We have already reviewed quite a few PC Power & Cooling products on AnandTech, but this time we will be looking at their first series with modular cables and a white case. In contrast to older PSUs PC Power & Cooling delivered, this one provides a 120mm fan for cooling as well. The new Silencer MK III models are available in 400, 500 and 600W only. This is a good news for everybody who is interested in small power supplies as they deliver more than enough power for any common PC with one graphics card.

PC Power & Cooling uses Japanese capacitors, one powerful +12V output, a ball bearing fan from ADDA , and a partially modular cable management. With 80 Plus Bronze certification, the Silencer MK III seems to be an average product, but Seasonic is the company behind these products—and they're definitely a good choice. What about the internal design and components? On the following pages we will see if they meet one's expectations.

Today we will review a Codegen PSU. This product is not available in the US as they sell it in some European countries only, but it's still a nice representative of the low-end product range. In fact the P-Case 460W is a part of the Q3335-A2 bundle. They sell it with a good looking case for office use. With less than 30 EUR (about 40 USD; 04-27-2012) it appears to be a good offer, but we will see if they meet one's expectations.

Q3335-A2 bundle

Codegen is a well known brand for inexpensive power supplies. The P-Case 460W has passive PFC (no universal AC input) and no finish since most customers simply don't care how a PSU like this looks like. In addition there is no sleeving for the cables. The delivery contents of the bundle include a power cord and all necessary screws. You'll note that there's no 80 Plus certification on this one, which isn't too surprising considering the target market. Read on to find out if this PSU is still recommendable.

FSP is one of the largest manufacturers for OEM power supplies and adapters. Now they're launching a new fanless series, the "Aurum Xilenser", for users that want absolute silence. We have the AU-500FL on our test bench today. Like the previous Aurum offerings, the new generation is 80 Plus Gold certified. As for the fanless part, you'll want to be careful if you try for a complete silent (i.e. fanless) PC—it's one thing to have a fanless PSU when there are case and CPU fans to compensate, but entirely fanless systems will need some big heatsinks and an open chassis if you want reasonable performance.

The casing for the AU-500FL has more ventilation holes than we're used to seeing, with arrow-shaped perforations on every available spot! Besides the bottom (where a large fan might normally sit) and the back (to exhaust heat from your system), FSP has holes on the front and sides of the casing. Even the top (not shown, and assuming a top-mounted PSU; otherwise this is the "bottom") has a few extra holes to help with cooling. With no fan, there's obviously a need to remove heat and the extra ventilation should help in that regard.

In this review we will compare two almost identical products from OCZ and Corsair. Even so, there are still some differences between the offerings. With 550W both PSUs deliver more than enough power for most current systems. On the following pages we'll find out which handle overload situations the best, who has the highest efficiency, and which PSU provides the best voltage regulation.

With sales of more than 100,000 PSUs each month, Corsair is one of the most important vendors for retail power supplies. They have a lot of experience even if they don't own a factory. In addition they are a leading manufacturer of SSDs and (good-looking) ATX cases. A few months ago Corsair presented the latest addition to their Enthusiast series. The TX brand has the goal of delivering low prices, quality, and high efficiency. Today we take a look at the TX550M 550W and find out if they meet the requirements. It's another solution with 80Plus Bronze, one +12V output and modular cables—quite common features.

Corsair TX550M vs. OCZ ZT550W 550W

The second unit we test today is a power supply from OCZ Technology Group. They're now famous for their SSDs, but they have many power supplies as well. We'll look at the OCZ ZT-Series ZT550W. OCZ is using an 80Plus Bronze design from Great Wall with a few changes in the details. The 80 Plus Bronze certification is standard for any decent PSU today, but maybe it's good enough to beat up Corsair. An advantage is the fully modular design, which is an uncommon feature for the mid-range price segment (except SilverStone's Strider Plus 500W).

We tested the Hive 550W a short while ago, and now Rosewill is following up with their Capstone series, which should be more efficient (80 Plus Gold certification). In this article we will see if the quality of this power supply can match the flawlessness of brands like Seasonic. The Capstone 450W and 650W are little different internally compared to the Hive models. All of the Capstone power supplies are targeted at the high-end market, so our expectations are quite high for this product.

The Capstone series has the goal of delivering performance, quality, and high efficiency; simply put, it's the best solution Rosewill can provide at the moment. The previous tested PSU was made by Sirtec (High Power), but the new models come from a different manufacturer. On the following pages we will show who built these PSUs. Read on to find out how it compares to other offerings.

