Enermax has been producing PC power supply units long enough to have earned credibility that does not depend on marketing. The Platimax series has historically occupied the upper tier of their lineup, and the new revision continues that position with updated components, revised aesthetics, and an efficiency target that clears 80 Plus Platinum with room to spare.

We examine the Enermax Platimax II 1200DF to see if it deserves a spot in our list of best power supplies. The 1200DF variant carries the "DF" designation for its Dust-Free technology, a hardware-level feature that spins the fan in reverse to expel accumulated particulate. This is not a gimmick. Dust buildup on fan blades and heatsink fins is a genuine long-term reliability concern, and addressing it at the platform level is a sensible approach. The unit targets high-performance single-GPU builds, though the connectivity choices limit its appeal beyond that scope.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Platimax II 1200DF ships in a sturdy cardboard box with a decorative ribbon wrapping the exterior. Enermax has made an effort to keep the packaging reasonably environmentally responsible without sacrificing protection. Inside, the unit sits in a fabric pouch surrounded by foam inserts.

The accessory bundle is minimal. Mounting screws, an AC power cable, and a handful of basic cable ties are included alongside a printed manual. There are no cable combs, a noticeable omission at this price point, given the cable construction that would benefit from organization aids.

The cables are fully modular and uniformly black, connectors included. The scaled per-wire shielding gives the wiring a distinctive texture and a consistent appearance across the entire bundle. They look and feel premium. The connector count does not match that impression. One 12V-2x6 connector and three 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors is a lean configuration for 1200 watts. It is a unit rated for maximum output at 40°C though, which is not typical for premium designs.

External Appearance

The Platimax II 1200DF measures 150mm in length, fractionally longer than a standard ATX power supply. For 1200W, this is genuinely compact and reflects capable power density engineering. Case compatibility should not be a concern for the vast majority of cases on the market.

The chassis carries a satin black paint finish applied cleanly and evenly. The overall aesthetic is restrained. White etched lettering bearing the Enermax logo and series name strikingly appears on the side panels, and a specification sticker occupies the top surface. The decorative elements are present without being excessive. The octagonal fan finger guard is removable and the company logo sits directly above the fan motor.

The front panel houses the standard power switch and AC receptacle, but also a small secondary switch that activates Dust-Free mode, triggering a 20-second fan reversal cycle that pushes some of the accumulated dust out. We do not expect such a simple mechanism to thoroughly get rid of dust but could help in certain environments and when an external filter is attached right in front of the fan. The rear panel is home to the modular connector array with a subdued printed legend and a company logo at the top left corner.

Internal Design

Cooling is handled by a Globe S1352512HH 135mm fan with a dual ball bearing engine. Dual ball bearings represent the most durable bearing technology in widespread commercial use, with tolerance for high temperatures and extended operating hours that exceeds sleeve and fluid dynamic alternatives. The trade-off is acoustic behavior at high rotational speeds - dual ball bearings produce a more mechanical sound when pushed. The rated maximum of 1900 RPM is conservative for a high-output unit, and the fan should not approach that figure under typical loads.

The OEM is Shenzhen Ruishengyuan Technology, or RSY. The company has been operating since 2014, making it a relatively recent entrant compared to established names like CWT or Seasonic. That said, RSY's platform work has increasingly appeared inside mid-to-top-tier products from multiple recognized brands, and the quality of their assembly is evident on inspection. The Platimax II platform is well-organized, with consistent workmanship throughout.

Input filtering comprises four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. Two rectifying bridges are mounted on a two-piece heatsink immediately after the filtration stage. The APFC stage uses three Wayon WML28N60C4 MOSFETs alongside a pair of diodes. A large simple inductor and two Rubycon 470 µF capacitors complete the APFC circuitry.

The primary inversion stage employs four Convert CS25N50FF MOSFETs in a full-bridge topology, mounted on two small silver heatsinks positioned immediately ahead of the main transformer. Eight Hauyi HYG020N04 MOSFETs on the secondary side generate the 12V rail through synchronous rectification, cooled by simple silver heatsinks right after the secondary face of the transformer, while a dedicated vertical daughterboard handles DC-to-DC conversion for the 3.3V and 5V rails.

Secondary-side filtering relies on capacitors from Rubycon and Nippon Chemi-Con, with some Unicon electrolytics in the mix. All three manufacturers carry strong reputations. The selection aligns with Enermax's stated use of Japanese capacitors throughout, a marketing claim that, unusually, holds up under scrutiny.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

At 115 VAC, the Platimax II 1200DF achieves 91.3% average efficiency across the nominal load range. At 230 VAC, that figure rises to 93.2%. Both results satisfy the 80Plus Platinum standard and Cybenetics Platinum requirements independent of input voltage, which is not a trivial achievement. Many units lose their Platinum footing when the input changes. Efficiency peaks around the 30 to 40 percent load mark and remains stable across the full nominal range with no significant dips.

The fan remains stationary until load crosses approximately 550W, roughly 45 percent of the rated capacity. Once the fan engages, speed increases with the load but does not reach the 1900 RPM ceiling even at full load. Internal temperatures remain well-controlled throughout.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

Elevated ambient testing introduces measurable efficiency degradation, perhaps even above than expected for a unit with such high-quality components. Average efficiency at 115 VAC drops to 89.5%, and at 230 VAC it falls to 91.3%. At maximum load under these conditions, there are visible signs of thermal stress, with the efficiency taking a significant dip. As the PSU is rated at 40°C, managing the full output at this temperature is already taking its toll.

The fan activates earlier under heat, engaging when load exceeds 400W rather than the 550W cold threshold. Speed increases more aggressively with rising load but does so linearly, reaching maximum speed only near 100% output. The acoustic result at full load in a hot environment is very much noticeable. The dual ball bearing fan produces a mechanical whir that becomes irritating. The temperatures are very well within safe limits.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

Voltage regulation is strong across all rails. The 12V rail holds to within 0.4% across the entire load range, the 5V rail to 0.5%, and the 3.3V rail to 0.9%. These are competitive figures by current standards and well within what is expected from a top-tier product. Ripple suppression is equally solid. The 12V rail peaks at 22 mV, the 5V rail at 18 mV, and the 3.3V rail at 20 mV. The ATX specification ceiling is 120 mV on the 12V rail and 50 mV on the minor rails. The Platimax II operates comfortably inside these limits at all times, delivering consistently clean power regardless of load.

During our routine evaluation, we examine the fundamental protection features of all power supply units we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). Protection circuit behavior merits discussion. The 3.3V and 5V rails trigger OCP at 120% and 122% of rated current respectively, which is good but also comparatively low against other platforms. On the other hand, the 12V rail OCP activates at 146%, providing a very generous headroom – for a unit rated at 40°C and already pushing it being rated at 1200 watts, that seems like a very slack setting. Furthermore, OPP under hot conditions triggers at 144% of rated output, which feels unsafe for a unit already struggling at 100% capacity.

Bottom Line

The Platimax II 1200DF is a well-engineered product from an OEM that, while not a popular name, has demonstrated the capability to build competitive platforms. RSY's construction quality is evident throughout, and the component choices, such as all-Japanese capacitors, reinforce the unit's premium positioning in a way that is difficult to fault. The active components also are of good quality, the topologies are tried-and-true, and the overall assembly reflects a manufacturer that knows what they are doing.

The efficiency figures are great and consistent. The unit clears Platinum certifications across both input voltages under normal conditions, and the electrical output quality is strong throughout the load range. Voltage regulation and ripple suppression are both class-competitive. One exception deserves mention: the 12V OCP threshold at 146% and OPP at 144% under hot conditions are slack settings for a unit that already shows signs of thermal stress at 100% load. A unit rated to its limits at 40°C should not be offering that much headroom before protection kicks in. It is not a dealbreaker, but it is a design choice that invites scrutiny.

The 40 °C maximum ambient rating itself is worth flagging. Premium units in this class are commonly rated to 50 °C, and the gap shows in hot testing, where efficiency degradation is steeper than the component quality alone would suggest. With the limited number of connectors, the Platimax II 1200DF feels more of a driven 900-1000W unit rather than a true 1200 watt model.

The 13-year warranty remains the most compelling single argument for this unit. It is an unusual commitment, and even the great quality of the hardware does not really justify the confidence behind it. The cable configuration, however, continues to undermine the overall case. One 12V-2x6 connector and three 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors are simply not enough for a 1200W product. The capacity seems to be there, but the wiring to use it is not.

At $230, the Platimax II 1200DF is a credible choice for a builder prioritizing reliability, clean power, and long-term peace of mind over maximum connectivity. It competes well on electrical performance and warranty terms. Those who need more than one high-powered graphics card connector, or who expect a 50 °C rating at this price, will need to look elsewhere. For everyone else, this is a serious unit from a manufacturer that clearly believes in what it has built.

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Enermax has been in the PSU market long enough that its name alone carries weight, and the Revolution III S represents the company's current answer to the 1000W mainstream-premium segment. It is not the flagship — that distinction belongs to the Platimax II. Enermax has positioned the Revolution III S to compete in the middle segment of the market without meaningfully compromising electrical quality, but how does it rank against today's best power supplies?

The platform is RSY's work, the same Shenzhen-based OEM behind several other well-regarded units, and the design choices reflect a manufacturer thinking carefully about efficiency and reliability rather than simply hitting a spec sheet target. This is also not a Platimax II with the wattage dialed back. The two units differ meaningfully: a different fan, no dust-free reversal mode, different platform altogether. Whether those differences matter to a given buyer is worth examining.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Revolution III S ships in a no-nonsense cardboard box, printed mostly in neutral tones with the red Enermax logo providing the only real visual punch. It is a consciously restrained presentation, meant to promote an environmentally-friendly face. The unit inside is wrapped in a protective pouch and foam inserts.

The bundle is absolutely minimal. Only mounting screws, an AC power cable, and a few basic cable ties are included. There is also a printed user’s manual. No cable combs are provided, which is a missed opportunity given that the scaled, per-wire shielded cables would visually benefit from such hardware.

Cabling is fully modular and all-black throughout, wires and connectors alike. The one notable cosmetic exception is the sense pins of the 12V-2x6 connector, which are left unsleeved. It is a small detail but it may be noticeable in a well-lit build. The connector count comprises one 12V-2x6 and four 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors. However, there is a catch - one of the PCIe cables carries two of those 6+2 connectors and draws from the 12V-2x6 port. This means using all four PCIe connectors simultaneously is not possible if a 12V-2x6 cable is installed.

External Appearance

At exactly 140mm in length, the Revolution III S hits the standard ATX spec precisely, which is a meaningful statement for a 1000W unit. Power density is not golden by today’s standards but it certainly is very good. Case compatibility will not be a concern for any modern build.

The chassis carries a lightly textured black paint finish, applied evenly and cleanly. The overall design is just a little bit extravagant. We have clean surfaces, white decorative etchings with the company logo and series name on the side panels, and a specification sticker on top. The diagonal cutout fan finger guard is integrated into the chassis rather than being a separate, removable component, and the Enermax logo sits directly above the fan motor. It is a slightly aggressive, premium-feeling exterior. A white version is also available for those building in lighter-themed systems.

The front holds the power switch and AC receptacle without additions — no secondary switches, no mode selectors. The rear panel carries the modular connectors with a printed white legend alongside the company and series branding.

Internal Design

A Globe S1202512L 120mm fan with a fluid dynamic bearing engine handles the active cooling of this unit. FDB designs occupy a practical middle ground between the longevity of dual ball bearings and the quietness of sleeve bearings. The rated maximum is 1800 RPM, which is on the conservative side for a 1000W unit and intentionally so. It is the most significant functional departure from the Platimax II, which uses a larger 135mm fan with dual-ball bearings. The same 13-year warranty stands though.

The OEM is Shenzhen Ruishengyuan Technology (or RSY), which is a relatively new company, founded in 2014. The company is not a frequent name in PC PSU circles, but their assembly work has been appearing in mid-to-top-tier units across several established brands for several years now. The construction on this unit is tidy and the platform layout is logical.

Input filtering is adequate, with four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. A single rectifying bridge sits on a basic heatsink adjacent to the bulk capacitor. The APFC stage uses two Maple Semi SLF60R090E7 MOSFETs and a diode, with a large open inductor and a Rubycon 560μF capacitor handling the passive side.

The primary inversion stage is a classic full bridge LLC topology using four Convert CS25N50FF MOSFETs, sharing a heatsink with the APFC active components. Four AGMSemi AGM4012C MOSFETs generate the 12V rail through synchronous rectification on the secondary side, mounted on simple silver heatsinks. The 3.3V and 5V rails are produced by DC-to-DC converters on a dedicated vertical daughterboard.

Secondary-side electrolytic capacitors come from Rubycon and Unicon, both Japanese and both well-regarded. Solid-state capacitors are sourced entirely from Unicon. The capacitor selection lives up to Enermax's marketing language.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

At 115 VAC, average efficiency across the nominal load range is 90.5%. At 230 VAC, it rises to 92.7%. Both figures satisfy the Platinum standard as certified by Clearesult (80Plus), Cybenetics, and PPLP.Info — triple certification that is not a routine achievement. Low-load efficiency is quite good, and the overall efficiency curve is stable across the full range. The peak lands around 40% load, which is typical of well-optimized platforms.

The fan remains stationary until load crosses approximately 400 Watts. Once the fan engages, speed rises inaudibly at first, but picks up meaningfully after 600 Watts. Thermal performance under these conditions is fair rather than exceptional, reflecting the constraint of the smaller fan.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

Efficiency degradation under elevated ambient temperature is significant. At 115 VAC, average nominal efficiency drops to 87.5%. At 230 VAC, the figure falls to 89.6%. The 3.1% efficiency drop is massive and a rare sight in an advanced PC PSU. Signs of thermal stress become visible at full load, where the fan is unable to assist.

The fan engages at roughly the same 400W threshold as in cold testing, but speed increases much more rapidly. The unit reaches maximum fan speed at approximately 80% load rather than at full output. Due to this limitation, internal temperatures rise faster above that 80% point as the fan cannot do anything to help, though they stay within safe limits and no over-temperature protection event occurred during testing. Buyers intending to run this unit consistently at high load in a warm environment should factor that in.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

Voltage regulation is very good by current standards. The 12V rail holds to within 1.0% across the load range, the 5V rail to 1.5%, and the 3.3V rail to 1.4%. These are competitive figures for a unit of this class. Ripple suppression is more ordinary. The 12V rail peaks at 52 mV, the 5V rail at 26 mV, and the 3.3V rail at 26 mV. All figures sit comfortably within the ATX specification limits of 120 mV on the 12V rail and 50 mV on the minor rails, but this is not the class-leading suppression seen in the top-performing units at this price. It is acceptable but in no way impressive.

During our routine evaluation, we examine the fundamental protection features of all power supply units we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). Protection circuit behavior is broadly reasonable. The 3.3V and 5V rails trigger OCP at 140% of rated current, which is adequate. The 12V rail OCP activates at 116%, a relatively tight margin that may warrant attention in transient-heavy loads. OPP under hot conditions triggers at 120% of rated output, appropriately conservative given that this is a unit showing thermal stress at full load. The settings feel deliberate and responsible, protecting the unit quickly if something is wrong.

Bottom Line

The Revolution III S 1000W is a well-built, electrically competent unit that earns its Platinum rating without compromises on quality. RSY's assembly work is clean, the topologies are established and reliable, and the active components (despite coming from names that will not be recognized by most buyers) deliver what the platform demands. The capacitor selection is genuinely supplied by Japanese companies.

The electrical output quality is capable throughout the load range. Voltage regulation is acceptable on all three rails, and while the ripple suppression falls short of what the very best units at this price deliver, it stays well within specification at all times. The efficiency figures are consistent and well-behaved across the full load range, peaking near 40% and holding steady rather than sagging toward the extremes. Triple Platinum certification across Clearesult's 80Plus, Cybenetics, and PPLP.Info is a meaningful distinction, not a marketing formality.

The cable architecture, with one 12V-2x6 and four PCIe connectors that cannot all be deployed simultaneously due to the shared 12V-2x6 port, will not trouble every builder, but it needs to be understood before purchase. It is an unusual design choice on a 1000W unit, and it limits the appeal for anyone planning a multi-GPU system or a future upgrade path that demands a large number of connectors. The absence of cable combs is a minor but noticeable omission given the premium aesthetic the cables otherwise project.

The 120mm fan is the single most consequential compromise relative to the Platimax II. Under cold conditions it is quiet, well-controlled, and largely unobtrusive. Under sustained heavy load or if placed in a hot ambient environment, it spins up fast and becomes audible quickly - simply because it has no other choice. The thermal performance remains within safe limits throughout, but the acoustic result in worst-case operating conditions is not what buyers spending their money on a premium PSU will want to hear.

