Cables And Connectors

Aside from a 4-pin Pentium 4 connector, the power supply comes equipped with a 24-pin ATX connector and an adapter for connecting to older ATX motherboard slots.

The Real Power unit can be connected to older motherboards with this adapter

The power supply also comes with three peripheral connectors, two of them featuring two 5.25" Molex connectors and a floppy connector, and one with three 5.25" connectors. This is certainly adequate, but a mere two Serial ATA ports may prove too few for future demands.

Performance

The Real Power unit has no problem delivering the specified 450 W of power. The output voltages for the 3.3V and 5V rails deviate only minimally, in any event falling within tolerance limits.

All power specifications are clearly and unambiguously labeled: if only all spec stickers looked like this!

Even for the low and medium loads indicated for the ATX12V specification, the voltages do not deviate more than 250 mV.

Efficiency values were solid at both full and medium loads: 75% and 76% respectively. However, we expected better than the 67.9% we measured at light load. With 61% (4 W) at minimal standby load and 74% (19 W) maximum, the power supply produces solid values.

The device shuts off as it should in the event of a short circuit or overload.

We consider the $80 price tag reasonable.