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Zalman ZM850-HP and ZM1000-HP
Zalman ZM850-HP and ZM1000-HP
Date: June 27th, 2008
Topic: Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Manufacturer: Zalman
Author: Christoph Katzer
Buy the Zalman ZM850-HP 850W Power Supply
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 Newegg $194.99
 Buy.com $198.33
 OnSale.com $222.99
 
 

Introduction


Today we will be looking at Zalman's power supplies that come with heatpipe cooling. Yes you heard right; Zalman wouldn't be Zalman if they didn't try to put heatpipes anywhere they fit, and now we have the first and only power supplies with heatpipe cooling. Not that it's really necessary to include heatpipe cooling in a power supply, but Zalman is big on marketing and this should certainly garner some attention. Not only does it look cool, but it also brings a new innovative touch to the boring appearance of the power supply market. Yes, the power supply is getting quite long with these extra coolers but they fit well and actually help with the cooling.




Both power supplies are equally equipped and differ mostly in terms of the combined power. It seems to be the same as the Antec Quattro which we tested last year. We recommended at that time to go for the smaller version with 850W because the 1000W unit didn't really bring many advantages with it. We will see later on in the tests if things are the same with these two units today. Even though we have 10 to 15 amps more on the 3.3V and 5V rails, the combined power of the 1000W unit is not too far away from the combined power of the 850W version. With the six 12V rails the same, there we have just roughly 200W more with the 1000W unit. Besides the numbers, we have a detailed description of where the 12V rails are going and what they will power up later. This not only helps reviewers, but it also helps end-users make sure they connect everything optimally.

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22 Comments - Last by jamesu79, 242 days ago
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Inquire at Zalman by czarchazm, 592 days ago
Maybe the "noise suppressor" feature wasn't working correctly. Is there any way for you to query Zalman about it? Seems like a neat feature to include if it worked.

Reply
RE: Inquire at Zalman by JonnyDough, 590 days ago
Maybe the label was just upside down? Can we test this theory somehow like maybe try the Rubik's Cube trick to see if it helps? :-)

Reply
noise switch by Turas, 592 days ago
I too am wondering if maybe you had a faulty switch or something. silentpcreview also did a review of the unit and in their testing they did notice a slight difference to the better with the sounds turned on. They focus mostly on the acoustic side of things and even have sound recordings.

I am glad to see to great reviews though from different sites. I think I am going to order one up now.

Reply
850W? by larson0699, 592 days ago
This is definitely for the guy splurging on those 2 or 3 GTX280's.

But most of the systems I build use less than 200W at load.
At 25% load any PSU bites on efficiency.

I like Zalman's concept, though. Just wish they'd cater to the majority.

Reply
1K and 850W may not be needed for most, but stays queiter then a lower cap ones by Turas, 592 days ago
I mostly ike for how queit it is. I think they said at 500W it is only 17db. that is nice. If you look at a lot o the 5-600W power supplies they make a lot more noice as you get into the 400 + range. So even though the power is not needed it allows you to have a quiet machine since the power never really ramps up to the capacities.

Reply
Heatpipe PSUs by zagood, 592 days ago
"...and now we have the first and only power supplies with heatpipe cooling."

Zalman ZM750-HP
Zalman ZM600-HP
Zalman ZM500-HP
Thermaltake PurePower 350W Fanless Heatpipe

Not the first, and not the only.

Reply
Another heatpipe psu. by ahodge, 592 days ago
http://www.mgecompany.com/xg/products_powersupplies_magnum.php

This one has been around for a long time too.
I'm actually quite surprised that anandtech would mess up like this in an article. It's the first time I've noticed such a silly mistake like this. Usually you guys seem to really do your research. Oh well.

Reply
RE: Another heatpipe psu. by bob4432, 592 days ago
makes me wonder if they are doing these reviews just to get extra product and advertisers $$$ or us? sadly, i am kind of leaning further one way as not many need a 1KW unit....

Reply
Did Zalman not get the memo either? by bob4432, 592 days ago
not the one about the tps reports, the one about the fact that ~85% of the people using computers don't need more than a 400W quality unit? WTF is up w/ these 1KW units? hell, even 650W or higher?

i have a decent rig - e2160 @ 3GHz (swapping out to a e8400 soon as i need a bit more cpu for some 3d modeling appes), 3GB ddr2-667, 15k u320, 7.2k 7200.10, 3850 512MB gpu, gigabyte p35-ds3l, 3x80mm fans, a 92mm cpu fan and a few pci cards, and at idle this system pulls an amazing 95W, at full load using 2 instances of prime95 and gaming it maxes out at 185-190W according to my kill-a-watt. i am running it on a ~$10 antec EA 380 unit that works perfectly. if i had another pci-e plug i am sure i could run cf fine if i wanted to.

my point - these 1KW units are kind of a joke for the majority of us but yet you reviewers just love them. why not review what the people need and actually make a review that will help people, the vast majority of people?

Reply
RE: Did Zalman not get the memo either? by batpau19, 592 days ago
They (ridiculously overpowered PSUs) *are* a joke, and yet I am buying one.

Acoustics, modularity, warranty, etc. are all there. When you look at lower powered versions or other models, you consistently lose at least one of these qualities.

Point me in the direction of the 350 watt power supply that has a 3-5 year warranty, modular cabling, and silent operation and I'm sold.

Problem is, the @5$hat PSU makers just don't do that sort of thing.

Reply
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