The 13-year warranty remains the most compelling single argument in this unit's favor. It is an extraordinary commitment in a market where 8 to 10 years is considered generous, and it is not a gesture made lightly. It also serves as an implicit reliability statement that no amount of marketing copy can replicate. At $170, the Revolution III S 1000W is fairly priced for what it delivers. It competes well on efficiency, build quality, and long-term confidence. For a high-end gaming or workstation build that will spend most of its operating life at moderate loads, it is a sound choice. Those planning sustained operation at full output in warm enclosures, or who need maximum cable flexibility for demanding multi-GPU configurations, should consider stepping up. For everyone else, this is a serious unit from a manufacturer that clearly believes in what it has built and does not ask for an arm and a leg for it.

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A Reddit user found a discarded gaming PC while taking out the trash at their upscale apartment building and decided to give it a second life. According to u/Triggerhappy62, the computer appeared to be from around 2017 and contained almost everything needed to make it run, except for storage.

It featured an Intel Core i7-7700 CPU, a Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 GPU, and 16GB (2x 8GB) of DDR4-3000 RAM, all installed on an MSI B250M Gaming Pro motherboard. The entire system is powered by a Corsair CX750 PSU and features an optical drive with a driver disc still inside, as well as a network card. The case itself is branded with Enermax, a custom PC builder known for its high-end builds.

These specifications indicate that the PC, as found by u/Triggerhappy62, was a proper gaming rig, and it appears that its previous owner has finally decided to upgrade their system, as suggested by the missing drive. Despite its age, this system remains decent and an upgrade from the original poster’s existing computer, which features an Intel Core i5-4670K CPU, a Gigabyte Radeon RX 570 GPU, and 16 GB of DDR3-1866 RAM, all mounted on a Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WiFi mini-ITX motherboard from Free Geek. This nonprofit organization distributes old computers to the community at no cost or for a low fee.

Found a gaming pc from 2017ish while I was taking the trash out at my upscale apartment building. It was in our trash room just sitting there. from r/pcmasterrace

Enermax, which is known for its high-end PC components like power supplies, cooling solutions, and PC cases, just showed off an immersion-cooling system at Computex 2025, designed to handle up to 3,300 watts of power. The Cirrus Mk1 uses two-phase liquid immersion cooling to effectively cool components.

The thermally conductive dielectric liquid used for the system has a low evaporation point, allowing it to effectively transfer heat away from the CPU and GPU. A condenser inside the tank then transfers that heat away and pushes it out to a heat exchanger located away from the system.

This means that the Cirrus Mk1 uses two independent thermal loops, ensuring better efficiency and thermal management. This also ensures that the refrigerant is isolated from the rest of the environment, especially as it uses short-chain PFAS. This specific coolant has zero ozone depletion potential and ultra-low global warming potential, but it’s still likely expensive, so you don’t want to accidentally spill it.

The system displayed on the showroom floor features an AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7960X paired to four Nvidia RTX 5090 GPUs and a Gigabyte TRX50 AI-TOP motherboard. Overall, the system is quite hefty, measuring 700 mm tall and 500 mm in diameter and weighing 70 kg. It also has a heat exchanger and a control pump, so this device will take up a lot of space on your desk.

Power is delivered through two Enermax Platimax II 2400 watts, putting out a total of 4800 watts for both the cooling and computer systems. This is more than what the average outlet can handle, so you definitely need a custom-made electric circuit if you plan to deploy this system.

Enermax, established in 1990, is a renowned Taiwanese company in the PC hardware industry, particularly recognized for its innovative power supply units (PSUs), cooling solutions, and PC cases. Over the years, Enermax has built a reputation for engineering reliable, high-performance PSUs that primarily target enthusiasts and professional users. Their commitment to quality and technological advancement has kept them at the forefront of the industry, constantly evolving to meet the demands of the ever-changing tech landscape.

We look closely at the latest addition to Enermax's impressive PSU lineup - the Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU. Enermax's new power supply pursues a balanced design, meeting modern gaming PCs mid-way with good conversion efficiency and an overall robust power delivery system. With features like fully modular cables with per-wire sleeving, dynamic hybrid fan control for optimal cooling, and advanced topologies, the Revolution D.F. 12 750W is primed to deliver on both reliability and performance. We will delve into its specifications, build quality, and performance metrics to see if the new unit lives up to Enermax's esteemed legacy and belongs among the best power supplies on our list.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU comes in simple yet effective packaging. The outer box is a basic cardboard construction, enhanced visually by a decorative ribbon wrapped around it. The power supply unit itself is protected during shipping by a nylon bag and dense packaging foam, ensuring it arrives in pristine condition.

The bundle goes a little beyond the essentials, featuring mounting screws, the required AC power cable and a basic manual, but also a jump-start adapter and cable combs.

This PSU sports a fully modular design, allowing for the removal of all DC power cables, including the 24-pin ATX connector. The cables are all-black, from connectors to wires, and feature individually sleeved wires, adding to the unit's premium aesthetic and enhancing cable management options.

External Appearance

The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU is housed in a chassis that measures just 122 mm in length, which is slightly shorter than the standard ATX dimensions stipulated by the ATX design guide. This unique size allows the power supply unit to fit into all ATX-compliant tower PC cases and may even be an advantage for custom builds, although the reduced length may slightly affect the alignment of cable paths with standard case openings.

The aesthetic of the Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU is understated, featuring a matte textured black finish. The design avoids unnecessary embellishments, opting instead for simple large stickers that cover the left and right sides of the unit entirely. The top side of the PSU carries a sticker with the electrical specifications and certifications.

The front side of the unit includes not only the standard on/off switch and AC cable receptacle but also a switch for the Dust Free (D.F.) function, which reverses the fan direction to blow dust away. The rear hosts the modular cable connectors, which are organized for easy and error-free connections. While the connectors are not color-coded, they are labeled with a simple, bright white legend next to each connector, aiding in accurate cable management. A white imprint of the company and series logos can also be found on the rear side, enhancing aesthetics.

Internal Design

The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU is fitted with a Zeta Group ZFB122512M 120 mm fan, which utilizes a ball-bearing engine. This choice of fan is recognized for its reliability and durability, commonly used in high-quality PSUs, as ball-bearing fans may be slightly louder at higher speeds but are far more reliable when they operate in high temperature environments. The fan in this model is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 2200 RPM, a relatively high speed for a fan of this size.

The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W ATX 3.1 PSU is produced by Shenzhen Rui Sheng Yuan, an OEM with extensive experience in the power supply industry, despite some past challenges with reliability during 2015-2017. Their long history in power electronics contributes to their capability in producing mid to high power output PC power supplies.

This platform is based on well-proven topologies, with its electrical design focused on ensuring reliability. The input stage includes a basic transient filter, slightly below the typical robustness found in more recent designs, consisting of three Y capacitors, one X capacitor, and two filtering inductors. The Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) setup comprises a standard rectifying bridge attached to the main APFC heatsink, supplemented by an additional heatsink, two APFC MOSFETs (WML28N60C4), a diode, and a large inductor paired with two Rubycon 270 μF capacitors.

In its primary inversion stage, the Enermax Revolution D.F. utilizes a full-bridge LLC topology with four CS13N50FF MOSFETs as its heart. The secondary stage features four HYG020N04 MOSFETs on dedicated heatsinks to handle the primary 12V line, with 3.3V and 5V rails generated by DC-to-DC circuits on a vertical daughterboard. On the secondary side, the capacitors are a mixture of both electrolytic and solid-state products supplied by Rubycon, Nippon Chemi-Con, and Unicon, all recognized brands in the market.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox, and various other bits and parts.

The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU exceeds the standards of the 80Plus Gold certification comfortably when the input voltage is 115 VAC, even though the input voltage has a significantly higher impact on efficiency than usual. When tested with a 115 VAC input, this PSU achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 90.0% across its operational range from 20% to 100% of its capacity, which rises to 92.1% when operated with a 230 VAC input. The efficiency of the unit peaks at a load near the midpoint of its capacity. Notably, the efficiency under very low load conditions is great, setting it apart from many competitors within the same power output range.

The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU features a hybrid fan mode, allowing the fan to remain off under low-load conditions to maintain silence. The fan starts operating only when it is thermally necessary, which in our case was when the load exceeded approximately 300 Watts – a little sooner than what the unit’s official specifications imply, yet the “Zero-RPM up to 50% load” marketing statement could be possible in ideal laboratory conditions. At ambient room temperatures, this means the PSU can operate quietly for most low to moderate usage scenarios. As the load increases beyond 300 Watts, the fan gradually ramps up its speed to effectively manage the increasing thermal output. This strategic approach optimizes both acoustic comfort and cooling performance, maintaining a balance that keeps the PSU virtually inaudible while the load remains low.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

During its hot testing phase, the Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU shows a slight decrease in efficiency under heavy loads, recording figures of 89.2% under a 115 VAC input and 91.3% with a 230 VAC source, compared to 90.0% and 92.1%, respectively, during cold testing. This reduction is moderate and occurs almost linearly across the entire load range. Despite the decline, there are no signs of measurable thermal stress, not even at maximum load. The PSU is designed to operate efficiently even at an ambient temperature of up to 50°C, and the effects of higher temperatures on its performance are well-managed, indicating robust thermal performance.

Under hot testing conditions, the Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU's fan activates swiftly and increases its speed more quickly than in cooler environments, almost linearly in relevance to the load. As it approaches 90% capacity, the fan reaches its maximum speed. This approach maintains tolerable acoustic levels up to approximately 40-45% load capacity. However, as the load continues to increase beyond this point, the fan noise becomes markedly louder, making the PSU audibly prominent, clearly favoring reliability over acoustics.

Despite its slightly more compact size, the Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU effectively maintains cooling, consistently keeping internal temperatures low, even at maximum load. The design showcases an excellent balance of acoustic comfort and thermal efficiency, ensuring the PSU operates within safe thermal limits at all times without even coming close to triggering the over-temperature protection (OTP).

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The electrical performance of the Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU is excellent for its class, showcasing strong voltage regulation on all outputs. The 12V rail maintains an impressive regulation of just 0.8%, with the 5V and 3.3V lines also performing well at 1.2% and 1.0% respectively. Ripple suppression is similarly top-notch, with the 12V, 5V, and 3.3V lines registering low values at 30 mV, 22 mV, and 22 mV respectively. These figures indicate a level of performance that is exceptional within this PSU's category.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU successfully passed all crucial protection tests, confirming its effectiveness in safeguarding both the PSU and connected components. The unit displayed standard Over Current Protection (OCP) settings for the 3.3V and 5V rails, activating at 122% and 126% respectively, which are typical values for these specifications. The 12V rail’s OCP activation at 136% is slightly higher, aligning with industry practices where manufacturers tailor protections to meet power excursion guidelines.

Bottom Line

The Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU presents a solid option in the mid-range PSU market, reflecting a balanced blend of quality and performance. The unit's smaller-than-standard chassis is a notable design choice that is potentially beneficial for compact builds. And although the OEM behind this PSU may have had its reputation somewhat tarnished in the past, Rui Sheng Yuan is a company with a wealth of experience in power electronics and Enermax is highly confident about the reliability of this platform. This is supported by a substantial 10-year manufacturer's warranty.

From an energy conversion efficiency perspective, the Revolution D.F. 12 PSU does well, surpassing the standards required for 80Plus Gold certification. This unit truly shines in power quality, as it offers exceptional performance that surpasses common expectations for its class. It provides stable and reliable power delivery across all outputs, with excellent voltage regulation and ripple suppression, which should entice users to prioritize longevity and reliability above all else.

Thermally, the Enermax PSU manages its heat aggressively, maintaining low internal temperatures even under heavy loads. Its thermal performance is finely tuned to offer acoustic comfort at lower loads with a zero-RPM fan mode up to roughly 300 Watts in typical operating conditions. When the system is heavily loaded, the fan becomes audible and may get very loud if the ambient temperature is very high. However, this is expected and aligns with Enermax's thermal management strategy of favoring temperatures over acoustics. Ultimately, this focus on operating temperatures helps to ensure that the unit not only performs well (and consistently so) but also does not take unnecessary wear and tear in the process.

Considering its current $130 price tag, the Enermax Revolution D.F. 12 750W PSU might seem a tad expensive relative to its wattage and certifications. Its robust performance, ATX 3.1 compliance, and long warranty period offer considerable value, making it a viable choice. Still, the retail price is rather high, and there are numerous competitive products out at the moment, requiring a fair discount to make the D.F. 12 a truly competitive product.

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In the realm of best power supplies, a few names stand out for their dedication to quality, innovation, and performance. Enermax, established in 1990, has been a stalwart in this sector, consistently delivering products that resonate well with enthusiasts and professionals. The brand has a rich history of coupling robust engineering with aesthetic finesse, which has, over the decades, carved out a significant market share in the fiercely competitive PSU arena.

Venturing into the high-capacity spectrum, Enermax has thrown its hat into the ring with the Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU, a unit that boasts a plethora of features. The PSU market at this wattage level is a battlefield where the stakes are high, and the margin for error is minuscule. Products contending in this segment are expected to meet the stringent demands of high-performance computing environments, including multiple high-power PCIe card setups and extensive overclocking scenarios. The Revolution D.F. X 1050 is Enermax's statement of intent, showcasing its technical prowess and its ability to meet the needs of power users alongside a unique aesthetic design.

The Revolution D.F. X 1050 comes with a promise of delivering not just ample power but also operational efficiency, durability, and a host of smart features to ensure optimum performance. The patented DFR (Dust Free Rotation) technology, for instance, is a notable inclusion aimed at reducing dust accumulation, supposedly prolonging the unit’s lifespan and ensuring consistent performance. As we delve deeper into the analysis of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU, we shall scrutinize every facet of this unit to ascertain whether it lives up to the lofty standards set by its predecessors and the expectations synonymous with the Enermax brand name.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

We received the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU in a fairly large cardboard box with thick, sturdy walls. Inside the box, the PSU is additionally protected inside packaging foam. The black/red artwork on the box is focused on the unit itself.

Enermax kept the bundled items down to the bare minimum, with an AC power cable, four mounting screws, just two simple cable ties, a colorful sticker, and a 24-pin connector jumper that can be used to power on the PSU without connecting it to a motherboard.

The modular cables of the Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU are all black, with ribbon-like linked black wires and black connectors. This includes the 12+4 pin cable of the unit. There is also an extra optional cable for connecting the internal ARGB to an external controller or compatible motherboard.

External Appearance

Enermax has managed to encapsulate a substantial power output within the Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU, all while adhering to the standard ATX dimensions of 150 × 140 × 86 mm (W×D×H). This meticulous design ensures the unit's compatibility across a vast array of ATX-compliant enclosures, encompassing Desktop HTPC and other compact configurations. The vital electrical specifications and certifications are neatly displayed on a sticker atop the unit.

Straying from the minimalist design approach, the Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU flaunts a unique aesthetic charm. It is sprayed with textured black paint and showcases a distinctive octagonal fan grill located at the base of the chassis, which is elegantly adorned with a badge at its center. The right side of the chassis is completely plain, while the left side is home to what initially appears to be a typical decorative sticker with the company and series logos.

What initially appears to be a simple decorative sticker is actually a frosted display that illuminates various colors and effects, adding a visually appealing aspect for users who appreciate RGB setups. The Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU offers 14 built-in lighting modes, providing a range of color and effect options including various static colors and dynamic rainbow effects. The lighting is limited to the side display, making it subtle and elegantly applied.

On the rear side, besides the customary small on/off switch and AC cable receptacle, the Revolution D.F. X 1050 incorporates a square momentary switch on its rear side. This switch rotates the pre-programmed RGB effects if the unit is not connected to an external ARGB controller and also allows users to easily turn off the lighting by holding it down for three seconds.

The front of the chassis houses connectors for the modular cables. Although the connectors are not color-coded, a basic legend is imprinted on the chassis to facilitate correct cable connections. The PCI Express and CPU 12V cables employ identical connectors, eliminating the risk of incorrect cable insertion, thanks to the distinct connector designs and keyed configurations.

Internal Design

Enermax is using one of their own brand PFERS-12Μ fans for the cooling needs of the Revolution D.F. X 1050, the maximum size of fan that fits in a standard ATX chassis is 120 mm. It is a very high-quality fan, with a dual ball bearing 6-pole engine. Ball-bearing engines are very reliable but not the quietest, however the PSU features a semi-passive design that will completely stop the fan while the load is low. Enermax also programmed a “Dust-Free Rotation” mode into the fan, which has the fan making a powerful reverse spin once it is powered on, supposedly blowing away any accumulated dust. This will not be of much use for systems that are on 24/7 and it is likely that the fan will simply draw the dust back towards it after that momentary reverse spin, yet it could help in some cases and very dusty environments.

Although the platform may be initially mistaken for a Great Wall design, the OEM behind the creation of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 actually is Dongguan SANR Electronic Technology (also known as Casecom). SANR is a large Chinese OEM but we rarely find their platforms in high-end products. Even though the chassis was reduced to just 140 mm, the internals of the PSU are not as packed as we thought they would be.

Rubycon supplies the two 450V/390μF capacitors of the APFC stage, which are placed next to a single large filtering inductor. The active PCF components are two CWS60R125AZ power transistors and a diode. Two MOSFETs form a typical synchronous half-bridge LLC inversion stage towards the main transformer.

Six 014N04SA MOSFETs generate the single 12V line on the other side of the transformer. The DC-to-DC converters for the 5V and 3.3V voltage lines can be seen right after a very small heatsink. The secondary side capacitors are a mix of Rubycon, Nippon Chemi-Con, and Nichicon products, all of which are from Japanese manufacturers.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

The Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 has a particularly interesting energy conversion efficiency curve. It is extremely efficient at low to medium loads, delivering figures that could easily grant it an 80Plus Platinum certification regardless of the input voltage. However, its efficiency drops significantly when the load is greater than 600 Watts, preventing the PSU from receiving an efficiency certification greater than 80Plus Gold. The average nominal load efficiency with an input voltage of 230 VAC is 92.7% a very high figure for an 80Plus Gold certified product. It drops significantly when the input voltage is reduced to 115 VAC, down to 90.2%, suggesting that the platform is largely optimized for a 230 VAC input, but it still easily meets the 80Plus Gold certification requirements.

By default, the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 has a semi-fanless mode programmed, which signifies that the fan activation is dependent on the cooling demand. Unlike the vast majority of competitive products, there is no way to switch to an always-on mode for the cooling fan. Nevertheless, the programmed cooling profile is highly proactive, with the fan starting when the load is just above 150 Watts. The internal temperatures of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 are fairly low for a PSU with that kind of power output and such small dimensions.

The cooling profile of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 is optimized for low noise operation across the first half of the loading spectrum, with the fan spinning at a low speed with a load up to 600 Watts. After that point, the controller increases the speed of the fan sharply, quickly bringing the noise levels high, favoring good thermal performance and safety over acoustics. The fan reaches its maximum speed only when the unit is loaded at 100% capacity for a protracted period of time.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

The Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 has its output specified for an ambient temperature of 40°C. Generally, PC power supply units (PSUs) are categorized based on their temperature ratings, with 40°C typically associated with low-end to entry-level mainstream units, and 50°C designated for quality mid-tier to high-performance products. The 40°C rating of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 is disquieting for a product of such a class but the rating alone does not warrant poor high temperature performance.

The performance of PC power supply units (PSUs) is known to vary with ambient temperature, with the degree of variation largely dependent on the design and quality of the unit. In the case of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU, the energy conversion efficiency exhibits a marginal drop of 0.3-0.4% at low loads, a range that is within acceptable limits. However, as the load increases, the efficiency decrement escalates to higher than 1%, indicating a different efficiency behavior under heavy load conditions compared to low load scenarios. This pattern suggests that the thermal stress on the active components becomes more pronounced as the unit is subjected to higher loads, reflecting on the design characteristics of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050.

Under adverse environmental conditions, the fan within the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU begins its operation almost immediately after the load surpasses 50 Watts. The fan's activity progressively escalates, reaching its apex once the load surpasses 800 Watts. Beyond this point, the temperatures tend to elevate to a somewhat uncomfortable level, indicating a threshold at the platform’s design capacity and capabilities.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The electrical performance of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU is commendable, especially for a high-performance unit, reflecting a strong emphasis by the design engineers on the primary 12V rail. This rail exhibits excellent regulation, with a variance of less than 0.5% across the nominal load range, and effective filtering demonstrated by a maximum voltage ripple of 40 mV. However, the voltage regulation and filtering on the 3.3V/5V rails are not as proficient, with regulation approximating 1.2% and voltage ripple extending up to 36 mV, though well within the design limit of 50 mV.

As part of our standard testing, we test the primary protections of all PSUs we review (Over Current, Over Voltage, Over Power, and Short Circuit). The protections of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU engaged normally. The OCP of the 12V rail immediately engaged at nearly 130% of the unit’s maximum capacity, a high figure for such a PSU design.

Bottom Line

The Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 PSU stands out as a compelling option for those in pursuit of a high-performance power supply unit. The build quality is robust, showcased by its intriguing external aesthetics with a textured paint finish, fully modular cables, and an elegant touch of RGB lighting on the frosted side display. Furthermore, the inclusion of high-quality Japanese capacitors throughout the unit underscores its reliability and durability. Its external allure is matched by a compact and cleanly executed internal design carried out by SANR Electronic Technology (also known as Casecom), a seasoned yet uncommon OEM in the high-end PSU arena. Despite being a relatively rare name in high-end PSU circles, they have exhibited a good design and assembly job, reflecting a blend of experience and quality assurance in the product.

When it comes to power quality, the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 shines, particularly with its exceptional voltage regulation and filtering on the 12V rail. The unit boasts outstanding energy conversion efficiency that transcends the 80Plus Platinum benchmark at low-to-medium loads, showcasing its operational efficacy. However, a noticeable dip in efficiency is observed when the PSU is heavily loaded, relegating it to an 80Plus Gold certification under such circumstances.

Thermal performance of the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 is average, showing a tendency towards higher temperatures under heavy loads in adverse environments. Nonetheless, at or near room temperature, the unit performs well, maintaining good thermal figures. When it comes to noise levels, the unit is practically inaudible at low loads in standard room temperatures, a feature that most users will appreciate. However, as the load increases, particularly in higher ambient temperatures, the noise level rises but remains within a tolerable range for most users. The fan's maximum operational speed is attained before the unit reaches its maximum power output, which could be a concern in high-temperature environments.

Value-wise, the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 stands out as a competitively priced option given its high power output, currently retailing at $120. This price point is particularly attractive when compared to less powerful units from competitors retailing at similar prices. The 10-year manufacturer warranty is a cherry on top, providing a sense of security and trust in the product's quality and durability.

The comprehensive set of features, compliance with ATX 3.0 standards, and the lengthy warranty make the Enermax Revolution D.F. X 1050 a worthy investment for those in need of a high-power output PSU with a mix of aesthetic and functional attributes. However, its limited cooling performance and display of thermal stress when the unit is very heavily loaded may warrant consideration for users who plan to utilize this PSU in sustained high-demand settings.

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In the retail PC PSU space, most of the focus on new standards and their capabilities in the past couple of years has been on ATX 3.0 and it's quick follow-up successor, ATX 3.1. And while the revised ATX standard is certainly the most important new standard for the rank-and-file PC builder, it's not the only standard that has been released as of late. Intel and its partners have also developed a standard, that in some respects, goes even farther out by dropping some of the legacy aspects of ATX and its increasingly esoteric secondary voltages: ATX12VO.

Short for "ATX 12 Volts Only", ATX12VO is a standard that's been slower to take off as it makes a pretty hard break with backwards compatibility. But with so many motherboard functions running off of 12V (CPUs and GPUs, for a start), the need for a PSU to provide secondary voltages like 3.3V and 5V just aren't what they once were 20 years ago - or even 10. So we've slowly seen PC manufacturers and motherboard makers test the waters, with a handful of designs using the more petite ATX standard.

Meanwhile on the power supply side of things, the outcome has been a bit more interesting, if messy. While ATX12VO motherboards need matching PSUs, there's nothing to say that such a PSU can only be ATX12VO. To reference an ancient meme, the thought at some PSU manufacturers has been "why not both?", leading to high-end PSUs that can bridge the compatibility gap by offering both ATX 3.1 and ATX12VO compatibility.

The first example of such a PSU to make it in our labs is Enermax's new PlatiGemini 1200W PSU. Designed to be the Swiss knife of modern top-tier PCs, Enermax's PSU offers support for both ATX 3.1 and ATX12VO - ensuring it can power virtually any PC - while driving both modes with a sizeable 1200W design that can pretty much power virtually any desktop PC one can hope to build today. Plus, with features like fully modular cables with per-wire sleeving, a dynamic hybrid fan control for optimal cooling, and advanced power topologies, the PlatiGemini 1200W aims to deliver both reliability and performance on top of its multi-mode compatibility. The end result is a very interesting (if premium) product that can do it all.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W ATX 3.1 PSU comes in straightforward yet efficient packaging. The outer box, a simple cardboard design, is visually enhanced with a decorative ribbon. The PSU itself is well-protected during shipping by a nylon bag and dense packaging foam, ensuring it arrives in perfect condition.

The bundle includes more than just the essential mounting screws and AC power cable - a manual, a jump-start adapter, and cable combs are also included.

This PSU features all-black cables, including connectors and wires, with individually sleeved wires, providing the PlatiGemini unit with a premium aesthetic factor. Enermax also includes an ATX12VO connector, which is one of the highlights of this series. Strangely, for the massive 1.2 kW output of the unit, the total number of connectors is fairly low.

External Appearance

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W ATX 3.1 PSU is housed in a chassis that measures 150 mm in length, slightly longer than the standard ATX dimensions specified by the ATX design guide. This extra length accommodates the 135 mm cooling fan, ensuring better cooling performance and fitting into all ATX-compliant tower PC cases.

This PSU boasts a sleek and subtle design, highlighted by its matte textured black finish. The unit eschews unnecessary decorations, featuring prominent chrome logos on the sides for a clean look instead. The top side is covered with a sticker detailing the electrical specifications and certifications.

The front side of the unit includes the standard on/off switch and AC cable receptacle, as well as a switch for the Dust Free (D.F.) function, which reverses the fan direction to blow dust away. The rear hosts the modular cable connectors, organized for easy and error-free connections. While the connectors are not color-coded, they are labeled with a simple, bright white legend next to each connector, aiding in accurate cable management. A white imprint of the company logo can also be found on the rear side, enhancing aesthetics.

Internal Design

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU is equipped with a Zeta Group ZFB132512H 135 mm fan, featuring a ball-bearing engine. This type of fan is known for its reliability and durability, making it a common choice for high-quality PSUs. While ball-bearing fans can be slightly louder at higher speeds, they excel in high-temperature environments. The fan in this model can reach a maximum speed of 1800 RPM, a relatively conservative figure, suggesting that Enermax’s engineers have a lot of faith on this unit’s efficiency.

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W ATX 3.1 PSU is produced by Shenzhen Rui Sheng Yuan, an OEM with extensive experience in the power supply industry, despite past reliability issues between 2015-2017. Their long history in power electronics enables them to produce mid to high power output PC power supplies. They seem to be behind at least several of Enermax’s latest units.

This platform is based on well-established topologies, designed with reliability in mind. The input stage features a basic transient filter, consisting of two Y capacitors, one X capacitor, and two filtering inductors. The Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) setup includes two rectifying bridges attached to a dedicated heatsink, supplemented by four APFC MOSFETs (50R140CP), three diodes, a large encased filtering inductor, and two Rubycon 560 μF capacitors. The active components are sandwiched between two plates that also serve as basic heatsinks.

In its primary inversion stage, the Enermax PlatiGemini utilizes a full-bridge LLC topology with high-quality Infineon 50R140CP MOSFETs. Uniquely, the primary side transistors are on a vertical PCB without any heatsink attached directly on them. The secondary stage features eight Infineon 014N04LS MOSFETs, using synchronous rectification for the primary 12V line, with 3.3V and 5V rails generated by DC-to-DC circuits on a vertical daughterboard. There is an extra rectification circuitry to generate the 5VSB and 12VSB voltages, as required for the ATX12VO compliance. The secondary side capacitors are a mix of top-tier Japanese products from Rubycon, Nichicon, and Nippon Chemi-Con, ensuring reliability and performance.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU comfortably meets the standards of the 80Plus Platinum certification, even though input voltage significantly impacts efficiency. When tested with a 115 VAC input, this PSU achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 91.0% across its operational range from 20% to 100% of its capacity, which rises to 93.2% when operated with a 230 VAC input. The efficiency of the unit peaks at roughly 40% of the unit’s capacity. The efficiency under low loads is quite good as well.

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU incorporates a hybrid fan mode, keeping the fan off during low-load conditions to ensure quiet operation. The fan begins to operate only when necessary, which during our testing occurred at loads above 500 Watts, slightly sooner than the unit’s official specifications indicate. The company claim of Zero-RPM up to 60% load is possibly achievable only under ideal laboratory conditions. At typical room temperatures, this allows the PSU to run quietly for most low-to-moderate usage scenarios. As the load surpasses 500 Watts, the fan gradually increases its speed to manage the rising thermal output effectively but never reaches its maximum speed under these operating conditions.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

During hot testing, the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU demonstrates a slight decrease in efficiency under heavy loads, with recorded figures of 90.4% at 115 VAC and 92.5% at 230 VAC, compared to 91.0% and 93.2% during cold testing. This reduction is moderate and occurs almost linearly across the entire load range. Despite the efficiency drop, there are no signs of thermal stress, even at maximum load. The PSU is rated to perform efficiently at ambient temperatures up to 50°C and it does so seamlessly.

Under hot testing conditions, the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU's fan activates promptly and accelerates more quickly compared to cooler environments, increasing almost linearly with the load. As the PSU nears 75% capacity, the fan reaches its maximum speed. This strategy keeps noise levels acceptable up to around 50% load capacity, which corresponds to the hefty output of 600 Watts. As the load surpasses this threshold, the fan noise becomes noticeably louder, making the PSU audibly prominent and clearly prioritizing reliability over quiet operation.

Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU displays a very well-balanced cooling scheme, balancing acoustics with thermal performance. The internal temperatures of the unit as kept consistently low, yet without an overaggressive cooling fan profile that would result to premature high sound pressure levels. At loads above 1 kW, the fan has already reached its maximum speed and internal temperatures will rise a bit more sharply, yet they remain relatively low for a unit with this kind of output, especially for one without a heatsink cooling its primary inversion circuitry.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The electrical performance of the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU is excellent for its class, demonstrating strong voltage regulation across all outputs. The 12V rail maintains a tight regulation of just 0.7%, while the 5V and 3.3V lines are also well-regulated at 0.5% and 0.9% respectively. Ripple suppression is similarly impressive, with low values of 36 mV for the 12V line, 26 mV for the 5V line, and 24 mV for the 3.3V line. These figures are not setting any world records but they are impressive, even for the high tier that this unit is being marketed into.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU successfully passed all critical protection tests, confirming its effectiveness in safeguarding both the PSU and connected components. The unit displayed standard OCP settings for the 3.3V and 5V rails, activating at 122% and 126% respectively, which are typical for these specifications. The 12V rail’s OCP activation at 136% is slightly higher, aligning with the latest industry practices where manufacturers adjust protections to meet power excursion guidelines.

Bottom Line

The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W ATX 3.1 PSU stands out as a high-quality power supply unit that caters to the needs of top-tier systems. The unit combines functionality with a visually appealing design that complements any high-end PC build, boasting a sleek and understated design that exudes a premium feel. Its overall build quality is exceptional, featuring top-of-the-line active and passive components from renowned manufacturers such as Infineon, Rubycon, Nichicon, and Nippon Chemi-Con. The PSU is produced by Shenzhen Rui Sheng Yuan, an experienced OEM, and is backed by a substantial 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. However, despite its impressive 1.2 kW output, the unit has fewer connectors than expected, which could be a limiting factor for some users.

Thermally, the PlatiGemini 1200W PSU is well-balanced, managing to stay cool and quiet under typical operating conditions. The hybrid fan mode allows the unit to remain silent at low to moderate loads, with the fan starting only when necessary, which was observed at around 480 to 500 Watts in testing. This design keeps the PSU virtually inaudible for most usage scenarios. At higher loads, the fan ramps up its speed to manage the increased thermal output, maintaining safe operating temperatures even at maximum load. This effective thermal management ensures both acoustic comfort and reliable performance.

In terms of power quality, the PlatiGemini 1200W meets the stringent requirements of the 80Plus Platinum certification, demonstrating excellent efficiency and performance. The unit achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 91.0% at 115 VAC and 93.2% at 230 VAC during cold testing. Even under hot conditions, the efficiency remains commendable, with only a slight drop to 90.4% at 115 VAC and 92.5% at 230 VAC. The PSU also exhibits strong voltage regulation and low ripple values across all outputs, ensuring stable and clean power delivery. However, while the power quality is impressive, we should note that it also does not significantly outshine other top-tier products in the market.

Overall, the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W ATX 3.1 PSU is priced at a premium $230, a high price but one aligning with other high-end models in the market. Its compliance with ATX 3.1 and ATX12VO standards, combined with a 10-year warranty and exceptional build quality, makes it a solid choice for demanding users, especially for those who dislike frequent upgrades. Although the limited number of connectors might be a drawback for some, the PSU’s outstanding performance, efficiency, and thermal management make it a viable option for those looking to build or upgrade a high-performance gaming or workstation PC.

