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Product:
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RaidMax LP-6100E 500W Power Supply |
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Price:
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$118 (CAN) / $85 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Raidtronics
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Author:
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BigDaddy
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Date:
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June 3rd, 2003
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Eric from Raidtronics
for sending the LP-6100E 500W Power Supply for review.
Introduction:
In the corporate IT world, it is not uncommon to see top-of-the-line desktop systems from major systems integrators
with power supplies as small as 200 watts. For a system that is typically driving a single optical device and hard
drive, along with the bare necessities, 200 watts is more than adequate. For the PC enthusiast, 300W power supplies
are almost looked upon with disdain. Case lighting, LCD displays, power-hungry fans, system monitors and other
devices all take their toll on the system power supply. Overclockers swear by larger power supplies, since they can
more adequately maintain stable voltages for their highly out-of-spec systems. In fact, the power supply has become
a case mod of its own, with the abundance of windowed cases showcasing power supplies with illuminated or UV-reactive
fans, triple fan designs and even clear enclosures. There are several key players in the high-end power supply market,
with names like Antec, Enermax and Vantec being among the most popular. Another company that has made a name for itself
in the power supply market is Californian-based Raidcom Technologies. Their brand name Raidmax supplies strive to
include both aesthetic appeal and quality power. Today in the MTB Labs, we’ll will be evaluating the LP-6100E 500 watt
power supply, a product that combines dual fan cooling options and is compatible on the Intel and AMD platform.
Specifications:
The Raidmax LP-6100E is a 500W power supply, which are both ATX12V and ATX2.03V certified. It features a black anodized
aluminium housing and incorporates an inline, dual exhaust fan system. Here are some specifications taken directly from
the Raidtronics website:
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Raidmax LP-6100E 500W Power Supply - Key Specifications:
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| Raidmax LP-6100E 500W Power Supply: Manufactured by Raidtronics |
| Dimensions: 150mm x 145mm x 86 mm |
| Power rating: 500 watts |
| Black anodized aluminium housing |
| Dual 80mm clear UV fans |
| Full AMD Athlon and Intel P4 support |
| Overtemp protection |
| Overcurrent protection |
| In-rush current protection |
| Supports fan RPM signal |
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The Raidmax LP-6100E 500W Power Supply ships in a corrugated cardboard box with a single window displaying the Raidmax
logo on the power supply. The product is covered with information, including feature lists, voltage specifications electrical
certifications and diagrams. The unit is very simply packed in the box, with the power cabling bundled by elastic bands, and
a single AC power cord as the only other content.
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Click image for larger view
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Raidmax LP-6100E PSU logo
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My initial impression of the power supply was quite positive. The jet-black aluminium housing is striking to look at,
with the simple orange logo providing some stark contrast. The aluminium housing acts as a heatsink, and as such, has
small fins running the length of each exterior panel. Of course, the eye is immediately drawn to the externally mounted
clear 80mm fan. Picking up the unit, it was heavier than average, and I anticipated seeing heavy-duty components and
large heatsinks inside to contribute towards the overall weight.
The unit features a standard 20-pin ATX connector, a 4-pin 12 volt connector (mostly for P4 solutions but also available
on some AMD boards to provide more stable 12V power to the socket), a 6-pin AUX connector and two individual "strings"
with 4-pin Molex and floppy connectors. Each "string" has three 4-pin Molex connectors and a single floppy drive connector.
The ATX line is shielded with a quality braided sleeve, while the balance of the cabling is simple color-coded heatshrink.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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At the rear of the supply, we find a 80mm UV-reactive clear fan, and standard features like a voltage selector, on/off rocker
switch and an AC inlet. A gold fan grill protects wayward fingers from the fan blades. As a point of note, the fan grill is
mounted inside the supply’s chassis. While I have seen power supply cut outs on a few of my cases which compensate for the
four arms of a fan grill, it’s a nice attention to detail to see that this isn’t an issue to be concerned with. One thing I
did find a little odd, especially for a power supply that otherwise looks fantastic, is the mismatched screws. The screws,
which hold the chassis together, along with the screws for the AC inlet, are a nice flat black. However, the voltage switch
and the fan screws are silver. A minor point, for I would have preferred to see all black hardware for a more uniform look.
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