Enermax EG365P-VE(FCA) 350W PSU - Test Setup
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Test Setup
Abit IS7-E (Bios 13)
Intel PIV 2.4B, retail sink and fan
2x512 GeiL PC3200 "value" RAM
BFG GeForce4 Ti4200
1x D-Link 10mbps PCI NIC
2x Western Digital ATA100 40GB 7200rpm
Samsung 52X CD-ROM
Verbatim 40/12/48X CD-RW
1x80mm Blue LED fan
12" Blue CCFL
This is basically your average powerhouse; nothing too fancy but certainly enough to choke some cheaper PSUs. We'll begin by running everything stock and taking a look at how the +12, +3.3, and +5 VDC lines fair, then do the same but with some all-around overclocking and system stressing at the same time.
Stock
Here's a graph showing minimum and maximum voltages for each +12, +3.3, and +5 line using spec standards and Motherboard Monitor readouts.
With the accuracy of MBM aside, it's very nice to see that the min and max readings from MBM are well within specifications. In fact, MBM is giving some really small ranges of min/max voltages. A low range of voltages means less fluctuation which usually translates into greater system stability. Now let's factor in our multimeter results.
Our multimeter readings were consistently greater than both spec and MBM average, and they remained within the ±4% (for 3.3V) and ±5% (for 12V and 5V) ranges. Ideally these readings should be as close to 12V, 3.3V, and 5V as possible, but in the real world this usually isn't the case. From an overclocker's POV, it's better to have higher power rails than lower to provide better voltage to components, and the EG-365P does exactly so.
The Enermax EG-365P has proven itself at stock speeds with a low range of min/max voltages and steady, strong voltage readings off a multimeter. But can it still perform as well when we pump the FSB up to 166, run F@H, copy a CD, and defrag a hard drive at the same time?
Overclocked
Not much has changed here with regards to min/max voltages, which is really, really good. Going from stock to overclocked, the MBM 12V minimum and 3.3V minimum readings dropped by .06V and .02V respectively, which IMO is insubstantial.
The only noticeable changes from the multimeter readings when overclocked were along the 3.3V and 5V lines in which 3.447V became 3.45V, and 5.15V became 5.16V. A 0.003V and 0.01V positive difference. I think I've said enough here about voltages... this PSU is simply true quality and performance.
Conclusion
Most PSUs don't nail 12V, 3.3V, and 5V on the nose, and are usually on the lower side. The EG-365P, while not perfectly accurate either, pushes consistently GREATER than 12V, 3.3V, and 5V, which is any overclocker's dream. Furthermore, the voltage running along these rails are very steady; barely any fluctuations whatsoever! The noise factor, or lack thereof, is also another great quality which Enermax has successfully incorporated into the EG-365P; the rear 80mm fan is virtually silent on its "low" setting, and the bottom 92mm intake fan is thermally controlled just as described!
Pros
Excellent quality, from start to finish
2 + 2 + 4 = 8 total molex connectors
Very stable voltage rails
Voltage consistently greater than spec 12V, 3.3V, and 5V (means power)
800mm long cables (for full tower cases)
Dual fan cooling system; quiet and efficient
Cons
The Enermax EG365P-VE FCA 350watt power supply is not only quiet, but is the absolute best performing PSU due to powerful and stable voltage lines. While 550+ watt PSUs have become the rave nowadays, 350watts is nothing to scoff at, especially when Enermax presents it so well in the EG-365P. And if wattage is really an issue, there is always the more powerful EG-465P. Going back to the caption "power up and quiet enough," Enermax certainly.. does not lie.
We believe the PSU deserves the OCA Recommended Award. Not only does Enermax make one of the finest PSU's out there, the majority of OCA staff run these and can't be happier. These come highly recommended.
Special thanks goes out to Wavesonic for providing the unit for review. We'd also like to thank you for joining us here today. Feel free to checkout any of our other reviews, or head into our forums to discuss this one. Looking to pickup this PSU or maybe another model Enermax? Checkout the PriceGrabber section for all your hardware purchasing needs.
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