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With the ever-present popularity of compact PC builds, larger graphics cards, and the emerging trend of rear-connector / MG-RC motherboards and builds, it's a good time for power supplies to get smaller. And Taiwan's Enermax seems to agree, launching a Revolution D.F. 12 PSU line that it's touting as "the World’s Smallest ATX 3.1 Power Supply." It achieves these claims thanks to its 122mm depth and inclusion of the revised 600W 12V-2x6 cable for modern, high-power Nvidia graphics cards.

These compact PSUs are currently available directly from Enermax in 750W ($129) and 850W ($139) in basic black, while the white 850W variant is $10 more ($149).

In case you need a refresher on the general dimensions of PC power supply sizes and types, here's a comparison: 

Of course, PSU depth often varies, particularly at higher wattages. But from the numbers above, you can see that Enermax's new PSUs are 18mm, or 0.71 inches shorter than the average ATX power supply. And anyone who's ever built a PC in even a moderately cramped case knows that having even that small amount of extra space can make all the difference.
 

The Revolution D.F. power supplies also feature a 115 mm dual-bearing fan with Enermax's Dust-free (D.F.) feature, which reverses the fan's rotation to eject accumulated dust from the housing. And for those who enjoy silence, the company says the fan will remain off until the PSU is hit with a load greater than 50%. And Enermax also says its fan curve tops out at 24 dBA.

Enermax is marketing these PSUs for gaming and AI computing (every press release has to mention AI these days), while also stating its Revolution D.F. 12 supplies fit "seamlessly into micro ATX cases." Now obviously, they aren't going to fit in cases that only have mounting brackets for SFX power supplies (which are smaller in every dimension than these PSUs). But if you're building a system in a compact case that supports ATX power supplies and you don't have much extra space around the power supply area, one of these PSUs could be extremely helpful. 

In particular, Enermax's compact SFX power supplies could be helpful if you're planning to build a system with one of the new rear-connector motherboards, like MSI's Project Zero line. In my experience building in three rear-connector cases so far, none had as much room at the back. 

These builds accumulate a massive amount of cable slack because you're plugging pretty much everything in on the back of the board, using cable lengths designed to route everything around to the front. Even Corsair's 2500D didn't have as much space for cables as I'd like, and it's a dual-chamber case that's very large for its Micro ATX limitations. 

I hope to try one of Enermax's Revolution D.F. 12 power supplies in a future rear-connector build. It should make cable management at least a little easier. But if these builds become popular (as seems to be happening, though it's early days yet), what we really need is for companies like Enermax who make modular PSUs to sell kits with power supply cables that are significantly shorter. The best way to eliminate case cable clutter is to have just the length of cable you need, not several extra inches for each type of power cable your system needs. 

With most of the reviews I do for Tom’s Hardware, I’m looking to test the best AIO coolers on the market, capable of taming heat-intensive CPUs like Intel’s i9-14900K. However, not everyone needs a large dual-tower air cooler or a 360mm AIO.

While I would normally recommend using a standard air or liquid cooler, there can be situations where a 120mm AIO will be the best option for certain niche configurations. So below, I’ll be looking at the smallest AIO models from Be Quiet, Cooler Master, Corsair, and Enermax to see which are worthy of your consideration – and which ones you should avoid.

Spec Comparison Table

A summary of each cooler’s features

▶ Enermax LiqMaxFlo 120

Enermax’ LiqMaxFlo stands out from the competition with an fan included atop the CPU block, which can help lower VRM and RAM temperatures. I feel this could be especially useful in a space-constrained SFF system. It features low noise levels and has a user-accessible refill port.

▶  Be Quiet! Pure Loop 120

True to its brand name, Be Quiet’s Pure Loop 120 features moderately low noise levels, and its design features an external liquid pump. Not only is there a user-accessible refill port, Be Quiet goes the extra mile by including 100 ml of additional coolant for those who might wish to refill their coolers in the future.

▶  Corsair H60x Elite

The best feature of Corsair’s H60x Eliteis its extremely low maximum noise levels of only 38.2 dBA, the quietest of all units tested in this review. It also features RGB on the CPU block and the fan.

▶   Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120L V2 and 120L Core

The main difference between the ML120L V2 and the 120L Core are the fans included. The fan on the 120L Core is solid black, with mid-range noise levels. The fan included with the ML120L V2 runs quieter and features RGB illumination.

Testing methodology

Today's highest-end CPUs, whether Intel or AMD, are difficult to cool in intensive workloads. In the past. reaching 95 degrees Celsius or more on a desktop CPU might have been a cause for concern. But with today’s top-end CPUs, this is considered normal operation. Similar behavior has been present in laptops for years due to cooling limitations in tight spaces.

All testing is performed with a 23 degrees C ambient room temperature. Multiple thermal tests are run on each CPU to test the cooler to verify the accuracy of results. These tests include:

1. Noise-normalized testing at low noise levels

2. “Out of the box”/default configuration thermal & acoustics testing

    a. No power limits enforced

    b. Because CPUs hit Tjmax in this scenario, the best way to compare cooling strength is by recording the total CPU package power consumption. 

3. Testing in Power Limited Scenarios

    a. Power limited to 95W to emulate a medium-intensity workload

    b. Power limited to 75W to emulate a low-intensity workload

Testing configuration – AMD AM5 Platform

Maximum Intensity Thermal Testing and Noise Levels

In the most intense workloads, AMD’s Ryzen 7 7700X will reach its peak temperature of 95 degrees Celsius, and as a result will thermally throttle to a small degree with all but the strongest of liquid coolers. When the CPU reaches its peak temperature, I’ve measured the CPU package power to determine the maximum wattage cooled to best compare their performance.

Of the coolers tested here, Be Quiet’s was the strongest, cooling approximately 118W during the course of testing. Of course, that is only half of the picture – noise levels are equally important.

The noise levels have quite a bit of variance here. Corsair’s H60x had the most ideal noise levels, reaching only 38.2 dBA. Cooler Master’s 120L was the loudest, reaching 46.5 dBA! But when you consider both the thermal results and the noise results, Enermax’ LiqMaxFlo had the best showing overall, with the second-strongest cooling results paired with the second-quietest noise levels.

Thermal results with noise normalized to 37.3 dBA 

Finding the right balance between fan noise levels and cooling performance is important. While running fans at full speed can improve cooling capacity to some extent, the benefits are limited and many users prefer a quiet system. With this noise-normalized test, I’ve set noise levels to 37.3 dBA. This level of noise is a low volume level that is slightly audible, but shouldn’t bother even the most noise-sensitive of users.

When the fans are manually tuned for low noise levels, Be Quiet lives up to its name, providing the best thermal dissipation in this noise-normalized test.

95W Cinebench results

For a CPU like AMD’s Ryzen 7 7700X, common workloads won’t exceed 95W of power consumption – this is what you might expect from the most CPU-demanding games.

Be Quiet’s Pure Loop 120 again provided the best overall results heere, averaging only 78 C in our 23 C ambient temperature test setup. Noise results weren’t tested in this scenario, because they were essentially the same as the maximum noise results, due to the default fan curve.

75W Cinebench results

The lowest power limit I’ve tested for these 120mm AIO coolers is 75W. This power level is more typical of what most users might see while running AMD’s Ryzen 7 7700X. Most games will use around 70W, in my experience.

Thermals don’t really matter in this scenario. If Intel’s stock cooler fit onto an AM5 motherboard, it would even perform well enough here. That said, Be Quiet’s Pure Loop 120 again provided the best thermal results, with a CPU package temperature of 65C.

When noise levels are taken into account, however, Corsair’s H60x Elite and Enermax’ Liqmax Flo offer the best performance in common scenarios. Their volume levels measured only 36.4 dBA in this scenario – which is about as low as my noise meter can reliably measure.

Conclusion

If I were in the market for a 120mm AIO, my choice of the coolers tested would be Enermax’ LiqMaxFlo 120mm. While it doesn’t offer the absolute best thermal results in maximum intensity workloads, it offers an ideal combination of thermal performance and low noise levels. Additionally, the fan atop its CPU block will help keep your VRMs and RAM cool, which can be useful for systems with less-than-ideal airflow. And systems like that are exactly where you’re most likely to want to use a small AIO in the first place.

If you simply want the best thermal performance, get Be Quiet’s Pure Loop 120 – but it runs a little bit louder, it costs about $10 more than the competition, at $90. Users who want the quietest overall experience should consider Corsair’s H60x Elite, which when we wrote this was selling for $80.

Update 12/15/2023: An Enermax representative reached out to Tom's Hardware to clarify that " the oil leak we mentioned will actually still stay in the fan itself with the anti-leak oil tank design and will not go inside the power supply," and will "definitely not cause any fire or public safety [concerns] for our customers." As such, we have removed a brief mention below about fire and safety concerns.

After noticing "higher than normal RMA rates," Taiwan-based Enermax has learned that the fans used in some of its Revolution D.F.2 and Revolution D.F.X. series power supplies have faulty fan bearings which eventually caused an oil leak during use and subsequent noise issues. Due to higher-than-normal RMA rates for these specific power supplies, Enermax has announced a voluntary product recall for purchases made in 2023.

Enermax also said that not all of the PSUs in this series are at fault. But still, the company is playing it safe. The company said the newer units are now fitted with industrial-grade dual ball bearing fans in the power supply to address this issue. To make this recall as hassle-free as reasonably possible, Enermax said it will be handling all the shipping logistics and has an advanced RMA process for these specific power supplies. The revised power supplies will have a red 'OC Passed' sticker on the product and an 'Equipped with Industrial Grade Dual-Bearing Fan sticker on the packaging. So if yours doesn't, contact Enermax to start the RMA process.

Potential Reason for Failure?

The Revolution D.F.2 and D.F.X. series was launched earlier this year with a  'self-clean' during boot-up, which Enermax call Dust-Free Rotation (DFR) technology.
The D.F.X. power supply uses the PFERS-12M fan with a dual-ball bearing-six-pole engine. The way this 'self-clean' works is by doing a power reverse spin when it is powered up. The rest of the supply is made by another OEM. 

So the likely source of the problem appears to be fan related, and not the power supply design or its D.F.R. technology. Switching to an industrial-grade dual ball-bearing fan should remedy the issue.  If you have the one without the red OC sticker, start the RMA process.

Enermax is not an unfamiliar name in the power supply business, but it is probably not the first to come to mind, largely due to the saturation brands and OEMs. Enermax previously made power supplies until 2014. It has been some time since it manufactured their own power supplies. It is not known if Enermax are designing its power supplies before handing over to OEMs for production. 

Enermax has announced a new lineup of LiqMaxFlo AIO coolers that come with a brand new pump design and an additional cooling fan dedicated to cooling motherboard power delivery components. The new lineup is available in standard and SR variants, featuring 120mm, 240mm, 360mm, and 420mm radiator options. As well as 27mm and 38mm thick radiator options.

The VRM fan is one of the newest changes added to Enermax's new LiqMaxFlo series. The fan measures 60mm in diameter and is placed directly on top of the pump housing, pushing air across all four sides of the CPU area and into the VRMs that typically surround the CPU socket. It should also provide a bit of airflow to the memory area of the motherboard.

The fan aims to improve the thermals of the motherboard components, particularly the power delivery system that can run hot on motherboards that don't have adequate VRM heatsinks that work well in stagnating air. The fan could also help cool off the memory section of the board, which may improve memory overclocking headroom in some cases.

The new Enermax cooler series also comes with an improved coolant flow rate and higher pump pressure, compared to previous Enermax cooler designs. The pump comes with Enermax's patented shunt-channel technology, an enlarged coolant inlet, and an optimized flow design that improves pump pressure by 30% and improves coolant flow rates by 20%. Enermax says its improved design can reduce CPU thermals by 8C when operating under a 250W CPU load.

Enermax is offering the LiqMaxFlo in two flavors, a vanilla model and an entry-level SR variant. The vanilla variants will come with RGB illuminated fans on the radiator as well as a thicker 38mm radiator, while the SR variants will come with a standard-sized 27mm thick radiator, and non-RGB fans. (The VRM fan on the pump still appears to have ARGB lighting.) The premium models will come in 240mm, 360mm, and 420mm radiator sizes, while the entry-level SR models will come in 120mm, 240mm, and 360mm sizes.

Enermax reports that its new LiqMaxFlo coolers are available right now at its online USA store and selected retailers.

Motherboards with rear-facing connectors are all the rage at Computex 2023. We've seen new rear-connector boards from both MSI and Asus and one of Asus's boards even had a special slot for transferring power to an RTX 4070 card without a running a power cable into the visible area of the case.

Cable management is a huge hassle and, no matter what you do with a standard motherboard and case, you end up with the motherboard and GPU power cables obstructing your view of your beautiful RGB motherboard, RAM and cooler. To use a rear-connected motherboard, you need a case that has the right mounts and holes so you can run those power cables behind the board on the rear of your case (which is usually hidden).

Enermax's new Cable Master 20 case is the first chassis we've seen that supports both standard motherboards and those with cables that come out the back. At the company's Computex suite, we had a chance to see the case in person and were impressed with how neatly the cables ran through the back on the sample build which was on display.

Looking at the sample build, we were impressed by the lack of dangling cables in the visible area of the PC. The case also has two attractive RGB fans under its mesh front and an LED status panel on the front that shows the GPU and CPU temperature along with the time.

The Enermax Cable Master 20 supports mATX or ITX motherboards and has room for up to 360mm radiators on its top or front. Its front panel has both USB Type-A and Type-C ports, a key feature for any case that strives to be among the best PC cases.

There's no word yet on when the Cable Master 20 is coming out and how much it will cost.

PC cases, cooling and power specialist, Enermax, is showcasing a plethora of new wares at its Computex booth in Taipei. Among the new products, the Enermax Cable Master 20 stood out as one of the first to support both rear and standard-mounted motherboard cables. Meanwhile the Enermax Platimax Gemini is claimed to be the first PSU to adhere to both ATX 3.0 and ATX12VO standards.

Enermax Cases

The headlining Enermax Cable Master 20 case doesn't stand out of the crowd, at first glance. Its mesh front, upper LCD display, RGB fans, and tempered glass side all look on trend for the 2020s so far.

The killer feature of the Enermax Cable Master 20 lies beneath the boxy façade. Enermax has designed the internal layout to be flexible enough for comfortable fitting of motherboards with both rear- and standard-mounted cabling - previously called DIY-APE Standard motherboards. A specific change to the layout which should help DIYers is the ample 30mm of space left behind the motherboard for stress-free cable mounting.

Enermax reminds those pondering over the Cable Master 20 that rear-mounting cables is preferable to create a tidy system with the best internal airflow.

Another new case that Enermax is promoting is the MarbleShell Apex Marble MS32. This is notable for being the firm's first modular PC case. Enermax says that it features a removable top radiator and fan brackets on the power supply shroud as well as an extra adjustable-angle fan bracket assists in cooling high-power graphics cards. Check the specs in our photo, above.

Enermax PSUs

The Platimax Gemini is the world's first PSU that meets both ATX 3.0 and ATX12VO standards, according to Enermax. We saw a 1200W sample at Computex, and among its charms it offers full modularity, 80 Plus Platinum rated, comes with a 600W native PCIe 5 cable, and is overall a more eco-friendly computing power solution.

Also at the show, Enermax showcased the SPlave X Enermax PSU, which is a specially modified Enermax Revolution PSU, influenced by top overclocker and Tom's Hardware contributor Allen Golibersuch.

Enermax Cooling

The rest of Enermax's wares were cooling products. Its Liqtech TR4 II is claimed to be the first liquid cooler on the market that is officially verified by Intel, as a thermal solution for its Xeon Sapphire Rapids (Socket LGA4677) workstations. Understandably, this is quite a sizable AIO. It isn't Intel-only, though, it also comes with fittings for AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO processors with socket sWRX8 / sTRX4/ TR4, as well as AMD socket SP3 for AMD EPYC processors.

For users of more mainstream CPUs, Enermax has the new Liqmaxflo AIO CPU cooler with additional ARGB VRM fan. Last but not least, Enermax wanted to draw our attention to the SquA Fusion PWM fans, with a magnetic force design, aRGB frame, and dust-free design.

Update 04/28/2022 1:50am PT: Enermax responded with a few details, which we've added below. 

Enermax has issued a recall for three of the new Liqmax III AIO liquid coolers models due to impurities accumulating inside the water pump that reduce coolant flow, thus weakening the AIO's cooling capabilities. The issue only impacts certain batches. However, the issue does sound familiar — the Liqtech I and II series also developed a reputation for gunky pump-clogging deposits and leaks, leading to RMAs. The Korean distributor Cynex is handling the RMA process for all impacted coolers via the enermaxkorea.com website, and Enermax tells us that the issue is confined to coolers sold in Korea. 

The impacted models are confined to specific batches, including the Liqmax ARGB 360 black and white variants and the Liqmax III ARGB 240 models. All 360 black models with '2012' in the first four digits of the serial number and white versions with '2119' are possibly affected. In addition, potentially affected Liqmax III ARGB 240 models are marked with '2012.'

