Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

PSU Roundup: Performance, Price, Efficiency

PSU Roundup: Performance, Price, Efficiency
By

It’s been a while since our last large power supply test. Nowadays, almost all manufacturers label their power supplies with the 80 PLUS logo (for more information on 80 PLUS and what the branding actually means, check out the organization’s site. Energy efficiency has become essential to both vendors and users.

But other characteristics also play a more critical role now. Today’s power supplies include more flexibility than ever before. In addition to the familiar fan control, power consumption display, and cable management system, you’ll sometimes find USB ports and chic accessory bags. But what features—and what fundamental specifications—do you really need?

Our German lab recently tested 10 current mainstream power supplies with power delivery of up to 700 watts. In part one (this one) we introduce the first five products. Look for part two shortly, when we’ll discuss the next five.

ManufacturerPower Supply
Cooler Master Silent Pro M500
Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 650W
Silverstone SST-ST70F Strider
Antec Signature
Dragon Force DF-530GT

In part two, we test the following products:

Manufacturer Power Supply
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 W
Hiper Type R MK2 680 W
Enermax Modu 82+
Fortron FSP Everest 600 W
Tagen TG680 U33II
Corsair HX 520W

Ask a Category Expert

Create a new thread in the UK Article comments forum about this subject

Example: Notebook, Android, SSD hard drive

Display 3 comments.
This thread is closed for comments
  • 1 Hide
    plasmastorm , 18 October 2008 07:19
    Personal preference here but a shame no Enermax products were in the review :(  nice article though.
  • 1 Hide
    Anonymous , 23 October 2008 22:42
    I'm to old to buy a product named "Dragon Force"!

    The name makes my ears ring and it simply sounds to much like the names of crap Chinese electronics. It makes me question the long term quality.

    Give me Antec, Enermax or another brand name.
  • 0 Hide
    booleanz , 6 November 2008 19:20
    Quote:
    I'm to old to buy a product named "Dragon Force"!

    The name makes my ears ring and it simply sounds to much like the names of crap Chinese electronics. It makes me question the long term quality.

    Give me Antec, Enermax or another brand name.

    It’s called that way because after two years it will blow up in your face and spit fire.