Conclusion
Testing:
Testing was done by measuring the voltages at the connectors with a multimeter. Idle voltages were taken running Windows and full loads were taken while running 3dmark2005.Results of a similar test using an Antec Smartpower 350W PSU are included for comparison.
AMD 64+ 3200+ S939 Winchester
ECS RX480-A Motherboard
Corsair ValueSelect PC3200 DDR RAM
GeForce 6600GT
Western Digital 250 GB 7200 rpm harddrive
3,3V:
The 3.3v rail performance was very stable, as with most PSUs on the market.
5V:
Similarly, the 5V rail was also solid.Very little voltage drop and minimal voltage fluctuations were seen.
12V:
Similar impressive results for the 12V rail were found.
Comparing the two PSUs in action, both offer solid power output, well within their noted specifications.The Nextherm PSU460 was a bit louder, due to the larger fan size.However, the noise level was certainly acceptable for most applications.
Conclusion:
The Nextherm PSU460 is a solid PSU with good performance and quality construction.At approximately $70 USD, it is priced competitively with other PSUs with similar features.Although I wouldn�t necessarily consider it for a server application, the Nextherm PSU460 is a good choice for most mid-level computer builds.I would expect that Sytrin�s 550W and 600W PSU will provide similar performance and added features that high-end users would desire.Overall, I would score the Nextherm PSU460 a 4 out of 5.
Pros:
+ Continuous wiring wrapped with sleeving
+ Dual fans included
+ High build quality
+ Smart-housing connectors
Cons:
- No case screws included
- Only 2 SATA connectors
- Plain design
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