The ongoing contest for Enermax PSUs is now even more attractive. You can also enter for fans, which we will be happy to add to the package for the winner. And also for free. In their case, we don’t even require them to be paired with the main build (with the Enermax PSU). You can use them as you see fit in some other computer where they will do a better job than gathering dust on the shelves of our testlab. Read more “Enermax contest bonus: You’ll also get fans with the PSU”
In cooperation with Enermax, we are organizing an activity where you can win one Revolution D.F. 12 PSU in any variant. 750 W or 850 W? Black, white? It doesn’t matter, whichever you choose for your build. The only condition is that you make the best use of its unique feature in the form of an extra short design. These are the shortest PSUs in the ATX format, and in this case, they also feature the latest ATX 3.1 standard. Read more “Want an extra short ATX PSU? Enermax is giving some away”
Upgrades towards the ATX 3.1 standard (from ATX 3.0) can be expected in the next period from leading PSU brands. Each will take on this task in different ways, for DeepCool it is now the release of the new PN-M model series. It represents the mid-range, characterized by the 80 Plus Gold or Cybenetics Gold efficiency rating, modular cabling and an output range of 650–850W. Read more “DeepCool PN-M: An influx of new ATX 3.1 PSUs (650–850 W)”
Seasonic’s new 12V-2×6 cables come with two new features that make them technically superior to their predecessors (with 12VHPWR connectors). There are more of those changes, but the protections against insufficient insertion and increased temperatures are among the most significant things that change across generations of 16-pin connectors. Seasonic’s (12V-2×6) cables are available in three variants. Read more “Seasonic 12V-2×6 cables: Only graphics card support not enough”
Enermax has new ATX PSUs with a length that is smaller than the SFX-L format. This makes them the smallest ATX PSUs currently available. The fan used is a bit smaller than usual, but its cross section hasn’t suffered that much. And also because of the presence of 16-pin 12V-2×6 cables (with shortened sense pins), we’re already dealing with the ATX 3.1 standard. Read more “Only 122 mm. Enermax shortened its ATX PSUs (Revolution D.F. 12)”
You’ve already read the extensive analysis of graphics card coil whine changes depending on the PSU used. One last thing is missing for it to be complete. And that is to add the behavior of cheap PSUs with lower quality components. Otherwise, one could still speculate that across classes the situation could be significantly different. Could it? This is what we will focus on in the measurements with “80 Plus” PSUs, one of which is also already quite old. Read more “Minitest: Cheap PSUs vs. graphics cards coils whine”
“After replacing the PSU, the video card coils stopped whining”. An extremely common statement and yet it always remains on a subjective level, which is a pity. But that is also why we will now look at things in an exact, numerical way. We do this by testing several graphics cards, where for each, noise levels of VRM coils are monitored with each ATX (3.0) power supply used. So how is it with the “whining”? When is it stronger and when is it weaker? Read more “Which combo whines the least? 12 PSUs, 3 graphics cards…”
If you have been considering ATX 3.0 PSUs to be “too expensive”, then DeepCool will be looking to change your perspective on the matter. With models from the new PL-D series, which also includes lower-performance variants. Those, combined with 80 Plus Bronze, are priced quite low and can already be acquired, some might say, cheaply. This is at the price of lower efficiency (a compromise), but still maintaining key safety protections. Read more “DeepCool PL-D: New ATX 3.0 PSUs starting from 49 EUR”
The PSU tests, which will be published shortly, will also include a detailed noise analysis. Each model has a different fan, a different grille in front of it, and operates at a different speed under the same loads, all of which shapes the different noise character. In order to make everything clear and accurate, spectral analysis of the sound is essential. This tells us which frequencies are noisier and how each PSU actually “sounds”. Read more “How we measured computer PSUs. The acoustic part”
The time has come to introduce the testing methodology for computer PSUs. We will divide this into two articles, where the first will cover procedures for obtaining key electrical quantities (i.e. surrounding efficiency, voltage regulation, voltage ripple, etc.). A separate sequel will then focus on the analysis of acoustic profiles. But now on to the purpose for which we travelled to the external testlab. Read more “How we measured computer PSUs. The electrical part”
Something for warm-up. We’ll start our ATX 3.0 PSU tests with perhaps the most talked about topic surrounding them, the temperatures of the new cables with 16-pin PCIe connectors. The overview of the PSUs of twelve brands answers well the question of how the manufacturers handled which models. With high current loads, the temperature differences can be quite significant, both on the connector housings and on the wire insulation. Read more “12VHPWR cable thermal imaging: Different PSU, different temps”
One PSU contest is over, another one is starting. Cooler Master has donated its 850-watt GX III Gold model to our HWCooling contest. With a little luck, you can win one. It won’t be completely “free”, but you won’t break much of a sweat either. All you need to do is show a basic understanding of the Cooler Master power supply stuff. This will be especially easy for fans of the brand, but anyone can do it. Read more “Not lucky last time? We still have the Cooler Master GX III Gold 850”
If you are planning on building a more powerful PC with higher power draw, take a pause. In exchange for a moment of your time (to answer quick hardware questions), you can win a 1000W DeepCool power supply. That’s just enough to efficiently run an “unrestrained” Core i9-14900K CPU with a GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. You can already connect the latter with a single connector, as the PX1000G is an ATX 3.0 power supply. Read more “Win a DeepCool (PX1000G) PSU for powerful builds”
Recently, in fact for most of 2023, we’ve been collecting various ATX 3.0 power supplies. In total, twelve have been collected, which is also the final number with which we are now leaving for measurements. Before we start publishing the tests, you can check out a comprehensive overview of all the models. Or leave a comment, which we can eventually incorporate into our analyses. Read more “This is the complete ATX 3.0 power supply test lineup”
The last of the dozen ATX 3.0 PSUs that we’ll be looking at in comparison tests is the Gigabyte GP-UD850GM PG5W. We have this one available in the “rarer” white variant, and if there’s anything else these Gigabyte (UD850GM) PSUs have going for them, it’s an attractive price. It is decidedly the cheapest PSU we will test. And among other things, it also has a smaller footprint with extra compatibility. Read more “Gigabyte GP-UD850GM PG5W: Let’s make it bright!”
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