Cynex says the cooling problems are most likely to occur with these three models, and it will replace the existing units whether or not they are currently showing signs of reduced cooling performance. The problems are due to 'impurities mixed inside the radiator' during the manufacturing process, which then clogs the pump and reduces coolant flow. As a result, CPU cooling can be affected.

In the US, Enermax's Liqmax III AIO coolers are some of the most competitively priced units today. For instance, the 240mm is priced at just $70-$80 on Newegg.com and $85-$90 for the 360mm variant. That means plenty of value-seekers here in the US have likely purchased these products, but as mentioned above, it doesn't appear that any units in North America are impacted. 

The Korean product exchange period spans a year, from April 25th to April 30th, so all affected users should have plenty of time to get a replacement unit. 

Enermax has expanded its AquaFusion line-up with a 360mm RGB-capable unit. as spotted by German publication HardwareLuxx. This is the predictably named the AquaFusion 360 and seems very similar to other all-in-one CPU coolers of this size. 

The AquaFusion 360 comes with a dual-chamber water block that keeps the pump in the colder water stream to extend its life. After this, the fluid travels to the cold plate, where it gets injected centrally and travels outwards in two directions. This is supposed to offer better cooling results and lower hydraulic restriction than running it over the entire cold plate in one direction. 

There's RGB support on the water block and on the three fans, which are interestingly called "SquA-RGB" fans. It comes with an RGB control box, but you'll most likely want to connect the unit to your motherboard's addressable-RGB header.

The tubes come with neat braiding around them, and the radiator is able to dissipate up to 380 watts of heat.

Enermax's pump runs at 3,100 RPM, and the fans run at 500-2,000 RPM with PWM control over the range. Whilst the fans will produce between 17 and 32.6dBA of noise, Enermax does not specify a pump noise level.

Pricing is at €120, which is quite friendly for a big 360mm unit with three fans. We expect slightly lower street pricing in the U.S. based on the current prices on the AquaFusion 120 and AquaFusion 240 on Newegg.

Specifications and Part Analysis

If you need a ton of wattage, the strongest Enermax MaxRevo can deliver up to 1800W, but only if you connect it to a 230V socket. With 115V, it is "restricted" to 1600W, a power level that will easily cover though every gaming system's demands. With the end of the mining era there is limited competition in this high wattage category and this is probably good news for the EMR1800EXT, since it doesn't achieve high overall performance, it is noisy and its efficiency is low compared to units like the Corsair AX1600i and the EVGA 1600 P2. The platform, on which this model is based, is an older Enermax design which doesn't fare well when compared to more-modern competitors. For the $400 (£306) that Enermax asks for this product,
there are better alternatives.

Enermax used to design and build its own PSU products, but a few years ago it closed its factory and moved its production to the facilities of other manufacturers, with Channel Well Technology (CWT) being so far its closest partner. The MaxRevo line is Enermax's flagship; it is based on an in-house design, among the last ones before it terminated its manufacturing and engineering departments. The original MaxRevo platform was pushed a bit more in order to offer 1800W with 230V input, while with 115V input the max power is lower at 1600W, because a normal AC socket cannot deliver more than 15 Amps (115V x 15A = 1725W).

The EMR1800EXT is large for today's standards, measuring 187mm (7.4 inches) in depth. Given its max power though, its dimensions are justified. Its efficiency and noise certifications are not so impressive. Nowadays, 80 PLUS Gold and ETA-A power supplies are considered mid-end while the LAMBDA-S noise badge from Cybenetics denotes a noisy operation.

The unit comes in a huge box and the bundle is rich. Besides the usual stuff you will also find a fancy cooler for your laptop, which is powered through a USB connector. It is nice to get lots of accessories, but for us what matters the most is the performance that the product achieves.

Specifications

Power Specifications

There are six +12V rails which can deliver up to 133A with 115-240V. Only with 220-240V the unit can deliver its full power, 1800W or 150A at +12V.

Cables & Connectors

There are plenty of cables and connectors provided, but they are bulky and not so flexible, although they don't use in-line caps. With twelve PCIe connectors someone can build his/her dream gaming system. If we were still in the mining era (thankfully we are not) this PSU would be ideal since it can handle up to six high-end graphics cards.

The distance between the peripheral connectors is good at 150mm and the number of 4-pin Molex connectors is quite high. According to our experience, no modern system will ever need so many 4-pin Molex connectors so ten of those is just an overkill. 

Power Distribution

The power distribution on the modular panel is exactly the same as in the lower capacity MaxRevo models. The 12V1 rail should ideally power at least half of the peripheral/SATA sockets and not only the 24pin ATX connector. The 12V2, used by the first EPS connector, could also feed the other peripheral/SATA sockets. In case you need the second EPS/ATX12V connector, you should connect its cable either to the middle top socket or to the top right socket that are fed by the 12V4 and 12V6 rails, respectively. These rails provide power to a single 12-pin socket and to the peripheral sockets, so you won't mix the EPS and PCIe connectors, which can be the case if you use the 12V3 and 12V5 rails.

Component Analysis

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

This is one of the last Enermax designs. At the time that this platform/design was released, it stacked up pretty well against the competition but, in today's tough field, it doesn't do so well. 

On the primary side, we find an interleaved PFC design where two APFC converters work in parallel, with a phase difference between them. An interleaved PFC converter minimizes ripple and lowers conduction losses, increasing efficiency and doubling the effective switching frequency. The main switching FETs are installed in a full-bridge topology and their controller is a Texas Instruments UCC28950 IC.

On the secondary side, eight Infineon FETs handle the +12V rail. The minor rails are generated through a couple of VRMs, each of which uses a dedicated PWM controller. All electrolytic filtering caps are of high quality and the double-ball bearing fan will have a long lifetime, even under high operating temperatures (but it won't be quiet).

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Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time, Inrush Current, Efficiency and Noise

To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply, because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

The load regulation at +12V, which is the most important rail, is anything but tight. On the 5V and 3.3V rails it is just satisfactory.

Hold-Up Time

Put simply, hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

Despite the three bulk caps, the hold-up time is low. To make matters worse, we find an inaccurate power-ok signal which is bad news for such an expensive power supply.

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Enermax did a good job here and managed to restrict the inrush currents with both voltage inputs.

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the load regulation and efficiency levels of the Enermax EMR1800EXT under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

What makes an impression is the very high Power Factor (PF) readings, even under very loads. The interleaved PFC works well. On the other hand, the fan profile is a disaster since, even with 160W load, the fan's speed is close to 2000 RPM.

With 115V input and a 4kVA AC source we managed to go up to 1760W of load. With a normal AC socket that can deliver up to 15A, you will have a problem even with full load (1600W), since in our tests the PSU asked for 1875W from the AC source and the maximum that a wall  socket can deliver is 1725W, with 115V output, given that there are no voltage drops which is of course a highly unrealistic scenario.

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10 percent of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle, with power-saving features turned on.

Even with light loads the PSU's fan is spinning at high speeds, making a hell of a noise.

Efficiency

Next, we plotted a chart showing the efficiency levels at low loads, and loads from 10 to 110 percent of its maximum-rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency the less energy goes wasted leading to a reduced carbon footprint, besides lower electricity bills.

The efficiency results cannot match those from competitors with much more efficient platforms. Especially with light loads, the numbers are disappointing.

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB rail besides being powerful, also achieves high efficiency levels.

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37°C (98.6°F) to 47°C (116.6°F).   

The fan speed profile could be way better and make the PSU much quieter, especially under light and mid loads.

The following results were obtained at 30°C (86°F) to 32°C (89.6°F) ambient temperature.   

From the start, the Enermax EMR1800EXT is in the 40-45 dB(A) region (comparative noise example: library, bird calls), so you should avoid it, at any cost, if you want to build a silent PC system.

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Protection Features, DC Power Sequencing, Cross-Load Tests and Infrared Images

Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The first 12V rail has a low OCP triggering point, since it only feeds the 24-pin ATX connector. The other 12V rails are much stronger since they have to cope with more demanding connectors.

The OCP on the minor rails is set quite high and the same applies to the 5VSB rail, as well. On the contrary, the OPP is set quite low since the platform is already close to its limits, with 1800W output. Finally, the over temperature protection is present and working well, while the power ok signal is inaccurate and lower than 16ms, as the ATX spec requires.

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

For a short period, the 3.3V rail is higher than 5V, as you can see in the screenshots above. In our opinion, this won't be a problem though, in this unit at least, since it doesn't last for more than 1ms.

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30°C (86°F) and 32°C (89.6°F).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Chart

We would like to see higher efficiency under mid loads, ideally within the 92-94% range.

Ripple Charts

The lower the power supply's ripple the more stable the system will be and less stress will be also applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified FLIR E4 camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 320x240 (76,800 pixels).

The temperatures at the PSU's internals are at normal levels, given the applied load and operating conditions, so there is no need for such an aggressive fan speed profile.

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Transient Response Tests, Ripple Measurements and EMC Pre-Compliance Testing

Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no extra capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 200ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 200ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

The transient response of the +12V rail is very good. The minor rails also achieve good performance in these tests.

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

There is a minor spike at 5VSB which is nothing to worry about. In the second test the slope is smooth, while in the last test there is a really small voltage overshoot, which is barely noticeable.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represents the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10°C increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50 percent. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

The ripple suppression is good at +12V, satisfactory at 5V and mediocre on the other two rails.

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At 110-Percent Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 2

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average and Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other close-by devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other close-by devices if too high. For example, it can be the cause of increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

The conducted EMI emissions are kept low.

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Performance, Noise and Efficiency

Performance Rating

The overall performance that the Enermax EMR1800EXT achieves looks low, compared to similarly priced competitors.

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30°C and 32°C (86°F to 89.6°F).

This a noisy PSU, something expected given its huge capacity, but as you can see in the chart above, there are even noisier units with lower capacity and higher efficiency ratings.

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30°C.

Apparently efficiency wasn't Enermax's priority one for this product.

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Bottom Line

The Enermax EMR1800EXT has good build quality, it is powerful and comes with a double-ball bearing fan that will easily cope with increased operating temperatures. On the other hand, it is noisy even under light loads and its efficiency levels are low by today's standards. The unit is based on one of the last pure Enermax designs which was considered among the best during the time of its first release, but nowadays just doesn't look so impressive. Enermax should use a more efficient platform in such a high capacity unit and above all, the fan profile should be carefully designed to allow for silent operation under light and mid loads, which are a walk in a park for such a strong platform.

The stiff price tag is another problem of this product. With the same 400 bucks or 306 pounds users that can live with 1500W or 1600W instead of 1800W, can find much better units that offer higher performance and quieter operation. Moreover, the lack of a power switch is something that I really cannot understand, especially in high-end platforms. The only way to completely switch off a power supply, in order to safely work with the system components that it feeds with power, is to remove the power from it. This can be easily done through its power switch but if it doesn't have one, you will have to remove the power cable something that isn't so elegant (or have it connected to a power strip that has a power switch). Obviously Enermax didn't use a power switch in this unit because of the huge power levels that it would have to handle, so it would be prone to fails in the long run, but with a clever design, you can take some load off this switch.

I can only recommend this unit to users that don't care about the output noise and just need huge power levels. The only PSU able to deliver even more power is the Super Flower Leadex Platinum with 2000W capacity, which is not available though in the US. In Europe the Super Flower beast costs £420, so it is notably more expensive than the Enermax EMR1800EXT.

Photo Credits: Tom's Hardware

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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, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

Enermax has recently announced a new addition to its LiqMax lineup in the Liqmax III 120, set to debut at the end of this month. According to Enermax, the Liqmax III is an entry-level all-in-one (AIO) cooler compatible with both AMD and Intel platforms. The radiator itself is 120 mm and connects to a water block that features RGB LED lighting and is able to sync with motherboards that use 4-pin RGB headers. 

The Liqmax III uses the same Luminous Aurabelt water block seen with Liqmax II AIOs and has an RGB LED ring around the top edge, along with an illuminated Enermax logo on top of the glossy acrylic pump/block combo. The tubing length from the radiator to block is 400 mm, which should fit in the majority of cases (always check and measure!). You can control RGB lighting on the Liqmax III via motherboard software, such as ASRock Polychrome Sync, Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, or MSI Mystic Light Sync to change things up. 

The Liqmax III is equipped with Enermax's patented Shunt-Channel Technology (SCT) cold-plate, said to prevent the formation of a boundary layer to increase coolant flow momentum and accelerate heat transfer performance reducing the potential for hot spots and achieving better performance. Enermax includes a single dual-convex blade fan, which has a blade design said to create high-volume and pressure airflow through the radiator. The fan also has anti-vibration pads to help minimize noise. 

CPU socket support for the Liqmax III is for both Intel (LGA2066, 2011-3, 1366, 115x) and AMD (AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2, FM2+/FM2/FM1). Currently the series only comes in 120 mm size. Enermax did not mention if there will be larger models coming out. Pricing was not mentioned, but the vendor did mention "entry-level." 

You can see how installation for Enermax's new cooler works in the video below: 

Features & Specifications

When it comes to buying a new case, people usually fall into one of three groups; those that want pure performance, those solely interested in the look of the chassis and those that want both. That's where Enermax's Saberay RGB chassis comes in. The company promises great thermal performance and flashy good looks for $170. Unfortunately, there are several issues with this chassis that will lead you toward other cases in the same price range.

Specifications

Exterior

At first glance, the Enermax Saberay RGB seems rather large for a mid-tower ATX chassis. Upon closer inspection, however, the interior of the case is much smaller than you'd think from looking at the case's outside. This is primarily due to the 2-inch-tall top panel, 1.5-inch-deep front panel and large feet that elevate the chassis 1.5 inches off the ground.

Measuring 22.3 x 8.8 x 18.8 inches (HxWxD) and tipping the scales at just over 26lbs, the Saberay RGB is constructed of steel, plastic and a tempered glass side panel. The black on black paint scheme is accented by two RGB light bars that span the entire top / front of the chassis. The top portion of this case is made of plastic and contains a plastic and metal mesh insert with mounting locations for three 120mm or two 140mm fans directly under the panel.

At the front edge of the top panel are a pair of USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, headphone and microphone jacks, HDD LED, power and reset buttons. On either side of the power button you will find buttons for controlling fan speed and RGB lighting effects. Enermax includes anti-dust plugs for each port to prevent debris from accumulating in the ports when the computer is not in use.

The front of the chassis, by default, features a tinted acrylic panel that, although it looks great, allows no airflow into the front of the case. Enermax includes a secondary metal mesh panel that is identical to the top panel.

Directly behind the front panel you will find mounting locations for three 120mm intake fans. This case also has a single 5.25-inch mounting location for optical drives or drive bay accessories made of the same polished acrylic material seen in the removable panel in front.

The left side of the Enermax Saberay RGB features a full-cover tempered glass side panel, which is held in place by rubber-coated locating pins and large thumbscrews.

Push-lock pins hold the acrylic front panel in place The panel is extremely prone to scratches.

The plastic push-lock pins on the top and front do not hold the panels close enough to the frame. The result is panels that do not line up well with the rest of the chassis. The plastic panels are marred with visible casting flaws that have the appearance of rub marks. These marks can only be seen at certain angles, but it is distracting nonetheless.

The rear of the chassis is home to seven card slots, a motherboard I/O area, an opening for a bottom-mounted PSU and an exhaust-fan mounting location for 120 / 140mm fans.

The bottom of the case has a filter-covered hole for the power supply, as well as two large, rubber-coated plastic feet.

The filtration system on this chassis is a real head-scratcher to say the least. The top filter is metal mesh and does an adequate job filtering larger dirt and dust particles. The problem is that by default, there are no fans mounted in this location.

To remove the large nylon filter in the bottom of the chassis, you have to access the case's rear, making cleaning a hassle. If you are the type of person that likes to show off your system build, you will need to stock up on canned air because the acrylic front panel does nothing to filter the air from the three included 120mm intake fans. The only other option is to use the included alternate front cover, which is made of metal mesh.

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Hardware Installation & Test Configuration

A small white box filled with individual baggies of various screws is secured in one of the two open 3.5-inch hard drive bays. Here, you'll also find Enermax badges, a Velcro strap, a handful of zip ties and a manual.

Like many of the cases we've recently reviewed, including the Cougar Panzer EVO RGB and the NZXT H700i, all hard drive mounting locations are located behind the motherboard tray. This trend really opens up the main compartment for large graphics cards, radiators and other water cooling components but does so at the cost of hard drive mounting locations. Enermax's Saberay RGB can easily accommodate a custom cooling loop, dual 360mm radiators, a reservoir and a multi-GPU set-up.

