In The Box



As we dig into the box we see that there are not any surprises. We get the power supply, a power cable, mounting screws, the modular cabling harnesses and a small instruction manual. Overall, everything we need to get the job done.



As far as aesthetics are concerned, the Real Power 700 is not designed to stand out in a crowd. It features a flat black finish and is designed more to work than look good. Along this line, the PSU is rated at 700 watts of continuous draw and besides the 5v and 3.3v rails also includes four 12v rails. This multiple 12v rail design has been used by many manufacturers and is designed to provide a more stable flow of power to those hungry peripherals.

Both the 3.3v and 5v rails are rated for a 25A and a maximum power draw of 191 watts. The 12v rails are rated at 19A each and allow for a total draw of 624 watts. While not the highest of numbers we’ve seen, it is more than ample for a normal rig and should be able to hold its own in a moderately overclocked system as well. The hardcore systems will be looking for more power, but then that is not what this product is made for anyway.



Those with a quick eye may have noted the less than normal amperage rating of the 5v rail. This little shot above shows why, there is no longer any support for older 20-pin motherboard headers. Since the systems requiring a huge 5v rail were older Athlon based rigs, this lack of support no longer requires that hefty rail anymore.



As with many power supplies being marketed nowadays, the back side has a very minimalist appearance. A power connector, a toggle switch and a small LED to indicate power coming from the wall and we’re finished. The remaining space is dedicated to a mesh material that allows for better airflow through the unit.



As noted earlier, this particular model is modular in design. This means that you only attach the cabling necessary for your system. If you don’t have a need for a huge number of Molex connectors, just don’t attach any more than you need. This makes hiding the wiring a breeze and aids system airflow immensely.

It was also a bit of a surprise. While modular designs are certainly not uncommon, they are rarely seen in mid-level products. Most companies only use this feature for their high-end product line. It is a nice addition and I always enjoy seeing it since I am rather critical where cooling comes in to play. Every little bit helps!



To plug into those modular headers we have a good variety of cables. Once everything is sorted out we have a total of one 24-pin primary power coupler, both 4-pin and 8-pin supplemental power connectors, two PCI-E connectors, two PCI-E8 (8-pin) connectors, eight SATA and eight Molex connectors. While our test unit did not include the two FDD connectors, I am told that the retail offering does include this.

For those who are looking on running dual graphics, the cabling allows for a total of two PCI-E devices to be attached at one time. The inclusion of four PCI-E cables is simply to allow for the flexibility for those who are purchasing newer graphics boards that require the newer 8-pin standard. The PSU will not run a quad-graphics rig, but then again, it likely wouldn’t have enough juice to pull this feat off anyway.