Inside, Cont'd



Some readers might have already recognized the little silver/clear dots on the heatsinks. These are actually LED lights that will shine out of the power supply once it's powered on. Don't worry: the lights can be switched off through the software if you so desire.



There are a total of four LEDs installed in this power supply. They shine through the fan into the system when active. They provide blue lighting and look a little like UV light, but as they aren't true UV lights UV-active material will only glow slightly in the dark.

Secondary Side




The secondary side is packed and the components are hard to see. There's a big PCB on the edge of the secondary side that includes all the controls and power connections for the system cables. The fan and temperature diodes also connect to this PCB. There are so many cables that it's impossible for air to come through to cool components under it. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see the capacitors' manufacturer(s) or their rating, but we didn't want to dismantle the unit any further for fear of damaging it prior to testing.

Open Up and Say "Ah" Testing Overview
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  • strikeback03 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    Does the software need to be running for the voltage regulation to work? Or can you make changes then close the software and have the changes still work on the PSU?

    Also I'd guess if UV lighting is that useful for a case you could swap the blue LEDs for some UV ones - looks like enough wire is exposed to cut the blue ones and solder in UV ones.
  • Oberst - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    Hello,
    nice review (i wouldn't expect anything else of you). But I've got a question about the measuring-software: Was it reliable, when measuring voltages? You already mentioned, that the wattage was not reliable. So I'd like to know, if that was because of wrong measured amps or volts.
    greets Oberst.
  • Christoph Katzer - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    Voltages have been quite accurate; amps have been wrong in almost every case.
  • qpwoei - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    Once you've got the ripple measurements sorted out, it'd be nice to get some scope traces as the load changes. Poor transient response of the rails can cause all sorts of hard-to-diagnose problems in the real world.
  • Christoph Katzer - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    We use a scope to follow response on the rails but until now we feel the data is not good enough to present. If there would be something to extraordinary to tell we surely would.
  • bob4432 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    what about that? a good quality unit, the Corsair 520HX seems to be a lot of people's favorite lately, how does it really stack up? or some of the FSP "Green" units - are they really that efficient? what about seasonic - really as good as everyone says?

    these reports are all fine and dandy, but you are catering to possibly 5% of your user base, yes even here 800W is extreme overkill.

    and it is not a $$$ issue but rather a reality issue. i am surprised you guys testing these are continuing the thought process by only reviewing the upper wattage units and thus making everyone think they need one when they don't - people on review 750W psus, so i must need one...come on guys
  • Christoph Katzer - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    Will come. No worries about that. At the moment we are just starting as you can see and of course every company wants to have the best PSU tested first. We'll have lower ones very soon but need to work on that mountain of PSUs here first. With 380w you will see a Seasonic pretty soon for example.
  • bob4432 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    will definitely be looking forward to them :)
  • ATWindsor - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    I disagree that an OCP per rail i s a good thing, it onyl makes using the PSU more of a hassle, since you can draw a lot less from the PSU on 12V than the specs would make possible, if you are unlucky and draw most of it from one rail. Several manufacturers have one big rail without any know safety-problems, having an OCP for the combined drav from the 12V-lines however is a good thing.

    AtW
  • dare2savefreedom - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - link

    I would be interested in knowing how a psu runs with dual 8800gtxs in virginia in summertime in an old house with a window air conditioner.

    Not these theoretical white glove clean room lab environment tests.

    triple sli 8800gtx?

    come one stop playing with your iphone.

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