.00 |
1.50 |
14.00 |
348.50 |
300.00 |
480.00 |
The TurboCool has an extremely high +3.3V rail. This power supply is geared for the AMD system builder, without a doubt. As a result, the combined +3.3V/+5.0V rail is also quite remarkable; higher than any other power supply we tested. If this is not to your taste you can adjust the voltages on the inside of the unit, although we recommend not voiding the warranty unless you absolutely have no other choice. Remember, playing with the adjustable voltage settings can really mess up your computer. The unit does not come with any ATX sheathing, so you may want to invest in twist ties or some other form of cable management
When we first obtained this sample, it was priced around $180. We never really could figure out why it was priced so high, but over the last couple months the price dropped a little to $165. Even though the TurboCool definitely lacks features, it is the best performer in our benchmark suite. If you are an AMD builder (or overclocker) and you do not mind the loud fan (and high price), this is the power supply for you.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
70 Comments
View All Comments
Anonymous User - Saturday, August 2, 2003 - link
#11, yes P=IxV, but the power ratings in the table were obviously taken from manufacturers' data rather than actual measurements, which is why when any power rating for any of the positive voltages is divided by that voltage, the quotient exactly equals an integer. That would not be a problem if all manufacturers applied identical standards to their specifications, but many computer users have learned that this isn't the case.Anonymous User - Saturday, August 2, 2003 - link
Perhaps you could include a Q-Tec PSU in the next review? They retail here in Sweden at about 60% of the price of corresponding Enermax and other high quality units, so assuming they aren't totally lousy they're very cheap.Anonymous User - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
I agree with #15. Definitely take a look at the PC Power and Cooling 400w Silencer PSU. I own two of these units and they're very high quality with reasonably low noise.Anonymous User - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
Enlight power supplies are always being excluded from these PSU comparsions. I have a Enlight 360W PSU and it's very stable and very quiet. Test some Enlight PSUs!Anonymous User - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
I appreciated the comments concerning AMD users, but what I really need is some sort of guidance on AMD processor speed vs combined power or 3.3V rail current for upgrading older systems. Many older cases have limited power supplies and I'm trying to figure out the fastest processor I can install and still have reliable operation. Example: A 300 watt supply with 25A of 3.3V can only support up to a Athlon 1600+ on an ECS K7S5A Pro or a 350 watt with a combined power of 200W can support up to 2200+. Oh, and forget that old 250 watt power supply altogether. I need something like that... yeah, I know: your mileage may vary, void where prohibited by law, no watts were endangered in the making of this article.....:-)Anonymous User - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
Next time you guys might want to check out the PC P&C Silencer 400. It's built just as heavily as the Turbo Cool but with a quieter fan.Anonymous User - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
Hey guys, im sure 1 or 2 of you resistorheads are an ee or will soon be one.. ripple and noise are only part of a good pwr supply.. we need the facts... how many watts do these power supplies really put out. how do they respond with a big load.. will they take an overload.. how well are they protected...thats what i wanna read aboutMIDIman - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
WOW - excellent review. I'm getting a zalman for my silent box.Nice to see you guys pumping out articles quickly again! Thanks!
idenyit - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
hey just wondering the allied A400ATX hows that compare with the B400ATX thats offered on newegg? any differences?Anonymous User - Friday, August 1, 2003 - link
#10, doesnt P=IV? The Power and Voltage measurements were given.