Performance and gaming go hand in hand; you cannot achieve performance without some power behind it, and getting the power you need is key to a rock solid build. CPU’s and Graphics card that are out now suck a huge amount of power and if you are still sporting your white box 450W power supply that came with your PC in a bundle deal from 5 years ago chances are you are getting some sporadic crashes and hardware blue screens because you decided to upgrade everything but what matters most. Companies like Coolmax make it much easier to step up your performance without stepping down your pay check. I have used Coolmax products in the past and I have been very impressed with their overall performance to price ratio so let’s see how well their news lines of PSU’s do: VL-600B, CUL Series 750W, and the ZP series modular 750W Silent are the Products we will be checking out today:
Provided by: Coolmax USA
Price:
Closer Look:
Specifications and Features:
ZP Series 750W Modular (Ultra Silent):
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80Plus Bronze Certified unit provides typical 85% efficiency at 50% of max load |
| – | Modular Cable Management to eliminate clutter and improve airflow inside the case |
| – | Compliance with the latest Intel standard ATX 12V V2.3 and EPS 12V V2.92 |
| – | Support INTEL/AMD Dual Core CPU and Multi-Core GPU technologies |
| – | 6pin PCI-E & 8pin PCI-E (6+2) connector |
| – | Built in next generation 8-pin PCI-Express graphic card connector offering further upgradability |
| – | Active Power Factor Correction (PF>0.99) for environmentally friendlier power |
| – | Ultra-silent operation with 140mm fan and automatic fan speed control |
| – | Comprehensive protection function provides full-scale protection for your components. (OCP/OVP/UVP/SCP/OPP) |
| – | Safety / EMI Approvals: CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, and BSMI certified |
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CUL Series 750W:
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ATX 12V V2.3 version |
| – | Automatic fan setting for most effective cooling system |
| – | Native and modular cables for a clean and easy installation |
| – | Smart cable management |
| – | Great balance between cooling and noise level |
| – | 140mm Blue LED silent fan design |
| – | All output cables with nylon sleeving |
| – | 6 pin PCI-E Connector ready |
| – | 6+2 PCI-E connectors (at 750W) |
| – | Over voltage protection, short circuit protection on all output levels |
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VL-600B (600W):
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6 pin PCI-E Connector ready |
| – | 140 mm Blue LED Fan designed for long life, durability, and fastest cooling time |
| – | Automatic fan setting for best heat dissipation |
| – | Good balance between noise and cooling level |
| – | Cable-tube on main power cables for better routing and neatness |
| – | Universal connector fits most branded motherboard |
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Testing:
In order to test the power supplies properly I will be running 3 tests the first will be using a standard LCD power supply tester then I will be running a both load and idle test on the power supplies using a combination of onboard and hard wired sensors. We do not like to go over the top with our testing on OverclockersHQ like other sites all we are striving for is to see the numbers and make sure these power supplies are pumping out what they are supposed to and not fluctuating by any more than 1 volt. In our testing today we will be running 4 power supplies the 3 from coolmax and a powerhouse X4 1200W from Ultra. This will give us a broad range of power and price in order to see what we are dealing with.
LCD Tester:
|
PSU |
+5 |
+12 |
+3.3 |
-12 |
5VSB |
PG |
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750 CUL |
5.0 |
12.4 |
3.3 |
-12 |
5 |
320ns |
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600B |
5 |
12 |
3.3 |
-11.6 |
5 |
280ns |
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750 ZP Silent |
5 |
12.2 |
3.3 |
-12.3 |
5 |
280ns |
|
Ultra 1200W |
4.7 |
12.4 |
3.3 |
-12.3 |
4.9 |
290ns |
Load Idle:
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Voltages |
750 CUL |
600B |
ZP 750W Silent |
X4 1200W |
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Idle |
Load |
Idle |
Load |
Idle |
Load |
Idle |
Load |
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+3.3 |
3.09 |
3.3 |
1.97 |
2.66 |
2.54 |
2.75 |
2.53 |
3.18 |
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+5 |
4.9 |
4.97 |
4.97 |
4.97 |
5.05 |
5.05 |
4.97 |
5 |
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+12 |
12.48 |
12.48 |
12.1 |
12.03 |
12.35 |
12.35 |
12.48 |
12.48 |
Conclusion:
Overall motherboard sensors aren’t the most accurate test of a power supply but one thing that was quite noticeable about the power supplies used s that all of the power supplies were pretty close when it came to the load and idle voltages. This is a big plus because usually a pc will run fairly well under light load even with a poor power supply when I but a major burden on the PC all of the power supplies stayed well within manageable voltages to keep the pc running at peak performance.
Would I recommend Coolmax Power Supllies? Yes, unless you are a major enthusiast or a quad-fire or triple SLI gamer the Coolmax PSU’s should have more than enough punch to get you what you need. If you need a little more juice step up to one of their higher models. I wouldn’t speak badly of Coolmax the only problem I have ever had was an issue with a previous power supply and and it was just a fan squeaking. In return they not only RMAed the PSU but sent me one of their brand new (non refurb) latest models in which was even better than the previous model so for a relatively small fish in a big pond Coolmax has my seal of approval for products quality and customer service and I strongly suggest giving them a shot.
Pros:
- Price
- Great warranty
- Blue LED Fans on the VL and CUL Series
- Great Modular on the ZP Series
- Solid Voltages
- Quality to Price Ratio is impeccable
- ZP Series is very well made and has a ton of great little extras
Cons:
- Although There are Aspects of the CUL Series I like I wish it were a Little more Module
- 600B Would be even Better with a Longer Warrant
Overall Award:
Great Products!
