Hiper Type R HPU-4R580 Power Supply Unit

Advantages: Modular power connectors, good design, solid build, designed in the UK.
Disadvantages: Large

...for the power supply[1]. ATX 2.2 includes changes to the main power connector (20pin to 24pin), removed auxiliary power connector and includes a need for a 3.3v tolerance. Effectively ATX2.2 is a a new standard variant based on older designs looking to power newer technologies but also to provide increased power modulation and better tolerances to power deviation. Intel BTX, another form factor standard that talks about heat sinks, finalised about a year ago. From the point of view of the consumer it makes it harder to have a very small case that complies to all specifications however it should also improve tolerance to heat substantially. From the point of view of the manufacturer it is difficult as it means doing some simple redesigns. SLi (Scalable Link interface), this is the interesting specification that's going to take some time to...

Jon_Farrimond 05.06.2006 · Read review
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Review of Hiper Type-R HPU-4R580 - power supply - 580 Watt

Power to the people

Advantages: Very cheap, 2 fans
Disadvantages: None

...Arguably the most important component inside your PC is its power supply, the power supply unit (PSU) provides the power to every other component inside your computer ie: Motherboard, hard drive, processor, graphics card etc etc... and all these components require a powerful and extremely stable PSU in order to operate as intended. 14 months ago i built my current PC and opted to use the Q-tec 550 watt dual fan gold as its power supply unit, most modern day PC power supplies average around 350 watt and they are predominantly fine for most PC's but as you add extra components to your PC like extra hard drives, or a faster processor or faster graphics card then you may get close to reaching the limit of your particular power supply which can result in either the PSU not functioning properly (causing serious system instability) or in...

Rabid 04.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Q-Tec Dual Fan Gold power supply - 550 Watt

Real Power!

Advantages: Modular cables!
Disadvantages: None for me.

...I had to purchase this more out of necessity than want. My old Enermax PSU decided one day that it wasn't going to turn on my PC. I then subsequently went all out and got a complete upgrade. I wanted something that would handle easily what i was going to throw at it. I also wanted a power supply that was 80 Plus compliant (80% efficient) details can be found if you look for the Coolermaster RS-620-ASAA-A1 on 80plus.org. It has one large fan which is quiet and unobtrusive, to be expected it fitted perfectly in my Coolermaster CM690 case. Being a modular PSU is an absolute godsend, why manufacturers never though of it sooner is beyond me. Modularity makes cable management and much easier and airflow much better. You get 2 sockets for graphics card power which can handle 2 x 6 pin and 1 x 8 pin plug very handy if you run an SLi rig...

hairyheppers 07.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of CoolerMaster Real Power M620 Modular PSU - power supply - 620 Watt

Supply teaching

Advantages: Well paid, can work when you want, no planning
Disadvantages: Behaviour, unpaid holidays, lack of social side

...I have been doing supply teaching for over a year now. I thought I?d write about my experiences and give some advice to those who might be thinking of supply work. BACKGROUND: I trained to be a teacher in 2006-7. I had never wanted to be a teacher, it was never something I always dreamed of being. I had always planned to be a lawyer. However, after studying History at university I knew that I wanted to work with the subject. I went on to do a Masters in museum studies and thought seriously about working in that field but the money was really bad and there were a lot of people trying to get very few jobs. I took a year out to think and to earn some money. The ex-Mr Tart wanted to go into teaching (he was also a historian) and I thought that seeing as I wanted to work in History there were worse things I could do. Not...

tartlette83 06.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Supply Teaching

Logitech X-230

Advantages: clear sound, very low noise
Disadvantages: remote control would be nice

...An easy, plug'n'play sound system in cute-looking body with great performance. I was looking for new speakers for my laptop but then I decided I wanted more than just speakers and started searching through the lists of 2.1 and 5.1 sound systems. Originally I was about to buy a 5.1, but I realized such a set wouldn't be smart for a laptop which I wanna carry around and have it now on my desk, then on my bed, then on the floor etc, for which a 5.1 felt too much of cables and mass. I'm happy about my decision since the Logitech X-230 has proven to live up to the expectations based on what they promise, the sound is clear, full and I find it great for both music, games or movies. The subwoofer bass is strong and full, perfectly satisfying for almost cinema movie experience. You can hear hardly any noise and the volume range is wide enough...

jeaniecz 10.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Logitech X 230

Pretty standard high quality quiet modular PSU

Advantages: Modular so there's no mess with cables, made by CoolerMaster
Disadvantages: The sheathing around the cables can make them hard to handle

...into tight gaps or go through small spaces. If you're looking for a good quality, quiet stable power supply at a decent price then you can't go wrong with this one. It's also great for a system where minimal noise levels are a requirement. THe only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because although 520 watts is more than enough power for a normal computer system, more powerful (although not necessarily the same quality) PSU's are available for a similar price....

