OCZ ZX Series 850W Power Supply
May 15th, 2011 | 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!
Starting off with our first set of open air tests the unit managed excellent efficiency rating hovering just at the 90% mark and below. The 3.3V and 5V rails managed very well, but usually these rails aren’t the ones that we’re too concerned about. From our 50% load test to 100% load the 12V rail moved from 12.14V to 12.11V which is trivial.
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. Peltier heated and controlled with variable fans we internal temperature of the hot box until we get as close to 50 degrees Celsius as we can.
With heat turned on, the unit’s efficiency dipped down list a tiny bit, down to 88.5%, earning the OCZ ZX 850W a Gold rating.
This power supply, at NewEgg, , is $179.99 and there is an available $10.00 rebate. It’s been rated at 3 out of 5 eggs which is far from a good recommendation and is very overpriced.
Please search for a much better rated power supply for the $160.00 mis-stated in this article and you’ll find several that are much better rated by actual users of this type of device.
See all those items listed to the right under “MORE FROM OCZ”? Those are the freebies that this site will lose out on if they gave a completely unbiased and honest review. Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware.