Review: HEXUS PSU (Power Supply Unit) Roundup - Taoyuan 2005

by Ryszard Sommefeldt on 23 September 2005, 00:00

Tags: Aopen, Enermax (8093.TWO), Zalman (090120.KQ), Akasa, Thermaltake (3540.TWO), OCZ (NASDAQ:OCZ), Tagan, SilverstoneTek, FSP Group (TPE:3015), Hiper, ETASIS

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Tagan TG480-U01 & Tagan TG480-U01 Factory Sample

Tagan TG480-U01

Retail Name (if known)Tagan TG480-U01
Rated Output Power480W
SpecificationATX 2.0
Power SwitchYes
Input Voltage110-220V, 50-60Hz
Fan(s)80mm
Cable runs24-pin EATX with P4+ split
8-pin SSI with P4 and P4+ split
2 x PEG
2 x SATA
2 x SATA
2 x 4-pin Molex
2 x 4-pin Molex
2 x 4-pin Molex, 1 floppy
2 x 4-pin Molex, 1 floppy
Max currents+3.3V = 28A
+12V = 14A + 14A
+5V = 48A
Combined power for +3.3V and +5V240W
Passed certification checksYes (CE, Taiwan, EU EMC)

The Tagan TG480-U01 is a PSU I've been familiar with ever since I reviewed it for HEXUS over a year ago. Since then I've used the review sample in my main testing system and I have my own bought unit in my personal PC. It's been through a number of minor revisions since its introduction, to add and tidy up the available connectors and do away with the EATX-to-ATX converter. The latest revision with 2 PEG connectors was tested. It passed the full-load tests without issue, voltages were solid if a little low under full load and efficiency was acceptable, if in the middle of the pack overall. Connectivity is the Tagan's strong point, the latest revision able to power just about anything, including a pair of PCI Express graphics boards

All loops are braided from nearly the source, to the endpoints of each cable run and its appearance is one of quality. Didn't miss a beat, but is bested in the graphs in all areas, if only by tiny margins in many cases. I won't be switching to anything else because of it, though, which hopefully says a lot.

Recommended system: Mid-range to high-end desktop systems based around P4 (including high-speed Prescott), AMD Athlon Socket A and AMD Athlon 64 and Sempron on Socket 754 and Socket 939. Server systems due to SSI connector. SLI-ready out of the box with the latest revision.

Tagan TG480-U01 Factory Sample

Retail Name (if known)Tagan TG480-U01
Rated Output Power480W
SpecificationATX 2.0
Power SwitchYes
Input Voltage110-220V, 50-60Hz
Fan(s)80mm
Cable runs24-pin EATX with P4+ split
8-pin SSI with P4 and P4+ split
2 x PEG
2 x SATA
2 x SATA
2 x 4-pin Molex
2 x 4-pin Molex
2 x 4-pin Molex, 1 floppy
2 x 4-pin Molex, 1 floppy
Max currents+3.3V = 28A
+12V = 14A + 14A
+5V = 48A
Combined power for +3.3V and +5V240W
Passed certification checksYes (CE, Taiwan, EU EMC)

Tagan initially threw a hissy fit when they heard we'd be testing a retail sample inside of FSP's testing labs. They wanted us to test a unit they supplied. At their labs in Germany. In the end after being informed FSP weren't doing the testing and we were, just on their premises, they relented and sent a factory sample to prove that their retail units like the one we bought and brought were no different from their factory-supplied review samples they'd send out to press. They were right, the factory sample performed almost identically to the one we bought ourselves.

Recommended system: Mid-range to high-end desktop systems based around P4 (including high-speed Prescott), AMD Athlon Socket A and AMD Athlon 64 and Sempron on Socket 754 and Socket 939. Server systems due to SSI connector. SLI-ready out of the box with the latest revision.