OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W Power Supply
Jun 2nd, 2010 | By AnthonyThe aim of the cold test is to reflect ideal operational conditions where heat from the computer system is independent from the power supply. Still though, the term cold test would be misleading as things do get quite hot!
Line regulation on the 12V rail is a bit shaky; we started off at about 12.20V in our initial test with 8A on each of the 12V rails and by our third test, 100% load, the output slipped to 12.14 on 12V1 and 12.15 on 12V2. Though, unlike what we predicted earlier, this isn’t because of poor heat dissipation due to the small heatsinks. The unit actually runs fairly cold. But, what happens if we turn on the heat?
In our simulated heat test, we emulate the insides of a running system and we shoot for an exhaust temperature of around 50 degrees Celsius. Some units who make it through our first round begin to tumble, some hold their ground. The ModXStream 500W slipped a few decimals. A 50 degrees Celsius exhaust does represent the extreme end of operational temperatures, but we like to use it as a benchmark. If a unit in our test bed can fair such treatment, it can pretty much anything you throw at it. Our ModXStream today did make it through, a bit bruised but none the less all well within specifications.
We like to see tighter control over the lines, but it earned its pass.