Rosewill sent us their newest model Hive with 550W. The rated power makes these models good for most common GPUs as well as powerful CPUs. Features such as 80 Plus Bronze certification and modular cables are quite common these days, but such characteristics say little about how good a PSU really is. What about the internal design and components for example? Who built this PSU? On the following pages we will meet an old acquaintance with a new look and see if it's capable of keeping pace with the times.

We've recently tested the first 80 Plus Platinum PSUs to hit our labs, courtesy of Seasonic and Enermax. Both were good if expensive PSUs, and next up on the test bench is a Platinum series that's sold by a brand without their own PSU factory: XFX. They sent us their newest product, the Pro Series 80 Plus Platinum Black Edition, which sets its sights on the high-end of the market. XFX has created an interesting casing with some unusual elements, but we need to find out how good this model actually is.

While efficiency is all the marketing rage in the world of PSUs, we should keep in mind that many manufacturers are trying to reach 80 Plus Platinum levels using some "tricks". As we noted in our Seasonic article, there are various routes to higher efficiency, like removing resistors that may fill other roles. Shunt resistors for example transform some of the power into power loss when current flows through it, since there is a voltage drop. That's actually their job as they measure and prevent overcurrent in an indirect way. On the following pages we will show how XFX reached the requirements for 80 Plus Platinum (90%/92%/89% efficiency at 20%/50%/100% load), and we'll also discuss the ODM and how well the XFX model fares in an increasingly crowded market.

In a short time we've seen quite a few companies come out with their first 80 Plus Platinum power supplies. A couple weeks ago we reviewed the Enermax Platimax with 750W, which was a good PSU even though our testing showed slightly less than the advertised efficiency. Enermax also has a 500W Platimax unit, and there are several other brands launching or ready to launch 80 Plus Platinum offerings. Today we'll look at another sample, this time in the form of Seasonic's Platinum Series 860W.

One thing that all of the 80 Plus Platinum models have in common is that they are very expensive. Something else to consider is that there are only a limited number of companies that actually manufacture PSUs, building various models according to the specifications their partners request. Seasonic is one such company, and we can expect other brands to use variations of the Seasonic Platinum Series we're reviewing today. The 860W model we're looking at includes two different modes for controlling the fan speed, a fullly modular connector system, and DC-to-DC converters for two of the smaller output voltages. This sounds like another market leader; let's see how it fares under test and whether it can surpass Enermax's competing offerings.

Since the introduction of the 80 Plus certifications, we've seen a slow but steady trickle down effect where labels that were once reserved for the highest of the high-end (e.g. 80 Plus Gold) have eventually reached mainstream price points. Manufacturers including FSP, Rosewill, Sparkle, and SuperFlower now sell affordable 80 Plus Gold power supplies for less than $100. But if mainstream users are now able to get 80 Plus Gold, what should the high-end market offer? Enter 80 Plus Platinum:

Those looking for maximum efficiency can now set their sights on 80 Plus Platinum PSUs, which will be new halo market for high-end—and high cost—power supplies. To reach the necessary efficiency levels, some improvements are necessary that can change some of the core characteristics of a power. Improved resonant topologies, new MOSFETs for synchronous rectifying, higher switching frequencies, better drivers, and low-resistance conduction paths are just some of the things we'll see with 80 Plus Platinum. We're naturally eager to see what the new models can bring to the table, and Enermax sent us their Platimax 750W model, which uses an optimized Modu87+ design. Read on to find out if Enermax is the new efficiency king, and how it performs in other metrics.

NZXT is a well known provider of "eye-catching" cases and peripherals, but like many other brands they offer power supplies as well. These include the HALE90 series, their first 80 Plus Gold product to hit the market. While the HALE90 targets the high-end audience, NZXT also wants to cater to midrange users, and for that market they have their new HALE82 series that covers wattages from 650W to 850W. The rated output makes these models good for high-end single GPUs as well as moderate SLI and CrossFire systems. Features such as 80 Plus Bronze certification and modular cables are common these days, but such features say little about how good a PSU really is. Today, we're testing the 650W and 750W models, with our usual results on the following pages.

This is our first look at a power supply from a relatively new company, Lepa. We'll be looking at their B850 (850W) model, that looks to target the upper end of the mainstream market. It has the relatively common 80 Plus Bronze certification (up to 88% efficiency), the expected safety features, and a 135mm fan, all backed by a 3-year limited warranty. Let's find out if this newcomer can deliver the goods or is merely another also-ran.

