X-bit labs

ATX Power Supply Units Roundup: 9 Powerful Models Tested (page 21)

Category: Other

by Oleg Artamonov

[ 02/28/2006 | 10:46 PM ]

Conclusion

Without any doubt, the best products in this review are the power supplies from Enermax, FSP Group and Zalman. Top-quality and easy-to-use, these power supplies can meet the requirements of almost any modern computer and be quiet at that. It’s hard to choose among these models as each of them can satisfy the majority of users.

The PSUs from SinTek and MEG are, on the contrary, a bit of a disappointment, each having some or other problems with the real parameters or the manufacturing quality, or offering some questionable design solutions (like the very thick, untidy and unhandy cables included with the MGE Magnum). So, these units are somewhat inferior to the leaders, yet they can satisfy many users, too, with the exception of the out-dated model Vigor 500. It’s a curious fact that both the companies that openly declare their American origin (you can find this web address on the MGE power supplies, while SinTek is said to be the leading U.S. manufacturer of power supplies on the home page of their own site) buy their power supplies from the non-American Wintech.

And finally, here is the power supply from SilverStone, a high-quality and high-wattage but very noisy model. This PSU would do well in a server system I guess. The Zeus might compete with the server models from FSP (FSP460-60PFN and FSP550-60PLN) which have similar noise characteristics, but the newer quiet models from Enermax and FSP leave it no chance as PSUs for home or office use.

Appendix

Click here to download the cross-load characteristics of the tested PSUs

Click here to download the viewer of the cross-load data