The interior of the chassis is painted black and has a very clean and spacious layout, especially considering the smaller-than-average exterior. Two cable pass-through holes with rolled metal edges live to the right of the motherboard area, and two more are in the top of the power supply shroud. You can equip the Saberay RGB with coolers as tall as 6.9 inches and can accommodate multiple graphics cards up to 16.5 inches in length.

We ran into an issue during motherboard installation caused by clearance issues with the I/O shroud on the motherboard and the 140mm exhaust fan. Ultimately, we had to remove the fan and reinstall it after the motherboard was in place. We tried again with the MSI Z270 Gaming M5 motherboard but encountered the same clearance issue.

The motherboard tray is a two piece design; it splits into two sections with a 1-inch gap between the left and right hand sections. The right hand side of the motherboard tray, closest to the front of the chassis, has mounting locations for fans and radiators that is very similar to the layout of Lian Li's PC-O11 Dynamic Case.

A large hole in the motherboard mounting plate behind the CPU socket area allows CPU cooler changes without removing the motherboard. The cable pass-through holes at the upper edge of the motherboard tray is specifically designed to route fan cables and a 12V CPU power cable.

The cable management area directly behind the motherboard tray is a bit of a mixed bag. Although there is plenty of room for a high-end system build, the mounting location for radiators and fans leaves most of the system cables visible unless you spend a good deal of time and effort into cable routing. Overall, the cable management is sufficient for most system builds, though extra work is needed.

The large, non-removable PSU tunnel at the bottom of the main compartment is home to the power supply and two drive bays. This area, including the hard drive mounting locations, receives airflow from the bottom-most 120mm intake fan.

The Saberay RGB has mounting locations for a total of two 3.5-inch hard drives and four 2.5-inches drives, two of which are converted from the two 3.5-inch drive trays mounted under the PSU tunnel. Two of the dedicated mounting locations for 2.5-inch drive caddies mount directly behind the motherboard tray and are stamped steel.

Every power supply we tested, from the smaller EVGA 450 BT all the way up to larger units like the Corsair HX1200i fit without a problem.

Cooling

There are mounting locations for up to nine 120mm fans: three in the top, three in the front, one in the rear and two in the side of the motherboard tray. You can equip the chassis with up to three 140mm fans, two in the top and one in the rear. The Saberay RGB comes with three 120mm intake LED-lit RGB fans in the front and an unlit 140mm fan in the rear.

Water cooling aficionados will be pleased to know they can mount radiators and all-in-one liquid coolers up to 360mm on the top and front of this chassis. The mounting location in the front of the chassis can easily support radiators and all-in-one coolers sandwiched between fans in a push-pull configuration using the stock 120mm LED fans.

Although there is more than enough space in the top of the chassis for radiators and all-in-one coolers up to 63mm, users wanting to run fans in a push-pull configuration can do so by taking advantage of the space outside the frame directly under the top cover, all the while maintaining the same amount of clearance over the motherboard. The exhaust fan mounting location can be fitted with 120 / 140mm coolers in single and dual-fan configurations.

Test Configuration

Drivers & Settings

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Benchmark Results & Conclusion

We tested the Saberay RGB case with our new Intel i9-7900X test platform. For comparison, we brought in the Cougar Panzer EVO RGB, the NZXT H700i and the be quiet! Dark Base 700 to give you a solid idea where this case stands against other cases that are of similar size and feature sets.

CPU core temperatures on our Intel i9-7900X processor running at 4GHz were very good considering the sheer amount of heat this processor is capable of generating under load. Given the fact that the Saberay RGB is outfitted with triple 120mm intake fans, we expected the chassis to be more than capable of keeping system temperatures in check.

We set intake fans speeds at max (1400RPM). For our first round of testing, we used the optional mesh front panel and, under load, our processor temps held steady at 62°C over the ambient temperature of 25°C (77°F). With the mesh panel in place, the Saberay RGB was in a dead heat with the Dark Base 700 but behind both the H700i and the Panzer EVO RGB. Unfortunately our CPU temperatures jumped a full 5°C with the default acrylic panel installed.

Once again, with the mesh panel installed for testing, GPU temps peaked at 51°C over the ambient temperature. Given the sheer amount of airflow and close proximity of the intake fans to the GPU, we expected results closer to those of others in the comparison group. As with our CPU results, we saw GPU temps increase by more than 10 percent on the Saberay RGB, easily the highest temperatures of the test group.

We took sound level readings with two off-the-shelf dB meters from two different angles. The Saberay RGB registered 30.3dB at idle and 32.8dB under load with the acrylic panel. Those results increased to 31.3dB and 34.4dB, respectively, with the mesh front panel in place.

Cooling efficiency and noise levels are both ways to measure performance. Determining acoustic efficiency, also referred to as "cooling-to-noise ratio," is a matter of averaging all five of our tests to determine a base value.

Bottom Line

We really wanted to like the Saberay RGB. It's big, bold and has RGB functionality in spades. But, when it came right down to it, the poor build quality, oddball design choices and lack-luster cooling performance are simply unacceptable at this price point. Consumers would be better off with the Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh for a lower price of $149.99 or spending a few extra dollars for the Cougar Panzer EVO RGB at $219.99

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Enermax is one of the oldest PSU brands. The company faced financial problems, but it seems to be on its feet again and has expanded its portfolio to include chassis and cooling products. We visited Enermax's booth at Computex to take a look at the new products. As you are already aware, RGB lighting is the de facto feature for quite some time now so it is natural for any brand to try to keep up with this trend.

The Revolution RGB line consists of four products with capacities that range from 750W to 1200W. Those PSUs support addressable RGB lighting synchronization with compatible mainboards, meaning that users can program their own effects through software. The Revolution RGB PSUs also include a push button on the front that allows you to manually change the RGB colors and lighting effects. These products include a fully modular cable design, 50°C temperature rating for full power delivery, and a twister bearing fan which is supported by a semi-passive operation. There is no information available on the release date and pricing, and Enermax didn't comment on the OEM behind the Revolution RGB line.

Like several other brands, Enermax has teamed up with ASUS in the TUF Gaming Alliance. The company is releasing the semi-modular RevoBron TGA series that is practically the same as the plain RevoBron line, with the only differences being the stickers and some extra goodies in the bundle. These are entry level PSUs, made by Channel Well Technology, with 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency certifications. This platform utilizes DC-DC converters for the generation of the minor rails and there are two +12V rails. All electrolytic caps are provided by Japanese capacitors. The Coolergenie 2-in-1 fan controller is included in the bundle along with three RGB fans. Prices are $110, $100, and $90 for the RevoBron TGA 700W, 600W, and 500W models, respectively.

Enermax also had lots of cases to show in its Computex booth. One of them was the Ostrog ADV RGB which is expected in Q3 of this year with an $160 MSRP. The case has the following key features:

• Addressable RGB Lighting
• RGB-Sync support
• USB 3.1 Type C Plug included
• Quick release front panel
• Modular HDD cage
• 4mm tempered glass side panels

Enermax's new flagship Liqtech II AIO lineup includes three models with 240mm ($119.99), 280mm ($129.99), and 360mm ($139.99) radiators. The AIOs use the EF1 pump that offers flow rates up to 450 L/h. The coolers also use the Shunt-Channel-Technology (SCT) to increase thermal conductivity and support up to 500W heat loads. The water block features RGB lighting which can be controlled by an RGB-sync-ready mainboard. The Ligtech II coolers will be available in black and white and support both Intel and AMD CPUs.

The Enermax Liqmax TGA line is a member of the Asus TUF Gaming Alliance. It includes two AIOs (120mm at $69.99 and 240mm at $89.99) that support RGB lighting. Cooling capacity weighs in at 320W for the small cooler and 350W for the 240mm model. The universal mounting kit supports all the latest CPUs from Intel and AMD.

Enermax plans on releasing DYI water cooling components as well.

LEPA is Enermax's sister brand and it had an interesting PSU to show, the G1800. This is an 80 PLUS Gold rated unit (no Cybenetics rating so far) with 1800W max power (and 1900W peak) with a 230V input. With a 115V input, the unit is restricted to 1600W. It has six +12V rails, a 180mm depth which is quite small for such a powerful PSU, and a double ball-bearing fan. There is switch on the front of the PSU that enables the turbo fan mode. That kicks the fan to the full 3100RPM. This allows for increased cooling, but it also kicks up the noise level, too. 

LEPA also introduced the Aquafusion, its first AIO cooler. It comes with addressable RGB lighting and will be available in two flavors: 120mm ($79.99) and 140mm ($99.99).

Features & Specifications

Enermax has been quite busy lately expanding its AIO cooling line, including the LIQFusion 240mm RGB cooler that we're looking at here, which first was announced at CES 2018. The dual 120mm aluminum radiator LIQFusion solution recently landed on our lab desk, highlighted with controllable RGB lighting on both its CPU block face and the included Enermax T.B. RGB fans. Brilliant RGB lighting and surprising performance make this potent cooler package, even when battling coolers above its weight class.

The LIQFusion 240 RGB comes boxed with the usual hardware assortment of mounting plates, machine screws, and fan headers which make it compatible for almost all current Intel and AMD processor sockets, with the common exception of AMD's Threadripper chips. An SATA-powered RGB controller module is included for those who may be lacking motherboard-capable 4-pin RGB support.

We found it bit odd that both a small packet and a small syringe of thermal compound (why both?) is provided, along with a spreading spatula. But as testers who are often swapping out chips and coolers, we're certainly not complaining about an abundance of thermal paste.

Rounding out the other ‘nice to have’ additions here is a 100ml bottle of Enermax coolant for topping up the AIO as needed, an ATX 24-pin jumper adapter, and some Velcro cable wraps. The ATX adapter is meant to clip to the power supply’s 24-pin adapter to allow the cooler to be filled and tested all while safeguarding of the CPU and motherboard by keeping them powered down.

Utilizing an isolated spindle pump design that's perched along the coolant lines rather than directly over the CPU cooling block or attached to the heat exchanger, the Enermax LIQFusion's ceramic-bearing pump is listed at having a 50,000-hour MTBF. For those averse to simple math, that works out to about 5.8 years of 24/7 operation.

Specifications

The pump itself is PWM-capable and covered with a rubber sleeve, which ideally prevents vibration and noise amplification by remaining offset from any actual secure mounts. Black, nylon sleeving adorns the coolant tubing as well as the PWM cable, while at the far end of the 240 radiator, a knurled, nickel-plated cap sits atop the fill port.

With the pump segregated away from its usual perch on the CPU block itself, the LIQFusion RGB 240 makes use of the CPU face to provide a visual flow meter, resembling a modern water wheel. LED lighting set within the acrylic top works with RGB lighting from the cooling fans for a bright, impressive lighting display. A second fill port is seen along the side of the CPU block, opposite the 90 degree swivel coolant ports.

The base of the LIQFusion RGB 240 is adorned by a nickel-plated copper block with a concentric milling pattern that's polished nearly mirror-smooth. The machine screws used for block mounting are affixed to the block housing with c-clips that are easily viewed from below. And we get another view of the angled pivot fittings and a more direct view of CPU fill port cap.

The LIQFusion RGB 240 employs the service of dual 120mm Enermax T.B. RGB fans to provide both cooling and chroma during operation. By using the included RGB 4-pin splitter, control of several pre-determined color patterns are possible using the SATA-powered controller, or those with motherboard supported RGB lighting can opt to make use of those avenues and software control via the motherboard.

The LEDs within the fan and the cooling block are embedded within opaque acrylic and plastic, which provides vivid color blending and generous illumination of adjacent areas. Many of the color display patterns are some derivative of rotating or 'chasing" rainbow effects, but there is little documentation within the included manual on the available options outside of the mode toggle of the RGB lighting controller. This meant we had to go all the way around the horn, cycling through lighting display options and wondering when we’d make it back to a chosen color or feature.

With the retention bracket secured in all four corners, the CPU block itself mounts over the recessed area above the processor’s integrated heat spreader. While the cooler appears thoroughly anchored, Enermax offers only two points of retention when it comes to mounting the cooling block itself to the retention bracket, while four points is a bit more common.

Once completely installed, the LIQFusion benefits aesthetically from the negative space created by the narrow circumference of the lighted rings on the Twister Bearing RGB fans. The 240mm radiator size allows the cooler enough displacement to dissipate thermal load while retaining a common (enough) footprint for many PC chassis models.

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Testing Results & Conclusion

Comparing thermal performance and noise levels of the Enermax LIQFusion 240 RGB against data collected from previous AIO cooler testing allows us to build charts for comparison. We will use data from Cooler Master’s MasterLiquid ML240L RGB, Rajintek’s Orcus 360 and NZXT’s Kraken M22 for an all-AIO roundup. At first glance, you might think the field is improperly stacked. However, you might be surprised by our findings--we were.

Our large air and liquid cooler test system lives within a Corsair Graphite 760T case and runs an Intel i7 5930k (pushed to 4.2 Ghz at 1.20v), and 16GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR4-2400 memory. All AIO coolers are set up to run with fans oriented to push air from within the Corsair case through their cooler’s respective radiator and out the top vent panel of the chassis.

The LIQFusion RGB 240 reports very respectable temperatures at both full- and half-speed fan settings, but what is even more impressive is how close both the Enermax and Cooler Master 240 coolers stick to the load temperatures of the Raijintek Orcus 360, which benefits from 33% more radiator volume.

Our PWM fan headers report rotational speeds of the LIQFusion RGB 240, with nominal difference between all coolers of our testing group. The LIQFusion RGB 240 utilizes the same stand-alone, spindle pump design as the Raijintek Orcus 360, but while the Orcus uses slower spinning fans for more balanced noise levels, the Enermax opts for speedier fans to better cool the heat exchanger.

As we often see, faster fan speeds result in higher reported noise levels. While the Enermax's sound levels are higher than others in the group, a PC using the LIQFusion 240 RGB at our test settings would still be very quiet.

A function of thermal performance and noise levels, our acoustic efficiency chart appears skewed toward coolers in the group which are just a couple decibels lower than the LIQFusion 240. With our cooler group very close in real life, razor thin margins show just how much a tiny difference moves the bar graphs.

Hanging on those few decibels’ difference, the LIQFusion 240 RGB does slack a bit at 100% fan speeds on our performance value graph, but it surges ahead at half-speed value. With a retail price right at $119, the Enermax LIQFusion 240 RGB competes directly with the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240R RGB at the same price, and both 240mm coolers go toe-to-toe with the larger, Raijintek Orcus 360 having additional radiator area and higher cost.

Thermal imaging of the Enermax LIQFusion 240 RGB shows the radiator slightly lower in temperature at 100% fan speeds (as expected) while you can easily notice a slight spike on each fan hub at faster RPMs.

Enermax has provided the PC cooling and customizing community with a pleasant surprise in the LIQFusion 240 RGB, albeit a polarizing one. The RGB-lit fans look great and move a lot of air, but the spinning blade flow meter has a ‘love it or hate it’ appeal. Likewise, having dual fill/drain ports on an AIO cooler is either a welcome benefit or a non-issue, depending on personal choice. All that said, this cooler performs well for its size and price. So if you like its looks and feature set, it's easy to recommend.

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Features & Specifications

AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper has already proven to be a revolutionary CPU socket. As a single-socket design with a CPU larger than any consumer die to date, Threadripper has mandated that manufacturers consider some new cooling approaches. The AMD TR4 package's core count, at this writing, ranges from an entry point of eight cores, with a 12-core option and up to 16 in the current flagship CPU, the Threadripper 1950X. While Intel has its current line of Core i9 "X-Series" products running from 10 to 18 cores themselves, the Threadripper processors have an integrated heat spreader nearly double the size of Intel's.

As you'd expect, a heat spreader this big presents some new cooling challenges. AMD Threadripper liquid-cooling options have been rather thin on the ground since the platform's debut in 2017, although we have seen more TR4-compatible coolers coming available in recent months.

Enermax has provided one such solution in the Liqtech 360 TR4 OC liquid cooler. Supporting only TR4 and SP3 sockets (the latter for the recent-model AMD Epyc server chips) simplifies the mounting hardware required for installation. Because swapping mounting brackets on the pump isn't necessary, installation will be less complex and tedious: no specific backplates, or determining which set of threaded mounting studs to use.

Along with the usual mounting hardware, Enermax includes a three-way PWM fan splitter to manage all three cooling fans via a single fan header. You also get a three-pin-to-ATA-style power adapter, if you wish to operate the pump at full speed (rather than using PWM from a motherboard header or fan controller). A small syringe of thermal compound also makes its way into the retail packaging, to help forestall those last-minute runs for paste.

As a 360mm AIO cooler, the Liqtech 360 makes use of a large 3x120mm aluminum radiator that provides a generous cooling field for the liquid-to-air heat exchange. The radiator itself comes with factory-applied rubber silencing strips along both sides to help minimize fan vibration and noise levels. Three 120mm Enermax Twister Bearing Pressure fans (25mm thick) are included to provide the airflow; they are advertised to spin at up to 2300 RPM.  

