Final Analysis
Micronics, a brand that we weren't familiar with before now, chose to enter the U.S. market with its affordable Caslon II PSU family. All of the corresponding models are based on an old High Power platform equipped with Micronics' special controller that offers zero-wattage functionality an an after-cooling mode, which keeps the fan spinning after shutting down.
Performance-wise the 600W Caslon II is nothing to write home about. It merely performs as expected given its outdated platform. Inside, the build quality is satisfactory. And although the Teapo SC caps are not among our favorites, they're preferred over most Chinese capacitors. It was also a great surprise to encounter a true fluid dynamic bearing-based fan inside such an inexpensive PSU.
In our opinion, it's not wise to spend money on low-efficiency PSUs these days, even if you're able to score a real deal. At $63, the 600W Caslon II looks like a veritable bargain. If you're willing to pay about $20 more, though, you can get a quieter, more efficient power supply with modular cables. It this model was selling for ~$50, we'd call the difference more substantial. But we doubt Micronics would be willing to shave that much off of its asking price. Of course, the company could always replace its FDB fan with a cheaper sleeve bearing-based one, saving a few dollars in manufacturing cost. Given a three-year warranty, the Caslon II would easily be able to survive long enough.
The zero-wattage mode looks interesting. But we expected something more innovative and not just a remotely-controlled power switch. We know, we know: don't ask so much from a budget-oriented PSU. However, it's one thing to limit vampire power in general and another to remove the 5VSB rail altogether. There is a reason that rail exists. Micronics' second differentiating feature is its delayed fan operation, which exhausts residual heat even after your PC is turned off. This feature is more important, especially in low-efficiency PSUs suffering higher thermal loads.
Micronics made the right call to introduce an inexpensive PSU family to the U.S. market. It needed a more advanced platform with DC-DC converters though, rather than a group regulated scheme. While we can live with the Caslon II's native cables, we're more bothered by the old design's issues with over-power protection. After all, we killed one sample during the protection feature testing. The weak link proved to be the bridge rectifier, which apparently could not cope with the load we applied. As a result, Micronics should instruct High Power to lower this PSU's OPP limit.
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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics, and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Purch Media, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.