Closeratio 26.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of CoolerMaster Real Power M520 Modular PSU - power supply - 520 Watt

Brennenstuhl PM230 Electricity Meter

Advantages: runs on battries so doesnt need 14w to run the unit like some others
Disadvantages: none to hand

...will not be lost when you plug it out. The Brennenstuhl meter seems more sensitive - in our phone charger tests, it always gave a reading, unlike the Prodigit meter comparing the meters Prodigit 2000M Brennenstuhl PM230 Approximate price £30 £35 Volts readout? yes yes Amps readout? yes yes Watts readout? yes yes Hertz readout? yes yes Power Factor readout? yes yes KWh readout? yes yes Cost settings no yes Stated accuracy 2% 3% Sensitivity whole units 2 decimal places Electricity consumed during operation no yes Clock settings no yes Cost display no yes 2 price operation no yes...

ktnch 28.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Brennenstuhl PM 230 Power and Energy Monitor

You don't get any better than this

Advantages: Stable, cool and quiet, modular cabling, overall quality, more powerful than official rating
Disadvantages: cables a little stiff

...marketting jingo, either. This PSU really is as solid as a rock - stable under the most extreme contexts. What I mean by this is that though it's only rated to 620 watts, in reality the 620 can take a draw of more like 800 watts. It will easily power two 8800GTX's or Ultras, an incredible feat for a supposedly 620 watt supply. But it's not just that which makes me lable the power supply 'rock solid'; when I say extreme contexts, I'm talking about the reviews that have put this thing in a room with an ambient temperature of 50 degrees celcius and then drawn it's maximum load. Not only does the 620 still function perfectly well at these insane ambient temps, it's actually gives more power than it's rated too. This is why a 620 watt power supply can drive a quad core + SLI 8800GTX rig without breaking a sweat. And to top it all off, it's 80...

ClockworkUniverse42 04.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Corsair HX620W - power supply - 620 Watt

My Dream Machine PSU

Advantages: Dual fan, 400W
Disadvantages: No seperate power out for monitor

...the output fan and the second fan has no use, other than pushing the air towards the output fan. But if we assume that they are connected by an airtight seal (which is evidently not the case) and both operating at the same speed, you would have exactly the same airflow as the output fan, on it?s own, with the second fan taken out. So I can conclude that the purpose of the second fan is not to push air out of the computer, but to circulate it within the computer. Any airflow is good, because you?re moving the heat away from components and into the ambient temperature, which doesn?t matter too much. However, this air has now passed over the very hot unit which supplies power. So it?s actually increasing the internal temperature of the computer. This is what I draw from it anyway, obviously it works or the company wouldn?t have built it...

C_W_Monkey 04.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Q-Tec Dual Fan Gold power supply - 400 Watt

Targus, What CAN I say.

Advantages: It comes with more cables.
Disadvantages: The part that you can not take out of the charger is the weak part.

...Bought it, was happy with the idea that I could use it in England on any laptop, because I am moving from The Netherlands to England. However, I had it, and the iron pin at the end of the wire you put in your laptop broke, leaving the iron piece in my pc. Thank God I do not give a damn about my teeth, I ripped it out of my laptop, and there I was, a iron pin in my mouth, my laptop wanting power and my Targus Adapter shining at me like it did nothing wrong. The store owner did not give a damn, and said it was my fault. There I was, no guarantee, no power for my laptop, and no response from Targus. If you never ever move your notebook, maybe this product is advicable, else I would go for something else, it is worth looking for, trust me. I got blamed, and when I wanted to deny it they already walked away, without the intention to...

GerlofL 06.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Targus 75W AC Mains Power Supply - power adapter - 75 Watt