OCZ OCZ-520 U12 & Enermax EG565AX-VE(G)
OCZ OCZ-520 U12
Retail Name (if known) OCZ Modstream 520W Rated Output Power 520W Specification ATX Power Switch Yes Input Voltage 220-240V, 50Hz Fan(s) 120mm Cable runs Modular
24-pin EATX with P4+ split
P4
2 x SATA
1 x 4-pin Molex
1 x 4-pin Molex, 1 floppy
2 x 4-pin Molex
2 x 4-pin Molex
PEGMax currents +3.3V = 28A
+12V = 28A
+5V = 52ACombined power for +3.3V and +5V 160W Passed certification checks Yes (CE, Taiwan, passing EMC Directive. UL, USA, unknown)
OCZ's Modstream is a very beefy ATX supply with modular cabling. With a nickel coating and blue UV reactive cable runs, it certainly looks the part. Performance was very strong with only the +12V rail going a bit high under the full 520W output power load. Efficiency was lower than expected, but for a non ATX 2.0 supply with massive output power, it's semi-expected. The modular cabling is easy to install and stays firm when connected, averting one of the problems with that kind of supply.
The unit got hotter than most under full 520W output power load. Cable options are good due to the modular system and even though it's only an ATX PSU, rather than ATX 2.0, +12V was loaded up to 95% of maximum without any issue during testing. A good-looking PSU that performed well enough.
Recommended system: Mid-range to high-end desktop systems based around P4 (including high-speed Prescott), AMD Athlon Socket A and AMD Athlon 64 and Sempron on Socket 754 and Socket 939.
Enermax EG565AX-VE(G)
Retail Name (if known) Enermax EG565AX-VE(G) Rated Output Power 535W Specification ATX 2.0 Power Switch Yes Input Voltage 110-240V, 50-60Hz Fan(s) 80mm and 92mm Cable runs 24-pin EATX with P4+ split
EPS with convertor
2 x SATA
2 x SATA
2 x 4-pin Molex, 1 floppy
2 x 4-pin Molex, 1 floppy
PEG
3 x 4-pin MolexMax currents +3.3V = 32A
+12V = 17A + 17A
+5V = 32ACombined power for +3.3V and +5V 130W Passed certification checks Yes (CB, Taiwan, passing IEC 60950. CE, Taiwan, passing EMC Directive)
Despite the 565W hint in the product name, officially the Enermax EG565AX-VE(G) is openly rated to 535W sustained. However during testing, no matter what combination of rail loads were applied, the over power protection routinely kicked in to turn the PSU off around 450 watts. At a 454W load, the highest I was able to achieve using a 26A combined load on +12V ~16W on +3.3 and +5, the PSU would run for the full half-hour. Anything much higher and the unit would turn itself off.
The unit has braided cable runs for main EATX, EPS and PEG and its two fans kept it very cool. Efficiency was high until the cutoff point. Maximum sustained therefore seems around 450W of output power, which is still plenty for any system today, but which doesn't match what Enermax say it's rated to.
Recommended system: Mid-range to high-end desktop systems based around P4 (including high-speed Prescott), AMD Athlon Socket A and AMD Athlon 64 and Sempron on Socket 754 and Socket 939, observing the apparent limitations observed with the sample.