The Liqtech 360 TR4 OC makes use of a broad copper contact plate that covers 100% of the integrated heat spreader (IHS) of AMD's SP3 and TR4 CPUs. The copper plate is milled nearly smooth and, while difficult to see from our photo, still maintains microscopic patterns from this process. The pump and contact block itself feel heavy versus the typical AIO-cooler pump/block unit. Whether this additional mass corresponds to copper being used for the cooling plate (or is attributable to a more powerful pump), we are uncertain.

The pump housing is primarily aluminum, with the top adorned with a cover plate of reflective black acrylic and secured at the corners with small star-head screws. The three-pin pump power lead is sleeved in braided black nylon and neatly covered at each end with heat-shrink tubing to prevent unraveling. The pump itself is rated for a 100,000-hour MTBF.

When the cooling system is powered on, the Enermax logo shines brightly through the reflective acrylic, thanks to white LEDs within the housing. During our tests, the Liqtech 360 TR4 pump was run at full speed and registered an average of 3040 RPM on our equipment.

Given that the Liqtech 360 TR4 uses a large 360mm radiator, installation can be challenging in cases that have limited room in which to work, so make sure you plan accordingly. The benefits of supporting only the TR4 and SP3 socket are very clear during installation, as the mounting bracket aligns directly over the threaded stand-off studs, which are installed in the embedded mounting base of our MSI X399 Gaming Pro Carbon AC motherboard.

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Testing Results & Conclusion

Here at Tom’s Hardware, we always like to compare hardware using our standard testing platform to provide results for each cooler based on identical testing conditions. Since this is our first Threadripper-specific cooler testing, we are comparing it against our in-house, full liquid-cooling loop composed of a Swiftech MCP50x pump, a Swiftech Apogee SKF Heirloom TR4 CPU block, a Swiftech MCP35x/MCP50x reservoir, Bitspower compression fittings, an XSPC EX360 radiator, and three Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000 RPM fans. Our AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1900X processor is clocked at 4.1GHz at 1.40V on an MSI X399 Gaming Pro Carbon/AC motherboard.

Going head to head with a full custom liquid-cooling loop is no easy competition for any cooler. However, our chart shows the Enermax Liqtech 360 TR4 OC turning in impressive load testing numbers just a few degrees Celsius over our custom benchmark cooling loop. Even our motherboard voltage regulators and power phase system probes return temperatures reporting effective cooling, indicating that the Liqtech 360 is providing excellent airflow benefit for adjacent components.

All fans will run at slower rotational speeds when being tasked to force large volumes of air through restrictive radiator fins, and the Enermax Twister Bearing Pressure fans are no different. They registered an average of 2160 RPM at full speed and 1080 RPM at 50% in our lab test scenarios, while the Liqtech pump remained at maximum speed, 3040 RPM, for the duration of all testing.

With three cooling fans spinning faster than 2100 RPM, we were surprised at the relatively low registered noise levels produced by the Enermax Liqtech 360. At 50%, the entire cooler is almost inaudible, even with the pump operating at 100% of its flow and pressure rate. (The cooling fans of the reference liquid-cooling loop are the notoriously loud Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000. While they move a lot of air, they also disturb the surrounding air much more in doing so.)

With load temperatures and noise held well in check, it should come as no surprise that the Acoustic Efficiency chart looks as favorable as it does. Granted, neither cooling solution posted a positive reading at its maximum fan speeds, but know that the graph bases all results against both full-speed and half-speed overall averages, including averages of both coolers at 50% fan RPM. With both cooling solutions turning in very quiet half-fan-speed readings, the Liqtech 360 TR4 OC was only 4 decibels off of the overall median value, showing the narrow acoustic margin at work here.

If you’re like us, this chart above is the one you have been anxious to see. With recent reductions in price, the Enermax Liqtech 360 TR4 OC was selling for around $135 at this writing, down from an original cost of $150. By comparison, the cost of our full liquid-cooling loop tallies up to $404. This means that for about a third of the cost of our reference liquid-cooling loop, you can maintain an overclocked eight-core AMD Threadripper 1900X using the Liqtech 360, and do so within 4 degrees Celsius.

In the Liqtech 360 TR4 OC, Enermax has graced the Threadripper world with a cooler that covers these large enthusiast processors in full, providing performance similar to custom liquid cooling with the easy installation and moderate cost of an AIO cooler. Enermax also keeps costs down by avoiding RGB lighting and the relevant software integrations. The lack of lighting might turn away some buyers who prefer millions of colors and a software UI. However, Threadripper fans seeking excellent cooling performance, and who wish to set up some simple fan-cooling curves, will find just that in the Liqtech 360 TR4 OC.

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Spring is in full swing, and so is our giveaway season. This time we've teamed up with Enermax to present to our Tom's Hardware members a very special giveaway.

Up for grabs is the brand new Enermax Liqfusion RGB 240mm AIO Liquid CPU cooler and the Enermax Revobron 80 Plus Bronze 500W PSU. Power your PC and cool it in style with this awesome bundle. 

To enter, simply follow the instructions on the giveaway widget in the forums. Good luck!

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Giveaway is only open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom, who are 18 or older. For a complete list of rules, please see the Terms and Conditions on the Gleam Giveaway Widget.

When one thinks "custom watercooling," a small subset of manufacturers and vendor names most often come to mind.  Enermax is hoping to add its name to that repertoire with bold new components like the NEOChanger RGB pump/reservoir system.

By combining a powerful, high flowing pump with an integrated cylinder reservoir, the need to purchase and configure these components separately leads to fewer decisions to be made in the online shopping cart, while also eliminating the possibility of leaks.

The NEOChanger is available in varieties with 200, 300 and 400ml volume reservoirs. Enermax shipped us the 400ml flagship version for a bit of hands-on review.

The dense, molded-plastic pump housing is permanently mated to the solid, 5.25mm-thick acrylic reservoir tube. An RGB collar around the joint between the pump and reservoir provides the built-in accent lighting for the pump unit, while below the Enermax logo an LED numerical display shows the pump’s operation speed in RPM. Both the accent lighting and pump speed are managed with the included handheld infrared remote. 

The pump can be mounted vertically or horizontally by simply changing the default reservoir mounting system with included brackets to meet your needs.

Enermax also included a very handy 24-pin ATX ‘jumper’ tool. When you’re ready to prime and fill the watercooling loop, simply disconnect the 24-pin motherboard ATX power pin and snap on the provided jumper tool to the ATX plug to allow your PC’s power supply to power 12V auxiliary items, such as the Enermax NEOChanger pump, while minimizing damage from any leaks, as most components won’t be powered.

Sheathed in a rubberized silicone cover that contains four small magnets to cling to the outside of a steel computer case for simple access, the handheld IR remote allows control of the pump operating speed by providing single-click RPM control between 1500 and 4000 RPM in 500 RPM increments. If more precise speed control is desired, increments of +/-150 RPM can be selected. Approximately 2.0” (52mm) wide by 3.3” (85mm) in length with a thickness of just over 0.25” (7mm), it is powered by a single CR 2025 watch battery (included) and features lighting on/off switching and dimming, as well as cycling through several color and lighting patterns.

The pump RGB color scheme can also be synchronized with supported motherboard or other third-party controllers using integrated 4-pin RGB support. Simply disconnect the built-in harness and connect to the RGB color controller of your choosing.

The Enermax NEOChanger pump itself is rated at 900 liters per hour (238 gallons per hour) and utilizes what Enermax calls a "ceramic nano PI bearing," which, like almost all PC watercooling pumps, should absolutely never be run without coolant or water for risk of permanently damaging the pump bearing. The pump lifetime is rated at an MTBF of 100,000 hours, which by comparison is approximately double the rated lifespan of most typical Laing D5 pumps. 

The NEOChanger is powered by a single 12V SATA power connection, and all wiring is very nicely sleeved in black nylon braid.  The ends of all wiring are also covered in heat-shrink wrapping to prevent fraying.

Enermax utilizes the same pump for each of the 200, 300 and 400ml versions of the NEOChanger unit.

The reservoir cap is milled from aluminum and anodized in black.  Two G1/4 fill-ports are placed approximately 0.75” (18.5mm) apart on the cap face and should allow for most large compression fittings to be utilized in tandem. A 3.9” (99mm) acrylic siphon and anti-cyclonic tube can be threaded into the interior of one of the cap ports to assist in reservoir turbulence control, while the 2.18” (55mm) inner, rubber O-ring keeps the cap watertight when threaded down. Enermax also included three G1/4 brass plugs to cap any ports you might not be using.

Our flow-rate performance is conducted by running the pump output through our King Instrument Co. 7530 flow meter in a small closed-loop configuration. 

At 100% pump speed, the LED display shows 4080 RPM and provides right at 1.8 gallons per minute (6.81 L/M) while noise levels only registered 36dB at full power.

This chart scales above a D5 Vario and Swiftech MCP50x, both at 100% power, which means the Enermax NEOChanger is moving more water in a mildly unrestricted loop configuration than two highly touted pumps on the custom watercooling market today. These are some impressive flow rate curves, to be certain.

The Enermax NEOChanger pump and reservoir combination starts at $99.99 for the 200ml unit, and runs $119.99 for the 300ml version, up to $129.99 for the 400ml unit, again with the only real difference being the reservoir volume and length of the siphon/anti-cyclonic tube. Performance among all three units should be nearly identical, as reservoir volume does not directly impact cooling performance, but simply allows more liquid volume to be held, although we expect more coolant turbulence in smaller reservoir sizes. Ensuring the reservoir is filled at least to 80% volume capacity should help combat excessive turbulence and cavitation problems.

The only concern we had with the Enermax NEOChanger was with the pump outlet G1/4 fitting threads. While the majority of our hose barbs threaded without much issue, we did notice that fittings with longer threads seemed to bind slightly, and required a bit more force to completely seat the O-rings. Use great care, as the plastic threads could wear or become cross-threaded from multiple fitting installations. Since the reservoir cap is milled and anodized aluminum, this is much less of a concern, but as with any set of watercooling equipment, excessive threading can cause wear.

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Enermax released a new all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooling unit called the LiqFusion. Beyond RGB lighting, which adorns the fans and the waterblock, the LiqFusion’s other interesting elements include the built-in flow indicator and tube-mounted pump.

There is so much competition in the hardware market today that many previously unique ideas have become ubiquitous. This is just as true for AIO liquid coolers as it is for gaming mice or mechanical keyboards. When there are few genuinely new ideas left, companies can either rely on their strong brand recognition and history--industry stalwarts like Corsair and NZXT can do this--or they can build something that, although it isn’t entirely new, combines certain niche aspects in a package that is better executed than the competition. Enermax’s LiqFusion fits into the latter category.

Beyond its hilarious name--which is thankfully not printed anywhere on the product itself--the LiqFusion is actually worth more than a passing glance if you’re in the market for an AIO liquid cooler. RGB fans are ubiquitous, but we think T.B. RGB fans, which the LiqFusion includes, are among the coolest looking. We particularly enjoy their Tron-esque, high-contrast aesthetic. It’s slightly unfortunate that the RGB lighting on the waterblock can’t quite replicate the look perfectly. However, the waterblock has its own unique feature--a built-in flow indicator. Of course, such a device isn’t really necessary in AIO coolers, which are supposed to be reliable enough not to require maintenance, but like an exposed movement in a mechanical watch, it does add a certain level of flair to an otherwise unassuming product.

Aesthetics aside, the LiqFusion’s other interesting aspect is its pump. Perhaps it was Enermax’s priority to place a flow indicator at the spot that is normally occupied by the pump because the LiqFusion’s pump is in-line with the tubing. Specifically, the pump is attached just past the ports of the radiator, and it looks like a small cylinder. Opinions will vary, but we’re not opposed to the look. Although the pump is small, it does stand to impede cable routing and will restrict tube routing.

Finally, getting back to what we said about executing better than your competitors, Enermax has made the LiqFusion compatible with all motherboard OEMs’ lighting ecosystems. For those without a capable motherboard, the Enermax also provides a standalone RGB controller with 14 pre-programmed settings. When it comes to RGB control, some companies go all-out and build their own ecosystem, whereas some just throw a pre-programmed controller into their products to check the RGB checkbox. Having both options is definitely preferable.

The Enermax LiqFusion is arriving in April at Newegg for $120.

Features & Specifications

Enermax is known as a maker of PC power supplies and cooling fans, but it has also been expanding its brand by producing CPU air and liquid coolers aimed at the performance market. Enter the ETS-T50 Axe, Enermax’s current flagship CPU air cooler. It is a large, direct-contact, five-heatpipe unit with some interesting features.

In the spirit of keeping it simple, the ETS-T50 Axe is available either painted black or white; ours happened to be the handsome, matte-white finish.  The front fan (120x25mm, branded by Enermax) is rated at 62.32 CFM at 1800 RPM and sports 36 white LEDs around the circumference. The lights can cycle through five lighting patterns manually using a small, connected button switch. 

The fan blades themselves have shiny silver-adhesive strips, causing a mirror-ball reflection of the lighting at operating speeds. When the PC boots up, the cooling fan runs a 10-second phase of reverse cycling to help rid the blade surfaces of dust accumulation. The fan is powered by a four-pin PWM connector, and the fan cabling itself is sleeved in white nylon braid to match the rest of the cooler. The LED switch is really the only awkward component of the entire cooler, as it is a simple button at the end of a 5.0” (127mm) wire that dangles alongside the four-pin PWM cable.

Instead of a second fan, the rear of the ETS-T50 houses a unique directional air diffuser. It rotates 360° to project warm exhaust air toward the nearest case fan of your choice. The slats of the diffuser are also angled to assist with directional funneling, and like the fan, it snaps on and off the ETS-T50 easily by means of side clip brackets.

Enermax designed the ETS-T50 to make use of directional airflow within the cooling tower, adding angular folds of the cooling fins themselves, as well as vortex wings around each heatpipe for air channeling. 

Five direct-contact copper heatpipes, plus an integrated aluminum block base, are milled to a near-mirror finish, with nearly seamless surface mating of the copper and aluminum. 

The tower base top is engineered with cooling fins milled into the aluminum block. Spring-tension screws are permanently affixed to the side wings using snap retainers, which should help end the balancing-act dramatics among the CPU cooler, a screwdriver, and not enough hands.

Enermax ships the ETS-T50 Axe with hardware to support most current Intel and AMD sockets, although Threadripper currently does not make the list. A generous amount of Enermax's Dow Corning TC-5121 thermal paste comes in the box, with a syringe applicator and a spreader.

One item that is not included, but that is almost necessary for installation, is a very long Phillips screwdriver. You will need it to reach the back spring-mounted bolt, which is hidden beneath cutouts in the cooling fins and due to the 0.75” (19mm) rear offset. It is possible to reach the screw from a slight angle, but the face of the bolt head is rather shallow, making it prone to stripping with the teeth of a screwdriver. A visit to your favorite hardware location (alas, likely not called "Tom’s Hardware") can alleviate this problem.

Installed, the ETS-T50 Axe does retain a slight overall rear offset of just over a quarter inch (6.4mm), as the rear diffuser is slimmer than the cooling fan out front. Having installed the cooling tower with the fan and directional diffuser removed, they now easily snap on around the front and rear face of the cooler. The "V" design seen on the top cooling fin, as well as the "closed" sides of the interlocking fins, gives us a glimpse into the air channeling within the cooling tower. And while the cooler is slightly offset, we still didn’t witness any interference with large memory DIMMs.

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Comparison Coolers, Testing Results & Conclusion

Standardized data collected from our Intel Core i7-5930K test system from previous CPU cooling reviews allows us to graph and evaluate various air and liquid coolers. We will look at the Enermax ETS-T50 Axe alongside the Scythe Grand Kama Cross 3, the FSP Windale 6, and the Cooler Master MasterAir MA610P. All of these are moderately large, heatpipe-equipped CPU aircoolers.

The ETS-T50 Axe turned out almost exactly group-average temperatures in our Prime95 load periods at both full and half fan speeds. It also pleasantly surprised us by turning in the coolest reported values from our motherboard voltage-regulator thermal probe, proving it is able to cool not only our processor, but also the surrounding hardware.

The Enermax 1800 RPM fan clocked in just a bit over its rated speeds, which does give it the fastest rotational speed of our testing group at both full and half speed. However, we see that higher fan speeds also result in higher noise output.

In a rather surprising turn, the ETS-T50 Axe, with its group-fastest fan speeds, had the second lowest decibel readings, if only by the smallest of margins, with the FSP Windale 6 sneaking in with the lowest 100% reading and the Cooler Master MasterAir MA610P with the lowest 50% reading.  Enermax did, however, walk away with the lowest average decibel reading.

Considering how well the Enermax ETS-T50 Axe performed against its peers in the group, it is no surprise that we see a strong showing in our acoustic efficiency chart when we evaluate relative thermal performance against sound-level performance. 

