Kingwin Lazer Platinum LZP-550 550 Watt Power Supply Review

Introduction, Specifications, Availability and Pricing

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Introduction

Lately we've been trying to reach out and make sure that we cover a wide range of manufacturers in an effort to provide you with more information when choosing a power supply. One such manufacturer that we have yet to see on our bench that we have had several requests for is Kingwin. Kingwin has been around for nearly 20 years in the DIY computer business providing a wide range of products to customize your PC, including power supplies.

Today we are taking a look at Kingwin's Lazer Platinum LZP-550. The unit boasts 550W of power delivered with 80Plus Platinum efficiency. This is probably one of the most attractive features of this power supply from an enthusiast standpoint, but it does have quite a few other features as well. Keep reading on to find out just how well the LZP-550 performs.

Specifications, Availability and Pricing

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Kingwin's LZP-550 features a single 45.5A 12V rail capable of producing up to 99% of the power supply's total output. Both of the minor rails are capable of 20A each with a combined output of 100W. Total power output at Platinum efficiency is 550W. One of the things that you'll notice with the LZP-550 is that it can be "overclocked" to 650W of power. That is a tad misleading. The LZP-550 is essentially a 650W Gold rated power supply that performs at Platinum efficiency when rated for 550W.

Since this is labelled and branded as a 550W power supply, that is how we will look at and test the power supply. This isn't the first time we have seen this. If you haven't caught on yet, this sounds an awful lot like the Super Flower Golden King 550W PSU we reviewed. That's because it is the same power supply, simply rebranded.

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One of the things many people will find odd about the LZP-550 is the full set of features that it has. Many of the features that we see here are reserved for higher end enthusiast power supplies, such as the 50C rating. Everything is included as part of this power supply, including over-temperature protection, 80Plus Platinum efficiency and universal modular cables that can be plugged into any of the modular plugs.

The Kingwin LZP-550 power supply can be readily purchased from Newegg. It lists for a price of $149.99 which ties it for the most expensive power supply in the 500W-600W category. While it may be the most expensive, it is also the only Platinum rated power supply in the group. Kingwin proudly backs the LZP-550 with a 5-year warranty.

The Packaging

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Kingwin's packaging is identical to that of the Super Flower Golden King 550W power supply that we reviewed, with one exception. The aesthetic design is completely different. On the front of the package we catch a very nice shot of the power supply as well as getting some great information such as the warranty, wattage and efficiency.

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The back of the power supply is packed full good information on features and specifications of the power supply. Here we also find the mildly misleading overclock sticker letting you know that the power supply is capable of 650W.

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While there isn't any information on the top and bottom of the box, one side has a good list of specifications.

Inside the Box

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This is just how things sit inside the box when you first open it up. The power supply has a single layer of bubble wrap to protect and cushion it and is surrounded by cardboard on all sides. Under each of these sections of cardboard are cables and accessories.

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The LZP-550 is finished in matte black. The I/O specification label for the power supply is located on the top.

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Kingwin displays the Lazer Platinum logo on one side of the power supply.

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The other side is blank with the exception of a serial number.

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The front of the power supply houses the universal modular connections. Each connection comes with its own dust cover and two have been removed for the picture.

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The back features the typical honeycomb mesh grill for excellent ventilation of the unit.

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On the bottom, we find the 140mm fan that cools the LZP-550.

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Also included in the package are a few modular cables to tailor the power supply to your specific needs.

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Rounding off the list of what is in the package are the AC power cord, user manual, mounting thumbscrews and a warning card that lets you know the fan doesn't spin until it is necessary.

Cabling Arrangement & A Look Inside

Cabling Arrangement

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Kingwin provides more than enough cables and connectors to make full use of the power offered by the LZP-550. Native cables include the20+4 Main, ATX 4+4, one PCI-E 8-pin connector and one PCI-E 6-pin connector. Modular cables include two more PCI-E connectors, eight SATA, five Molex and a single FDD connector.

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Rail distribution isn't something to worry about with the LZP-550 since it features a single 12V rail.

A Look Inside

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Once we start to take the power supply apart, we find that the PCB is much more compact than the actual housing implies. Two rows of heatsinks keep the LZP-550 sufficiently cool so that it is capable of running without the fan spinning a majority of the time.

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Taking a look at the capacitors, we find a Nippon Chemi-con capacitor adorning the primary side of the power supply. It's always nice to see quality Japanese 105C rated capacitors on the inside.

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The same Nippon Chemi-Con 105C capacitors can be found on the secondary as well.

While not pictured, the LZP-550 uses the same fan as the Super Flower Golden King. It is manufactured by Globe Fan and is a 140mm, 1200RPM fan.

Test Results & Final Thoughts

Test Results

Our load tests utilize a couple of FAST ATE active load testers and a variety of other equipment such as an oscilloscope, power conditioner, temperature probe and a power consumption meter. You can read more about our standard testing approach here.

The tests performed are based around six conceivable setups that are out there and progressively load down the PSU up to the power supply's limits or 1000W, whichever comes first. Since our test equipment's limits are higher than that of the Kingwin LZP-550, we can test it to the maximum.

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While there aren't quite as many results here as we are used to seeing with the higher output units, there is still plenty of good information on just how well the LZP-550 performs. Voltage regulation is within 3% or better with the 5V rail just barely going outside of the 2% mark at the start. The 12V rail stays within 2% regulation and the 3V rail is within 1% of specification. As the loads increase, the voltage regulation gets better all the way up to the full load test. At full load, both the 12V and 3.3V rails are within 1% and the 5V tightens up to 2% regulation.

Noise on the LZP-550 faired rather well. During Test 1, we recorded a maximum of 23mV on the 12V rail. Just as you would expect, this increased as the load on the unit increased. This crept up to 29mV peak to peak during Test 2 and eventually ended up at 34mV under full load. While these aren't the most spectacular results that we have ever seen out of a power supply to date, they are still very good results.

One of the main highlights of the LZP-550 is that it is capable of performing at 80Plus Platinum levels of efficiency. As you can see from the results above, the Kingwin LZP-550 delivered just as it said it would. Keep in mind that in order to achieve the 80Plus Platinum certification, the power supply must perform at 90%/92%/89% efficiency at 20%/50%/100% loads. The LZP-550 excelled at this and never even came close to failing during any of the tests.

Final Thoughts

Kingwin has done an excellent job with the LZP-550 power supply. While the unit might simply be a reference unit from Super Flower, the unit wouldn't be available in the USA if not for Kingwin. The LZP-550 scores excellent from start to finish. The list of cables and connectors, both native and modular, ensure that the power supply is capable of fulfilling the needs of almost anyone who needs a 550W power supply.

Kingwin's LZP-550 also performs quite well with great voltage regulation, good DC output quality and excellent efficiency. With the ever-increasing cost of electricity, the LZP-550 becomes even more attractive despite the $150 price tag, especially if you make use of it for the full five years that it is warrantied for.