Testing and Conclusion
Testing
Testing was done on two different systems to test different loadings on the power supply. The tests were conducted in three different situations: Idle, 3dmark 06, and Unreal Tournament 3. In each of these tests, the measurements taken were wattage and power factor. All tests were conducted in single rail mode.
Test system #1:
- Intel Core2Duo E8400 @ 4.0GHz
- OCZ Vandetta 2 CPU Cooler
- Gigabyte X38-DQ6
- OCZ Reaper DDR2 1050MHz
- XFX 9800GX2 1GB
- Soundblaster X-FI
- 2x WD 500GB SATA
- ASUS DVD +/- RW SATA
- 3 Antec Fans
The Topower bests the OCZ in efficiency, seen here by the lower wattage numbers needed to complete the same task. It is a small difference, but a difference none-the-less.
The same computer with an XFX GTX 260 installed in the second PCI-E slot. The OCZ power supply did not have the proper connections to allow both video cards to run, so this is just a comparison test:
Test System #2:
- Intel Q8200 @ 2.4GHz
- Stock Intel cooler
- Gigabyte EP45T-UD3LR
- PNY 8800GT
- OCZ 4GB Gold DDR3
- 4x WD 250GB in RAID 10 SATA
- Plextor DVD+/- RW IDE
This is a good comparion to how eficient a new power supply is compared to one that is 5 years old. The Topower is much more efficient and produces a much better power factor.
Now, the same system with an XFX 9800GX2 in place of the 880GT. Again, the Vantec didn’t have the proper connecters, so only the Topower was used in this test.
During testing, the fan was inaudable among the GPU fan. Due to the high efficiency, less power is transformed into heat, thus the fan doesn’t have to spin as fast.
Conclusion:
Topower has built an excellent power supply in the Tiger 1200 Watt. It has an superier exterior finish, and the electrical performance is flawless. It is priced right at under $200. However, 1200 Watts is an extreme amount, and really only the highest end sytems could use this. On the other hand, this power supply will still power a low-end system.
The twist and lock cables are very easy to use and provide a solid connection.
Pros:
- Beautiful finish and cable wrap
- Twist and lock connections
- 1200 Watts
- Priced right
- Quiet operation
- High build quality
Cons:
- None!
Special thanks to Topower for sending out the sample for review.
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