Our overall Performance Value results showed the ETS-T50 Axe finishing second behind the FSP Windale 6, due to the latter's slight acoustics edge and small edge in unit retail cost. The Enermax ETS-T50 Axe wiggled just under our average unit cost with a current price of $52; however, the FSP Windale 6 stretched out a bit in our final evaluation due to a slightly lower retail price.

With straightforward good looks and no-frills lighting, the Enermax ETS-T50 Axe provides solid cooling performance for most modern processor platforms at a reasonable price. By integrating the mounting screws into the cooler base, it is literally a snap to complete cooler installation by attaching the fan and directional shroud mounts onto the cooler.  We enjoy simple cooler installations, especially since they allow us to dive into our testing that much more quickly.

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Features & Specifications

A name synonymous with quality and innovative design, SilverStone Technology is back with another Redline Series chassis. Founded in 2003, the company offers a complete line of power supplies, coolers, fans, and accessories to fill its well-known chassis. Its Redline Series RL06 is the subject of today's evaluation.

Four versions of the RL06 chassis are available, in two color combinations. The most basic version is equipped with an acrylic window (with a model name tagged with a "W"). The next step up is an acrylic windowed case with three LED intake fans ("PRO"). After that, there is a version with a tempered glass side panel ("G"), and the peak model is a case with a tempered-glass side panel and three LED intake fans ("GP"). The chassis we have here today is the white-and-silver PRO version equipped with an acrylic window and three 120mm LED intake fans.

The first thing you will notice about SilverStone's RL06 is the lustrous, high-gloss white paint job on the exterior of the chassis. Regardless of which exterior color combination you choose, all RL06 models feature a matte black interior. In this case (figuratively and literally), the contrasting black interior looks great and adds to the overall appeal.

The Redline RL06 features steel construction with a plastic front panel and measures 477x200x455mm (HWD) and weighs 13.9 lbs. Much of the top panel is covered by a magnetic metal-mesh filter. Directly under the filter is a perforated area that has mounting locations for two 120mm or 140mm fans.

The leading edge of the top panel is home to two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, headphone and microphone jacks, a hard drive activity LED, and a power button. The plastic front panel is covered entirely by a metal mesh insert. Directly behind the front face, you will find mounting locations for three 120mm intake fans and a large removable filter that clips into place.  

As previously mentioned, this version of the RL06 features a 14" x 12" acrylic side panel window for showing off your system components. Care must be taken when cleaning the window, as even the microfiber towel we used to clean the window left abrasion marks on the acrylic surface. The opposite side of the chassis is equipped with a solid-metal side panel. Both side panels are held in place by standard plastic-covered thumbscrews.

The bottom of the case has a filtered hole for power-supply ventilation and four rectangular plastic feet. The rear of the chassis is home to seven expansion-card slots, an exhaust-fan mounting location (in our model, fitted with a 120mm fan), the motherboard I/O area, and an opening for a bottom-mounted PSU.

The RL06 is equipped with a basic fan-filtration system that, for the most part, does a decent job of keeping dirt and debris out of your system. The top filter, which we mentioned earlier, is magnetic and therefore easily removable. The large plastic filter in the front of the chassis clips into place behind the front panel. This ease of access makes cleaning and maintaining these two filters a breeze. Conversely, the bottom filter requires turning the entire chassis on its side to remove the filter.

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Hardware Installation & Test Configuration

A small plastic bag containing various screws and a quick installation guide is located in one of the open 3.5” drive bays.

The interior of the chassis is fairly spacious for a mid-tower chassis and supports up to ATX motherboards. The seven expansion slots will accommodate three-card SLI and CrossFire schemes. Although common sense tells us that most performance enthusiasts won't buy a budget-minded chassis such as this for a high-end system build, the fact that this chassis can accommodate multi-GPU configurations and long graphics cards (up to 348mm in length)--and place them in close proximity to three 120mm intake fans--might sway enthusiasts to see this chassis as a viable, if unconventional, option. (As with all 7-slot cases, compatibility requires the third card be mounted in the case's sixth and seven slots. Most of the motherboards we test have the third graphics card slot at the bottom, excluding 3-way compatibility from any 7-slot case -ed). 

For cable management, you get a total of seven cable pass-through cutaways with rolled-metal edges in the motherboard tray. Three additional pass-through holes with rolled edges are located in the top of the PSU tunnel. Note, though: Two of the pass-through holes at the bottom of the motherboard tray are inaccessible if an ATX motherboard is installed in this chassis.

A large hole in the motherboard mounting plate behind the CPU socket area allows for heatsink changes without having to remove the motherboard. The two cable pass-through holes at the upper edge of the motherboard tray are specifically designed to route fan cables and a 12V CPU power cable.

The cable management area directly behind the motherboard tray is fairly shallow (just under a half inch), while the area to the side of the motherboard tray is roughly an inch deep. Overall, the cable management is sufficient for most basic-to-moderate system builds. The RL06 also comes with a powered fan hub.

Like so many cases today, the RL06 features a large non-removable PSU tunnel at the bottom of the main compartment; it covers the power supply and three drive bays. This area, including the hard drive mounting locations, receives direct airflow via the bottom-most 120mm intake fan.

While we are on the subject of hard drives, all five drive-mounting locations are located behind the motherboard tray. Three are under the PSU tunnel and support both 2.5" and 3.5" drives via plastic caddies. The case also features a pair of dedicated mounting locations for 2.5" SSDs on the back of the motherboard tray.

The Redline RL06 is outfitted with three LED-lit 120mm intake fans in the front of the chassis and a single unlit 120mm fan in the rear of the case near the CPU socket area. In total, you can install up to six 120mm fans or four 140mm fans in this chassis. The mounting locations on the top of the case can accommodate up to two 120mm or 140mm fans. The front of the RL06 can be equipped with up to two 140mm fans or three 120mm fans. And the rear exhaust location supports one 120mm fan.

The triple 120mm LED intake fans provide an impressive amount of airflow without sounding like a wind tunnel. (We'll talk about that more on the next page of this review.)

Although SilverStone didn't provide exact PSU measurements--its site simply lists "standard PS2 (ATX)"--we were able to install several different power supplies up to 220mm in length without issue. If you choose to install a longer power supply, we highly recommend using a modular unit. The Redline RL06 can be equipped with CPU air coolers up to 158mm tall and can accommodate graphics cards up to 348mm in length.

Now, the company claims it is possible to mount radiators and all-in-one coolers in the top of the chassis, as long as the total thickness does not exceed 30mm. Unless you use ultra-thin fans paired with an extremely thin radiator, however, these locations are best suited for fan use only. Radiators and all-in-one coolers up to 240mm or 280mm can be mounted in the front of the chassis directly to the existing 120mm LED fans or in a push-pull configuration using the fans that come with your all-in-one cooler. Finally, a 120mm all-in-one cooler can be mounted in the exhaust-fan location.

Test Configuration

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Benchmarks & Final Review

For comparison, we are pitting the SilverStone Redline RL06 against the Enermax Ostrog Lite, the Phanteks Eclipse P300 TG, the Riotoro CR500 TG, and the FSP CMT510. All are of similar size and features.

As previously stated, we were pleasantly surprised to find that this budget-friendly chassis comes equipped with three 120mm LED-lit intake fans. In theory, more fans should translate into better thermal performance, but, as we all know, that isn't always the case. When the Redline RL06 and its triple 120mm intake fans were put to the test, this chassis turned in some of the best numbers we've seen to date in a chassis of its size and class. Regardless of how hard we pushed our budget quad-core Core i5-7500 processor running at 3.8GHz, the airflow provided by this chassis was more than enough to keep temps in check.

As you can imagine, the sheer amount of unobstructed airflow and close proximity of the intake fans to our graphics card is a winning combination when it comes to heat dissipation. At 49°C over the ambient temperature, our results were better than any of the cases we used for comparison. 

Oddly enough, given the sheer number of case fans, coupled with a mesh front panel, the acoustics were nowhere near as loud as one might expect.  Under full load, the noise output closely rivaled those of the Riotoro CR500 and the FSP CMT510, both of which featured one or more tempered-glass panels.

We determine acoustic efficiency, also referred to as "cooling-to-noise ratio," by averaging all five of our tests to determine a base value.

Undoubtedly, higher-end hardware and/or highly overclocked systems might not fare as well as our budget test system. But you can't deny the appeal of this level of performance given the price.

The SilverStone Redline RL06 is an excellent choice for performance enthusiasts on a budget, if you can overlook its few shortcomings. It might not have all the features of a premium chassis, but the thermal performance is top-notch, and it is priced to sell.

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Features & Specifications

Remember back to when we wondered why anyone would need more than 1kW from a PSU, given efficient graphics cards and a general trend away from multi-GPU configurations? Obviously, mining wasn't so popular back then. Nowadays it is, though, and every brand faces shortages of power supplies with more than 1kW of capacity. In some cases, we even have trouble finding review samples.

PC enthusiasts generally aren't fond of miners, since they affect the hardware ecosystem so dramatically. Nevertheless, given the ongoing cryptocurrency craziness, we have to continue looking at high-capacity PSUs in order to figure out if they're suitable for mining rigs. You will find our suggestions in this article, which is based on models we've already evaluated.

MaxTytan is Enermax's high-end PSU line. So far, it features 1050W and 1250W models. They're both 80 PLUS Titanium-certified, and the flagship was certified by Cybenetics, carrying the ETA-A+ and LAMBDA-A badges.

Besides high efficiency and quiet operation, the EDT1250EWT features Enermax's Dust Free Rotation (DFR) technology, which prevents build-up inside the PSU's chassis. There is also an embedded wattage meter that, through a small digital display panel, shows power consumption in real-time. Unfortunately, this panel is installed where you'll probably never see it. It would have been better if Enermax made this detachable, allowing you to monitor power on your desk.

Specifications

The EDT1250EWT is fully modular, which is great, given the huge number of provided cables and connectors. A maximum operating temperature of 50°C for full continuous load is what we like to see, as are all of the usual protection features Enermax includes.

The company's cooling fan is of excellent quality; it uses a magnetic bearing that's much more resilient in hot environments than fluid dynamic bearings. This is why we only accept double-ball or magnetic bearings in our recommendations for PSUs used in hardcore mining applications.

A 20cm length measurement makes the EDT1250EWT longer than most power supplies. Meanwhile, a five-year warranty seems low compared to what you get from Corsair, EVGA, and Seasonic. But we think that's a fairly realistic guarantee.

Power Specifications

The minor rails look weak. However, no modern PSU is going to need more from them than what Enermax offers. Conversely, the single +12V rail is nice and beefy. On paper, it can deliver up to 104A, though in real life it goes even higher before OCP kicks in. Maximum power on the 5VSB rail is set at 15W, which should be enough in most cases.

Cables & Connectors

As expected, we find two EPS connectors and plenty of PCIe connectors. There are an astounding 16 SATA connectors available, along with eight four-pin Molex ones. All cables are quite long, while the distance between peripheral connectors is adequate. The best part for mining applications is that the PCIe connectors are installed onto dedicated cables. 

Power Distribution

Since this PSU features a single +12V rail, we do not have anything to say about its power distribution.

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Unboxing Video

The following video shows us unboxing the EDT1250EWT.

One feature not discussed in the unboxing video is Enermax's bundled Coolergenie fan controller. This controller connects to the PSU through a propriety cable and provides some interesting capabilities, including a fan-delay option and three semi-passive modes for case fans. The controller is only compatible with Enermax PSUs (the MaxTytan and RevoBron families, for now).

For more information about Coolergenie, check out the video Enermax made describing its installation and operation.

If you carefully examine the photo above, you will see that the EPS (CPU) sockets are identical to the PCIe ones. If you don't pay enough attention, you can accidentally plug a PCIe cable into an EPS connector and probably burn something, since those connectors aren't electrically compatible. The same problem applies to Thermaltake's TPG-1250D-T, based on the same platform. However, the TPG-1250D-T at least sports colored PCIe sockets to differentiate them.

In any case, CWT should make the interfaces mechanically different in order to protect inexperienced builders who may not know the difference.

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Teardown & Component Analysis

Before proceeding with this page we strongly encourage you to a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

The EDT1250EWT's platform is identical to the one Thermaltake uses for its Toughpower DPS G RGB 1250W. However, the PSUs differ in their fans. Enermax doesn't offer RGB lighting, and instead implements a more reliable twister bearing.

As you can see in the picture below, even the mini-USB connector is installed on the modular board. Enermax simply chooses not to utilize it. On the other hand, Enermax does provide that small display, which reports power consumption in real-time.

The following video shows the MaxTytan’s internals.

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Load Regulation, Hold-Up Time & Inrush Current

To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

Load Regulation testing is detailed here.

Hold-Up Time

Our hold-up time tests are described in detail here.

Our measured hold-up time exceeds 20ms. Meanwhile, the power-good signal is accurate and >16ms, meaning it satisfies the corresponding ATX specification requirement.

Inrush Current

For details on our inrush current testing, please click here.

The inrush current with both voltage inputs is pretty low, given this PSU's high capacity.

Load Regulation And Efficiency Measurements

The first set of tests reveals the stability of the voltage rails and the EDT1250EWT's efficiency. The applied load equals (approximately) 10 to 110 percent of the PSU's maximum load in increments of 10 percentage points.

We conducted two additional tests. During the first, we stressed the two minor rails (5V and 3.3V) with a high load, while the load at +12V was only 0.1A. This test reveals whether a PSU is compatible with Intel's C6/C7 sleep states or not. In the second test, we determined the maximum load the +12V rail could handle with minimal load on the minor rails.

Load regulation is tight on all of the rails, and this PSU doesn't have a problem operating under very high temperatures. Efficiency-wise, the 80 PLUS Titanium requirements are met with 10% and 20% loads. However, under 50% and full loads, the EDT1250EWT doesn't hit the necessary levels. Obviously, the high temperature we use for testing is responsible for this result, since 80 PLUS conducts its test in a cooler (and less realistic) environment.

When it comes to output noise, the EDT1250EWT is quiet even under extremely tough operating conditions. In the worst-case overload test (#11), our measurements don't exceed 40 dB(A), but rather remain closer to 35 dB(A). Obviously, the fan profile is very relaxed. Enermax's passive mode lasts a long time, too, since the fan only starts spinning during our seventh load test.

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Efficiency, Temperature & Noise

Efficiency

Our efficiency testing procedure is detailed here.

Using results from the previous page, we plotted a chart showing the EDT1250EWT's efficiency at low loads, and loads from 10 to 110 percent of its maximum-rated capacity.

This is a highly efficient PSU under both normal and light loads.

Efficiency At Low Loads

In the following tests, we measure the EDT1250EWT's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10 percent of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). The loads we dialed were 20, 40, 60, and 80W. This is important for representing when a PC is idle, with power-saving features turned on.

With only 20W load, this PSU's efficiency is below 70%. In the next three tests, however, it passes the 80% mark. Moreover, through all of these tests, the EDT1250EWT operates passively.

5VSB Efficiency

The ATX specification, along with CEC, ErP Lot 3 2014 and ErP Lot 6 2010/2013, states that 5VSB standby supply efficiency should be as high as possible, recommending 75 percent or higher with 550mA, 1A, and 1.5A of load. The PSU should also achieve higher than 75% efficiency at 5VSB under full load, or with 3A if its max current output on this rail is higher than 3A.

We take six measurements: one each at 100, 250, 550, 1000, and 1500mA, and one with the full load the 5VSB rail can handle.

The 5VSB rail is highly efficient. CWT pays a lot of attention to its design, using modern circuits that facilitate great results.

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

In the table below, you'll find the power consumption and voltage values of all rails (except -12V) when the PSU is idle (powered on, but without any load on its rails), and the power consumption when the PSU is in standby mode (without any load, at 5VSB).

Vampire power is low in both cases.

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

Our mixed noise testing is described in detail here.

The first chart below illustrates the cooling fan's speed (in RPM), and the delta between input and output temperature. The results were obtained at 37°C (98.6°F) to 48°C (118.4°F) ambient temperature.   

The next chart shows the cooling fan's speed (again, in RPM) and output noise. We measured acoustics from one meter away, inside a hemi-anechoic chamber. Background noise inside the chamber was below 6 dB(A) during testing (it's actually much lower, but our sound meter’s microphone hits its floor), and the results were obtained with the PSU operating at 37°C (98.6°F) to 48°C (118.4°F) ambient temperature. 

The following graph illustrates the fan's output noise over the PSU's operating range. The same conditions of the above graph apply to our measurements, though the ambient temperature was between 30°C (86°F) to 32°C (89.6°F).  

Enermax's semi-passive mode lasts a long time, up to around 690W load. The fan starts to spin at very low RPMs, and its speed increases slowly. As a result, output noise remains low even under very high loads.

Our last graph shows the fan's speed over the PSU's operating range. The same conditions of the above graph apply to our measurements.

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