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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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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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A detailed breakdown of the outputs on each line is indicated on a printed sticker on top of the unit. The LP-6100E is
rated for 500 Watts and includes features such as overvoltage and overcurrent protection, inrush current protection,
and FCC Class B, CE EMI standards. The power supply features two UV sensitive clear 80mm fans. The fans are a ball
bearing design and are each protected by a gold fan guard. Unlike some power supplies, which have an L-shaped dual fan
configuration, with air being drawn in from the base of the power supply and out the back, the Raidmax unit has an
inline solution. Two key benefits I could think of with this configuration are
(1) The "dead-zone" between the power supply and the 5.25" drive bays at the top of the case now has improved
ventilation (in cases that don’t incorporate a top blowhole)
and
(2) The power supply itself will have optimal cooling since there is a clear, straight path for air to flow through
the chassis.
Finally, users with thermo-electric cooling solutions will be happy to see the +12 volt line is rated at 25 amps.
As a secondary power supply, this unit can easily drive a large 226 watt pelt, making it a more cost effective solution
than some of the high priced 5.25" mounted power supplies. Of course, this would require a chassis that supports dual
power supply mountings.
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Click image for larger view
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Taking the hood off the unit, you can see the internal layout. The design of the inline exhaust system is further
revealed, with two massive aluminium heatsinks running in parallel with the airflow between the fans. Additionally,
you can see the large capacitors on the left hand side. Originally, I had thought I could mount a 4 inch UV cathode
inside the enclosure to accent the two UV fans, but there is simply no room within the enclosure for anything but
the components themselves. Maybe a couple of strategically placed UV LEDs would provide an alternative lighting
solution.
Installing the power supply was a fairly tedious task. The bulky aluminium housing made mounting the power supply
from outside of my Lian Li PC-68 impossible. In order to properly mount the unit, a 120mm fan on the center of the
top panel had to be removed, and the motherboard tray had to be slid out of the chassis approximately half way in
order to have adequate clearance. Even mounting the unit from inside the chassis, the power supply was a tight fit
in the case. I installed the unit in a Nikao X-Jazz Case just for
comparison purposes and had fewer installation issues with that chassis. Most users will opt to install with care,
lest the anodized finished get scratched.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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On the right are the low, high and average voltages for an Enermax EG465P-VE Power Supply taken over a two hour
period. On the left is the Raidmax LP-6100E unit with readings for a two hour period. The test system was comprised
of the following:
- Abit IT7MAX2 rev. 2
- Intel P4 2.53 GHz @ 3.0 GHz
- 256MB OCZ PC3500EL DDR RAM
- Asus V8240 series GF4 Ti4200 graphics card
- 2 x Maxtor DiamondMax 9 60 GB HDD
- Fujitsu 40 GB HDD
- PCMODS rev. 1 Rheobus
- Lite-On LTR 40125s CDRW
- Pioneer DVDROM
- PCMODS Blue Cold Cathode Florescent Lamp
- 4 x Panaflo Low 80mm DC fan
- 1 x Panaflo Low 120mm DC fan
Needless to say, the test system represents a fairly heavily populated system from a power consumption perspective.
On both units, voltages were well within tolerances. The greatest fluctuation on the Raidmax LP-6100E was an occasional
0.06 volt jump on the 12 volt line. Otherwise, the 3.3 and 5 volt lines remained stable with minimal differences in
voltages. The only aspect of the Raidmax unit that I wasn’t fond of was the undervolted 12 volt line, which averaged
11.83 volts as compared to the Enermax 12 volt line average of 12.08 volts. With the system at stock speeds, the 12
volt line was still undervolted by about the same amount.
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Conclusion:
The RaidMax LP-6100E 500W Power Supply is one product that deserves some serious consideration. Not only is it an attractive looking
supply, but it incorporates quality design in an attractive price range. The anodized aluminium housing not only looks
good, it doubles as a heatsink. Two 80mm fans inline will ensure both the case and the power supply benefit from cooler
temperatures, and are UV reactive for further visual appeal. The unit incorporates thermal protection, fan RPM monitoring,
overvolt/overcurrent protection and inrush current protection. The LP-6100E also maintains a low decibel level similar
to other quiet rival power supplies on the market. Performance on the unit is quite good, even under heavy load and
above average overclocked environments. Given that this unit is anywhere from $20 to $45 US cheaper than similarly rated
models from its competition, value becomes another key feature. The only aspects of the power supply I wasn’t fond of
was it’s slightly larger housing makes for installation woes in certain computer cases, and a slightly undervolted 12
volt line. Aside from a few minor issues, I’m rating this product an 8 out of 10,
and would recommend it to users looking for a good looking performance power supply at a reasonable price. If you have
any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Raidtronics
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Anodized aluminium chassis
- Dual 80mm UV-reactive fans
- Great aesthetics
- RPM monitoring and thermal protection
- Price
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Cons:
- Tight fit in some chassis
- Undervolted 12V line during testing
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