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OCZ EliteXStream 800W PSU OCZ's flagship PSU is under the scope today. Riddled with today's buzzwords, does the EliteXStream have the performance to back it up?
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Power supplies have always been long neglected by a variety of people. These folks could be casual consumers or they can be power users. Either way, often when I help troubleshoot a PC, I always ask what kind of power supply do they use. Most do not know, but surprisingly, many just say "the one that came with my case".
Truthfully, I think for casual PC use, the included PSU is just fine. Sure, we preach high-end here, but we're not running typical PCs. OCZ have been producing power supplies for a long time now and today, we'll be looking at their high-end OCZ EliteXStream PSU.
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OCZ EliteXStream PSU
The EliteXStream we received is the 800W version. OCZ has other models, reaching as high as 1000W. I am not sure how many of our readers actually need that much power, let alone 800W, but as we've longed said, it's not always about the power.
The retail box is well put together, with the power supply and accessories securely stored inside. The box art contains some product information which will assist potential buyers in making a decision. Some of the key features pointed out on the box are SLI certification, high efficiency (80 Plus), and an impressive 5-year warranty. We'll cover the additional features in a few moments.
The PSU itself is of the non-modular variety, so all the cables are firmly attached to the EliteXStream. I have always preferred this sort of PSU since I've had issues with poor connections with some modular units in the past. The PSU is also not abnormally huge, measuring 150(W) x 160(L) x 86mm(H). this should have no problems fitting into any standard ATX case.
One of the first things I noticed when pulling everything out was that the PSU is quite heavy. As some of you may have heard, one informal and completely unscientific way of gauging a PSU's quality is the weight. The heavier the better. I have seen some instances where this is not the case, so we'll reserve judgment until further testing.
On one side of the PSU, you have OCZ Technology embossed on the side of the EliteXStream. No confusion over what brand of PSU this is I suppose.
On the other side of the PSU you have the specifications stamped on the side. The sticker points out the model, in this case the EliteXStream 800, followed by the AC input. The specifications point out there is a maximum combined power of 180W across the positive 3.3V and 5V rails, 744W (and a whopping 62A) on the +12V rail and 26W combined on the -12V and +5Vsb rails.
From a feature standpoint, the EliteXSteam has Overvoltage, Overcurrent and Short-Circuit protection which will aid greatly in protecting your equipment. It is no substitute for an additional surge protector though. The PSU features an Active power factor of 0.99, as well as SLI and CrossFire support. In terms of certifications, it is SLI certified as well as being 80 Plus certified for efficiency. The rated efficiency is 82%.
Moving on to the rear, the EliteXStream has a honey comb grill in the back rather than an additional PSU fan. While this will not move as much air out, it is 100% silent (clearly) and with no fan, that is one power draw removed from the equation. There is a LED bulb next to the on/off button. The bulb is nothing more than a status light. It's lit when there is power, it's not lit when there is no power.
On the bottom of the PSU, we have the 120mm fan. This is the sole fan in the PSU. The fan model is the Protechnic MGA12012HF-025, which is rated at 25 dBA to 38 dBA depending on the speed. The maximum speed is 1600 rpm. This same fan is used in several other power supplies, such as those by Silverstone.
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