X-bit labs

ATX Power Supply Units Roundup. Part VIII (page 22)

Category: Other

by Oleg Artamonov

[ 12/11/2007 | 10:04 AM ]

Hiper Type R HPU-4S730-MU V2 (730W)

While the two previous models from Hiper represented the classic design, the Type R HPU-4S730-MU V2 is something exceptional and even unique. Look for yourself:

Most of the PSU cables (all of them except for the mainboard cable, to be exact) are detachable, but plug into the top panel of the PSU rather than into its rear panel (I mean the top panel in the snapshot above – it is going to become a bottom panel when the PSU is installed into a system case).

The cables have handy round connectors that automatically lock in place when you plug them in. To detach a cable, pull at the ring on the connector. The cable won’t go out otherwise, so it cannot fall out of the connector even if you pull at the cable accidentally.

I can see two problems with this implementation of detachable cables. First, few manufacturers are aware of the rule demanding that all live connectors must be female connectors to avoid the possibility of the contacts being closed with a stray thing. Hiper doesn’t know that rule, either. If a metallic thing such as a screwdriver, wire or something falls into the connector of the operating PSU, there will be a short circuit.

Take a look at a typical modern system case. There are just a few centimeters of space between the PSU and the huge CPU cooler (and systems the discussed PSU is meant for are unlikely to have a small CPU cooler). The detachable cables of the Type R just won’t fit in there in the worst case. In the best case, the cables will hang above the CPU cooler, worsening its operation, increasing the noise, and putting the whole system at risk since you don’t want any extra things around your fans. Thus, the original idea proves to be not only useless but simply impractical except for very large system cases in which there is a lot of free space between the top of the CPU cooler and the bottom of the PSU.

The PSU is shipped in a plastic box such as used for storing and carrying various tools. You may want to use the box for that purpose as well after you’ve taken the PSU out of it.

The detachable cables are packed into a small fabric pouch with a zipper. Of course, they would be just as safe in a standard polyethylene pack, but this original approach to packaging is sure to provoke positive emotions on the user side.

Except for the removable card with the output connectors, the internal design is very much alike to that of the UltraProducts ULT-XF800S. The only difference is the shape of the heatsinks due to the need to leave a place for the card with connectors.

The PSU follows a dual-transformer design but its implementation is simple and unsophisticated: two transformers, two switching transistors, but a single shared PWM controller. As a result, although each transformer services its own set of output lines, it is not independent of the other. If the load on one transformer changes, the PWM-controller adjusts the operating frequency accordingly. And since there is only one controller, the frequency is changed on the other transformer as well. In other words, the HPU-4S730-MU is not much different from the ordinary topology with a single transformer and joint voltage regulation.

I didn’t find such gross problems with soldering quality here as with the HPU-4M730-SK, yet I have a few complaints about this PSU as well. Some components, particularly the connectors and large elements, are not installed neatly. There is too much of solder there that forms large drops on the contacts.

This time the totaling of the numbers printed on the label doesn’t provoke any controversies. The PSU has a continuous output power of 730W and a peak output power of 780W. It can provide a current of 56A across its +12V rail, which is divided into four “virtual” outputs.

The PSU has the following cables and connectors:

• Mainboard cable with a 24-pin connector (47cm)
• Two 2-pin connectors for the CPU power cables
• Two 3-pin connectors for graphics card cables
• Four 4-pin connectors for drives

Included with the PSU are:

• Two CPU power cables with 4-pin connectors (61cm)
• Two graphics card cables with 6-pin connectors (55cm)
• Four cables with one Molex plug on each (25cm, 35cm, 45cm, and 55cm)
• Four splitters from one to two Molex connectors (15cm)
• Two splitters from one Molex into one Molex and two SATA power connectors (15+15cm)
• Two splitters from one Molex into one Molex and one floppy drive plug (15cm)

Yet another PSU comes without “native” cables with SATA connectors – you have to use adapters.

Like the above-discussed Type M series PSUs, the Type R 730 features active PFC but it has no problems with UPSes. Working with an APC SmartUPS SC 620 the PSU behaved normally at loads up to 350W and 315W when powered by the mains and by the batteries, respectively. The UPS switched to the batteries without problems.