1000W-1200W Roundup: Five High-End PSUs
by Martin Kaffei on December 9, 2010 1:20 PM ESTOCZ Z1000M Overview (1000W)
OCZ's Z-series Z850 and Z1000 are the oldest available 80Plus Gold PSUs for high-end PCs. They're also the only OCZ models with 80Plus Gold in OCZ's range of products. Are they able to keep up with the more modern PSUs? We'll see, but OCZ makes their package a bit more interesting with a generous supply of cable ties, two power supply cable (for different power grids), and a nicely written user's guide. In addition, the standard 5-year warranty isn't too shabby. The Z1000M that we will review today is SLI-ready, has active PFC, and as the "M" suffix indicates it includes modular cable management. The PSU case has a length of 16cm.
Cables and Connectors | ||
Fixed/Modular | Main | 24-pin 55cm |
ATX12V/EPS12V | 4+4-pin 60cm / 8-pin 60cm | |
PCIe | 6x 6/8-pin 60cm | |
Peripheral | 3x SATA 50-80cm / 3x SATA 50-80cm / 3x SATA 60-90cm | |
3x Molex 55-85cm + Floppy 15cm |
There are two very long 8-pin connectors for the CPU, which is nice to see. In contrast to that the six 6/8-pin PCIe connectors are a common configuration for a 1000W PSU. We'd might like to see OCZ offer one more cable with Molex connectors, as there are only three on a single cable. All cables have a length of more than 50cm, and as usual the mainboard cables are fixed.
Globe Fan is the manufacturer of the large fan in the OCZ PSU. The model number is RL4Z B1352512H, a ball-bearing type with a maximum rotation of 1500RPM. This is a common choice Sirtec-manufactured PSUs.
Internally, you can see the typical Sirtec design with an 80Plus Gold configuration. We find the DC-to-DC converter, Infineon transistors with a low DS resistance, and a good looking EMI-filterung stage including a MOV. For safety functions OCZ uses a PS224 from Silicon Touch. The heatsinks seem to be small, but they should be enough for a strong cooled and very efficient power supply. Some outgoing cables on the left side are pinched by two cables ties, which isn't the best way of doing things but should work well enough.
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dubyadubya - Friday, December 10, 2010 - link
Corsair supplies are great and should have been included in any review. You make it sound like Corsair makes their own supplies but they don't. The AX series is made by Seasonic and based on the X series. Their other supplies are made either by CWT or Seasonic. Both of which make great supplies. So in reality any PSU comparison review must include supplies built by Seasonic and CWT.scook9 - Friday, December 10, 2010 - link
Actually the AX1200 that is the king of the desktop power supplies right now is made by Flextronics. Corsair uses 2 different OEMs in their AX line up. This is why the AX1200 is the only model from the AX line I would consider. I already have a HX850 so would gain next to nothing with a AX850brotj7 - Friday, December 10, 2010 - link
If a midtier review is being considered, please include some push/pull designs, or at least some high quality PSU's with an open grate in the front, and a fan in the back. Some of us are stuck with cases with wind tunnels like an antec p180 and the like, these do not lend well to a top/bottom mounted fan.Wander7 - Friday, December 10, 2010 - link
I've had 2 Antec Neos die on me the last three years. Hope no one else has my luckvol7ron - Friday, December 10, 2010 - link
Cougar has a CMX 1000w PSU, does anyone know how this compares to the GX 1050?Martin Kaffei - Monday, December 13, 2010 - link
It's a little bit worse.Same fan, less 8-pin PCIe connectors, less efficiency.
TechieFan - Saturday, December 11, 2010 - link
When you perform a more thorough review, please include the "Thermaltake ToughPower 80 Plus Power Supply". I just purchased one and would love to know how it stacks up vs. the competition.I'd also appreciate a bit more detail regarding the comment that a 1200 is overkill for most people. While I'm sure that's true, if you run some of the powersupply estimators availble online it's somewhat surprising how much power they suggest (I run two GTX 580's (not 3) to my HP ZR30W and they suggested a 1075 psu minimum with my setup.)
METALMORPHASIS - Sunday, December 12, 2010 - link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...I don't need anything bigger to start my car with yet.
And thats more than enough for my rig today.
JimDDuncan - Monday, December 13, 2010 - link
Alot of people asked for ax1200 for good reason. Jonnyguru has a very complete test of this psu. It is rated very high on efficiency. No mention of it there but more than a few buyer reviews complain of coil whine. There is also a youtube vid displaying this. Still my choice and arrives tomorrow. Btw another site successfully ran four gtx 480s on it. Impressive but point of diminishing returns. Good luck with your choices. If this post stays up I will continue to visit this site. New here.Sabresiberian - Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - link
Anandtech has run tests on mainstream PSUs recently - and runs more of them than on these kinds of PSUs. As far as people like you it's an obvious waste of time anyway, I doubt you'd actually read the articles if you found them.