We tested the Antec HCP 1200W a while back, and now Antec is following up with their 750W model, which should be equally efficient (80 Plus Gold Certification). In this article we will see if the quality of this power supply can match the flawlessness of the higher rated HCP. The HCP-750 is a little different internally compared to the 1200W model. However, all of the HCP models are targeted at the high-end market, so our expectations are quite high for this product. Read on to find out how it compares to other offerings.

SilverStone is a well known brand for high-quality (and expensive) cases. Beyond that they offer a large selection of power supplies. They have SFX-PSUs for HTPCs, redundant PSUs for server and workstations, and standard ATX PSUs for "normal" PCs. Today we take a look at a product from the latter category. The SilverStone Strider Plus 500W is a fully modular PSU with 80 Plus Bronze certification, going for a very affordable $60. That sounds interesting so far, so let us see if the internal design and measurements can satisfy.

PC Power & Cooling, today a part of the OCZ Technology Group, sent us two PSUs from their Silencer series. The 760W as well as the 910W version bet on strong 80mm fans which are unusual for modern products.

However PC Power & Cooling was always a guarantor for high quality power supplies with a +12V single rail design and non-modular cables. Even if most of their products aren't quiet enough to be silent their customers liked the idea of a heavy-duty brand with PSUs which deliver the full output power at high temperatures. On the following pages we will see if these OCZ creations are able to manage our torture tests.

3rd June, Taipei. Many editors travelled to Taiwan to see new products at Computex. A stressful week comes to an end. This is a perfect time for sightseeing -- or to visit a manufacturer's headquarters. We met FSP to take a look at their newest PSUs: The Aurum CM series.

With Computex having recently wrapped up, we've got quite a few new power supplies on hand for testing. First up is the Commander II 1200W from In Win. This is our first In Win PSU, but of course like many other brands, the actual ODM is one of a select few companies. The Commander II is an update to the original Commander, with a military aesthetic and a camouflage box to liven up the offering.

The previous 1200W Commander was made by CWT, but the new model improves several areas and comes from a different manufacturer. Features include a 5-year warranty, 80 Plus Bronze certification, and SLI-Ready certification. In Win uses Japanese main capacitors (though that doesn't say much about the overall quality), a modular connector panel, and one large 135mm fan. All of the Commander II PSUs, which includes 750W, 850W, and this 1200W model, are ErP compliant and armed with four +12V rails. In Win also makes a point of claiming "strict voltage regulation" of within 5%, but 5% is exactly what ATX requires, so we're not very optimistic. But let's see what In Win has to offer and if it might be worth the price of entry for ultra high-end system builders.

We interrupt the Computex 2011 coverage for a full review....

In early April, we tested one of Antec's larger HCG power supplies. Today we're looking at a smaller version with 520W unit. There are some differences between the 750W model besides the rated power output, so while we like the overall value the HCG-750 provides the HCG-520 needs its own review.

Previously, Antec has had other mainstream series before creating the HCG line, but this is the first time they've tried to jump on the "Gamer" bandwagon. Mostly, the name appears to be in reference to the aesthetics of the PSUs, as the other features are common in competing products. Highlights include the 80Plus Bronze certification, non-modular connection system, and Japanese capacitors. But let's not get bogged down in the details just yet; is the HCG-520 a good product or could it use some improvements?

Today we continue with the second part of our series of 750W power supplies. The Corsair TX V2 is the second 80 Plus Bronze certified PSU with non-modular cables that we're looking at for this range.

Corsair might be a leading manufacturer of RAM modules and SSDs, but power supply quality depends largely on the ODM and their design. The big question of the PSU source is easy to answer. Seasonic is the company behind many Corsair products—and they're definitely a good choice—but what about the internal design and components? On the following pages we will meet an old acquaintance with a new look and see if it's capable of keeping pace with the times.

After our look at some 1000-1200W PSUs, we then took a detour into the realm of the reasonable with two smaller PSUs. Now we're moving back to higher wattages, where we find a lot of 750-850W power supplies that are ideal for PCs with dual-GPU SLI or Crossfire solutions. We're kicking off our next set of high-end (but not extreme) PSUs with an Antec model. The HCG-750 is something of a pedestrian product. It's 80 Plus Bronze certified, comes with non-modular cables, and uses a 135mm fan. We're here to see if there's more than meets the eye with this product, and if it can satisfy the needs of gamers and live up to the "High Current Gamer" brand name.