SUMMARY: It wasn't too terribly long ago that the power supply was just another component that had to be bought when it was time to build a new system. But times have changed with the advent of the newer more powerful computers hitting the market. Come join Mike "Darthtanion" Wright as he takes a look at five power supplies and gives some solid answers as to whether it might be just the right one for your own system.
Our first contestant is the Raidmax 400 watt PSU. Though most noted for their line of enclosures, Raidtronics (the makers of the Raidmax line) have been delving into the PSU market of late. And since competition is always a good thing, they are certainly a welcome addition.
With regards to the model tested here, it comes in a solid casing that still manages to come in at a light weight. The blue coloring sets it off in a new light, especially if you happen to have one of the popular blue windowed cases.
The backside of the unit has nothing special, but maintains that blue coloring to give it an overall pleasing eye appeal. The only switch you’ll have to concern yourself with is a toggle to determine the correct voltage of your local power source.
As far as power is concerned, it is rated at 400 watts and has no peak level noted. It handles 28A on the 3.3v rail, 30A on the 5v rail and 15A on the 12v rail. While not the highest limits available, there is little doubt that it will be able to handle the rigors of the enthusiast.
And for hooking up all of your favorite goodies, this Raidmax unit offers six 4-pin Molex connectors and two 4-pin floppy drive connectors, and also has both the 4-pin 12v supplementary power lead and the Auxiliary power port for many Pentium4 systems. There is also an included 3-pin connector for the motherboard to monitor fan speeds of the PSU.
Something a bit unusual with regards to the Raidmax line is the inclusion of an 80mm fan on the rear of the PSU. While bottom fans have become almost commonplace, the addition of the rear mounted fan instead makes it have some real potential in adding to the actual airflow of the case. And of course, the added air being moved through the PSU itself will always be a welcome sight as it helps greatly in keeping temperatures down.
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