OCZ PowerStream 600W - Features

07:00 - Monday 11 July 2005 by Frank Völkel
Source: Tom's Hardware – Keywords: stress, test

Table of content:
21 – OCZ PowerStream 600W - Features
  1. 1 – Profits Or Quality?
  2. 2 – Still An Eldorado? 600 Percent Profit Margin Possible
  3. 3 – Our Motivation - Why Are We Running PSUs Constantly Under Full Load?
  4. 4 – Test Methodology
  5. 5 – Stressing With Highly Accurate Electronic Loads
  6. 6 – Noise Level And Measurement Of Temperatures
  7. 7 – Data Collection And Live Upload
  8. 8 – AcBel ATX-550CA -AB8FM: Failure - But 10-Year Warranty
  9. 9 – Antec Phantom 500: Quiet With High Efficiency
  10. 10 – Antec True Power 2.0: Mediocre Efficiency
  11. 11 – Aopen Prima Power 700: Super Results - No SLI
  12. 12 – BeQuiet BQT B5-520W-S1.3: Loose Transistor Triggers Failure
  13. 13 – Cooler Master Real Power RS-550-ACLY: Shutdown At Full Load
  14. 14 – Enermax Coolergiant EG485AX-VHB(W): Flawed Former Champ
  15. 15 – Enermax Noisetaker EG701AX-VE(W): Perfect Connections And Quiet
  16. 16 – Epower Silent Engine Xscale 470: Loud At Full Load
  17. 17 – Fortron FSP300-60GNF: Soundless With High Efficiency
  18. 18 – HEC AcePower ACE580UB: Failure At High Load
  19. 19 – Hiper Type R580: Not Within Specifications
  20. 20 – Jeantech Arctic JN120F-600AP12V2: Average Results
  21. 21 – OCZ PowerStream 600W - Features
  22. 22 – PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510: Very Loud At Full Load
  23. 23 – PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 850 SSI: Excellent Price And Performance
  24. 24 – Seasonic S12 600: Efficient And Quiet
  25. 25 – Silverstone ST65ZF: Loud And Inefficient But Low-Cost
  26. 26 – Spire SP-500W: High Noise Levels At Full Load
  27. 27 – Features Tables
  28. 28 – Efficiency
  29. 29 – Load - Total Power Sustained
  30. 30 – Ripple On 3.3V Rail

OCZ PowerStream 600W - Features

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The OCZ retail box

Among all the candidates we've tested so far, OCZ really takes the prize. Not only is it possible to manually adjust the voltages of the individual rails, but the manufacturer also touts a turbo mode of sorts with which the 600W PSU can temporarily deliver up to 700 watts' worth of juice. Here, the marketing heads were obviously allowed to cloud the engineers' judgment. That's because any change in the voltages of the individual rails can lead to destruction of the system components. OCZ argues that especially modders showed great interest in that feature... The kicker is that OCZ advertises the fact that any such adjustment will result in its warranty being null and void. The device is not to be had for a song and requires an investment in the neighborhood of $250. OCZ has a solid reputation in the overclocking scene thanks to its very good memory modules.

Truly long: the OCZ unit requires lots of space inside the case, which is not to everyone's liking.

Here you can manually adjust the voltages to the individual rails. This "feature" is utterly dangerous!

Turbo mode for 60 seconds: The 600W PSU is supposed to be able to deliver 700 watts for short time periods.
Test Results

We had problems with testing our first sample and are working with the manufacturer on the reasons why. In the meantime, OCZ representatives have told us the following:

"We are proactively working with the editors at Toms Hardware Guide to understand what happened to the PowerStream test units during the "Live Stress Test." These units were tested under full load in our facility for 48 hours prior to being sent to Germany. We have also not witnessed any of these anomalies with customers in the field. To proactively address the issue the power supplies are being sent back to our labs in the United States for a complete diagnosis. OCZ remains committed to the design and manufacture of high end power supplies that address the unique needs of gamers, high power users, and enthusiasts."

The results so far:

OZC PowerStream (600 watts)
Test Phase 1
Test Description Lower Limit Upper Limit Result
Increase load from 20% to 100% of nominal load limit 120 watts 600 watts Failed
OZC PowerStream (600 watts)
Test Phase 1
Test Description Lower Limit Upper Limit Result
Increase load from 20% to 100% of nominal load limit 120 watts 600 watts Passed
Test Phase 2
Test Description Load Result
Steady load at 100% nominal load 600 watts Failed

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