Power Supply Roundup: 730W to 900W
by Christoph Katzer on November 22, 2007 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Amacrox Freestyle - 750W
Amacrox is well known in the European market, providing good quality at an affordable price. The ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) is FSP, also known as Fotron Source - one of the five largest power supply manufacturers in the world. Amacrox is one of several retail brands FPS uses. The Freestyle 750 has a shiny appearance and contains a 12cm fan on the bottom of the power supply. The packaging is quite nice and gives potential buyers a good view of the power supply in retail shops, since there is a small window that allows a look at the power supply inside. Besides the standard short manual, the box also includes a bag in which you can store unused cables.
We find four 12V rails rated at 20A each, and a combined power of 725W. The 3.3V and 5V rails both provide 30A. The description Amacrox provides about which connectors are powered by the various 12V rails is a nice addition. 12V1 is connected to both of the CPU connectors in form of the 4-pin and 8-pin and ATX connectors, 12V2 handles the first two graphics cards, and 12V3 is for peripherals such as hard disks and optical drives as well as the motherboard. The 12V4 rail keeps the next round of graphics cards running.
Cables and Connectors
All cables are sleeved, with the PCI-E harnesses in orange color instead black. There are several other differences between this PSU and the other units. Amacrox has more SATA than Molex connectors attached while other manufacturers take the reverse approach. The two 6-pin and 6/8-pin PEG connectors (four total) on the 750W unit provide enough power for most graphics configurations.
Opening the unit reveals a standard FSP topology with three heatsinks. FSP uses components that won't generate too much heat, which also results in a better efficiency. The heatsinks can therefore be a little thinner and not quite as large/heavy. We'll see a similar approach in the Seasonic power supply. The Taiwan Oster Corporation manufactures the primary cap, and it seems to be a cheaper offering than what we'll see elsewhere. The secondary side uses capacitors from CapXon.
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engman - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - link
Can you explain beter the Voltage Ripple and Noise graphs?I really cant get it! Where is the graph scale?
engman - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - link
I was trying to find a good PSU and found this review.When you say: "The actual Power Supply Design Guide specifies that each +12V rail should not have any ripple over 120mV and the +3.3V and +5V rails should not have any ripple over ~50mV."
Means that each power rail should not go outside this interval:
11.88V < 12V < 12.12V 120mV
3.25V < 3.30V < 3.35V 50mV
4.95V < 5V < 5.05V 50mV
Correct?
How can 12.17V fall inside the specified range? "The 12V rails of the OCZ ModXStream tended to be high, but this is still acceptable as they fall inside the specified range."
4.75V is inside the specs? and 5.13?
"The 5V rails also remain within specs, but the last two units (OCZ and Amacrox) are very close to the lower boundary at 100% load."
So what are the exac boundaries, or the voltage interval for each power rail?
thanks
yelnatsch517 - Thursday, December 6, 2007 - link
I noticed the Cooler Master reviewed was the M850 ESBA modular version of the RS 850 EMBA. Seeing as how it is impossible to find that model in the US, I am wondering if the model reviewed was either a EU version or a new model Cooler Master is planning on introducing in the near future and also whether the internals of the US EMBA 850watt version are the same.jonnyGURU - Friday, December 14, 2007 - link
The Cooler Masters are identical. Cooler Master refrains from selling the modular version in the U.S. due to Ultra's patent on the modular interface and threats to sue. You CAN buy the Cooler Master modular here in the U.S. if you get it bundled with a case. I've seen it pre-installed in some Stacker units over at Newegg.stolennomenclature - Tuesday, December 4, 2007 - link
I know im getting old and the old brain isnt what it used to be, but did'nt i read somewhere about dwindling oil reserves, skyrocketing oil prices, depletion of the ozone layer, and the need to reduce energy counsumption and be the green movement? I even thought I saw a trend with cpu makers trying to lower energy counsmption of their cpu's.You would'nt think any of this stuff was real when you see the trend towards bigger fuel guzzling SUV's and now a article like this - why on earth do we need kilowatt power supplies for a PC!
If I was in government id have these things banned or else slap an enormous tax on them.
People need to wake up and smell the roses. Its obscene that a PC should need a power supply over 300 watts. Even thats extravagant.
jonnyGURU - Friday, December 14, 2007 - link
A PSU only puts out what's asked of it. So if you're PC only uses 300W, the PSU only puts out 300W. Really the only drawback here is that larger units typically cost more to buy, and neither you nor I are in the position to tell someone how to spend their money. ;)ShadowStryder - Monday, November 26, 2007 - link
Persoanally I like the new review layout.Toadster - Saturday, November 24, 2007 - link
850W of goodness for under $190http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...=N82E168...
recently was on sale for $119 A/R
HexiumVII - Friday, November 23, 2007 - link
Who manufactures the Antec 750?Christoph Katzer - Saturday, November 24, 2007 - link
The 850? Enhance.