2theMax GPX750 PSU Review - Testing and Conclusion
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No review of a PSU would be complete without testing the unit. Here are the specs for my test rig:
- AMD Athlon 64 3700+
- Patriot Dual Channel 2GB DDR500
- Biostar NF4ST-A9 Mainboard
- Sapphire X800 PCIe Video
- 3x Maxtor 7400rpm 120GB IDE HD
- Pioneer Dual Layer DVD+RW/-RW
And here is how I simulated idle and load conditions for my tests:
For idle conditions:
- Booted and running Windows XP Pro
- Sitting idle at desktop
For load conditions:
- Booted and running Windows XP Pro
- Zipping files from DVD onto HD
- Zipping files between two HDs
- Listening to MP3s with Winamp
- Playing Unreal Tournament
I used my digital multimeter to take measurements for each rail at idle and load conditions. Here's What I found:
| | +5V | +12V1 | +12V2 | +12V3 | +12V4 | +3.3V |
Spec | 5V | 12V | 12V | 12V | 12V | 3.3V |
Idle | 4.98V | 11.93V | 11.95V | 11.95V | 11.96V | 3.4V |
Load | 4.91V | 11.87V | 11.91V | 11.92V | 11.88V | 3.3V |
As you can see, the voltage dropped a small amount while under load. While these numbers are still high enough to run your system, the power fluctuation may be too much for your tastes. I've seen better, but I've also seen much worse.
As far as silence, how quiet can this PSU really be with a fan so big? Yes, it kept the PSU nice and cool, but I consistently heard a loud hum the whole time the thing was running. A little light music canceled this out, of course.
Also, I was unable to find pricing for this unit here in the US, so I don't know how this PSU competes in terms of pricing.
So, as always, here are my pros and cons for this item:
PROS:
- 750W - nice power
- 4 separate 12v rails
- Modular PSU
- Serious cooling ability
- Well constructed
- Will meet most power needs
CONS:
- A little noisy (big fan)
- Power fluctuations may deter picky users
Based on the above, as well as my testing, I give this PSU a rating of 8 out of 10, and Dev Hardware's Recommended Product Award. This PSU delivers strong power and stays extremely cool. Had the power stuck a little closer to spec, and the fan been a little quieter (did you see the SIZE of that fan?!), it definitely would have earned a higher rating.
I'd like to thank 2theMax for sending us their GPX750 PSU for review. If you have any questions about this PSU, or any of 2theMax's other products, visit their website at http://www.2themax.com/english/2tm_eng_indexpage.html.
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