| #689 - XG Magnum 600W External PSU |
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| Written by Rodney Reynolds | |||||||||
| Monday, 03 July 2006 | |||||||||
Page 3 of 7 Specifications: This particular product is available in one model, PSGM-600EX. There is also a 500W model available, the Magnum 500W. The PSGM-600EX has a continuous wattage of 600, which is more than enough power for most computer systems. Now how is this wattage determined? Well to understand this, you need to know what rails are. Rails are basically well regulated transformers which convert domestic current into the voltages that your computer system can use. There are essentially two different rails: the +3.3/+5v rail and the +12v rail. In this particular case the approximate maximum peak output of the +3.3/+5v rail is 150 watts and the +12v is 460 watts, which is essentially how the wattage of this power supply is determined. There is some confusion on the power rating. While it's rated at 600 watts, others have reported that it's maximum output is only 500 watts.  The 3.3/5v rail is responsible for the motherboard, memory, PCI cards, AGP card and so on. The 12v rail is responsible for the HDD’s, DVD, CD-ROM, fans, etc. Ok, let's get into the details and specifications! Here are the peak amps on each rail. The +3.3V is 25A, and the +5V is 30A. Unlike most power supplies with only one +12V rail, this product has two. The +12V1 is 18A and the +12V2 is 22A. Also, the AC input specs are: 100 - 240VAC, 50 - 60Hz, 10A. This power supply meets the older ATX 12V v2.01 specification. The newer specification is SSI EPS ATX 12V v2.1/2.2 specification. For additional information on form factors please visit Form Factor website. The v2.01 specification basically means that a power supply must be able to sustain full load in 50° C (122° F) ambient conditions. Take into consideration that power output on all models will decrease ~1° C starting at an ambient temperature of 40° C. Having the ATX 12V v2.01 specification is important because some power supplies tend to overheat and shut down the system under max load. The efficiency is within specification. Higher end power supplies float in the ~85% range. Note that the more efficient a power supply is, the less heat is generated, and therefore won't require excessive cooling. It also has Active Power Factor Correction (PFC). Active PFC is preferred over Passive PFC because it provides a more efficient power frequency. This reduces total harmonics, corrects input voltage, and it allows for a full input voltage range. The disadvantage is that it increases the cost of the power supply. This PSU has a 0.99 Active Power Factor value. Additionally, this product is 100% Hi-pot, Chroma, ATE (Automatic Test Equipment) & Burn-in function tested. So what the heck does all that mean? Well, production Hi-pot testing ensures insulation integrity. Chroma is a world recognized leader in power supply testing equipment which includes automated power supply test systems, electronic loads, programmable AC power supplies and related equipment to support the power conversion industry. Finally, Burn-in is really a stress test and means it was tested at full load and still meets specs. A power supply also needs to be fail-safe. This unit has Over Circuit Protection (OCP), Under Voltage Protection (UVP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Under Voltage Protection (OVP), Short Circuit Protection (SCP), Over Load Protection (OLP), and Over Temperature Protection (OTP). Also, it's Safety/EMI Approved: CB, CE, FCC, UL, CUL, and TUV certifications. (NOTE: Waiting to hear back from MGE for confirmation) Ever wonder who actually makes a particular PSU? Most companies like MGE do not make the Power Supplies in-house. Rather, they are made by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) which are probably unknown to most of us. So, how does one go about finding out who actually made it? Well, that's very simple. Just get the number which is below the UL logo. In this case it's not listed on the PSU label. I did contact MGE though and they are following up with this information. Now visit this UL Database site and enter the number. (NOTE: Waiting to hear back from MGE for confirmation)  Another important factor is the company's warranty policy. The following warranty program information is taken from their site: "MGE offers a lifetime warranty program on its external power supplies. With extreme and mainstream PC enthusiasts pushing their systems to the limit, the integrity of the power supply becomes the crucial focal point for the life of the PC. In contrast to its competitors that keep prices low by using cheaper power supplies that cannot accomplish the power demands of the latest and fastest processors, MGE combines a 100% replacement warranty on its external power supplies that optimize the latest advantages in cooling and power to give extreme and mainstream PC enthusiasts "power to spare"." |
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