Review: 750W-1000W PSU shootout

by Josh Blodwell on 21 June 2007, 17:11

Tags: Enermax (8093.TWO), Tagan, SilverstoneTek

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qah74

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Enermax Galaxy 850W


As you can see below, the retail box for the Enermax Galaxy 850W (model EGA850EWL) is smart looking.

But what's considerably more interesting is the PSU that came out of it and is sat alongside. It's big - because it's EPS form-factor, not standard ATX. That means it might not fit in some older system cases.

The general rule is, if you've only got an inch or less between your ATX PSU and the back of your optical drives, the PSU can't be replaced by an EPS model.

Standard 12V ATX PSUs measure 140(d) x 150(w) x 86(h) mm but the Galaxy 850W is far deeper - all of 220mm from front-to-back. Yes, it is very deep! Width and height, though, are as per ATX.

If there's any doubt that it will fit your case, dig out the case specs or search on line if you have to. Better still, open up the case and have a careful measure up.

Otherwise you may find yourself needing to go cap-in-hand to the retailer you bought from or having to spend out on a new case that is big enough.



There's another shot below, showing the business end of the PSU. If you enlarge the image, you'll see the supply's eight modular power-out sockets. The two red ones are for use with PCIe or EPS cables. The remaining six are multi-purpose - you can attach any of the supplied leads in whatever combination suits you.



Inside the big outer box is another big box. Enermax is determined to keep things safe and tidy.



What you'll find inside is a handy manual, so you know where to plug in all the wires and what they do. Most of this information is also to be found on back of the retail box - useful if you're the sort of person who keeps boxes but loses manuals! And quite useful for shop-floor staff, too, we'd image.

Also inside are screws, badges and a three-pin power lead, plus a pouch filled with modular wires and some fasteners for them.



Enermax provides lots of cables. The ones with the red ends will only plug into the red sockets - it's dead clever this modular stuff!



You also get a red lanyard, presumably so you can hang up your power-cable pouch for easy access in those moments where you need rapid access to its contents. Or maybe you're supposed to use it for your keys or USB stick-drive?

Four SATA cables are provided, each with three SATA plugs hanging off. The cables are only half sheathed. That might seem disappointing but the arrangement probably makes it easier to tuck away the excess wire between drives.



In addition, a single SATA power cable with three connectors is permanently wired to the supply. So, in total, you can attach 15 SATA drives.

Let's hope that the PSU is up to that particular task; no, sorry, we didn't try connecting 15 drives! Oh, and what's the betting that someone, somewhere, will find that 15 SATA drive connections simply isn't enough?