Once you get the box opened and the goods laid out, there isn't a lot out of the ordinary here. Besides the unit itself, you get a small manual, a primary power cord, and a box containing the cabling. For those not familiar with one of the more common types of power supply layout, this model is a modular design that allows you to attach only the connectors you need to run your system.
The unit itself is a good looking little devil in its own right. The finish is a very bright and highly polished metal with a resemblance to chrome. This will work very well for those who have a large side window where the power supply is seen from the outside. A closer look toward the lower edge of the photo above shows the clear reflection of carpet fibers in the metal finish.
The exterior side of the unit is simplistic, but has everything we need. The power intake is not automated like many newer models, but this is pretty much a one time setting anyway. Just make sure to take a quick look to ensure the proper voltage level is set.
Also of note in this area is the rear fan. While it is of the 80mm variety and not particularly powerful, it is an LED model that does give off a bit of light toward the back of the enclosure. This can be a big plus for those who are into case modding and their creations may be looked at from nearly any angle. The added color can make things stand out a bit more.
Taking a look at the business end of the unit shows the ports that allow you to hook up your modular cabling. The two blue ones are for PCI-E cables, the rest are interchangeable to whatever you need. It was also good to see that the folks at Mushkin took the extra effort to use a full wrap protection of the exit hole for the primary power cabling. This is an often used shortcut that can be a bad thing if the wiring harness begins to wear through due to a rough spot. The full wrap protection means that you won't have to worry about sharp edges cutting through the harness.
You'll also note the extra 80mm fan on this end of the power supply. While not a lighted model like the other, it is very quiet and helps keep those internal components nice and cool. While I do not recommend using the CFM ratings of these fans in your overall case cooling calculations, it is good to see that there was some thought into keeping things at a tolerable temperature inside the metal casing.
Above is the entire cabling system that is included with this power supply. Molex connectors were a bit lacking, but the SATA couplers were in season. For the numbers, you get 6 Molex connectors, 2 FDD connectors, 8 SATA power couplers, and 2 PCI-E connectors.
The multi-colored bundle you see above is a Velcro cable management system. While I'm not sure why all the colors were used, they are ideal for securing the cabling to the interior rails within your case.
Also of note is the black cylinder that is on the power cord. We've seen these often times on VGA cables, but rarely on a power cord for a PSU. The purpose of this device is to reduce outside interference to signals being sent down a wire. The goal behind this is simple; provide as clean a power signature as possible for the power supply to work with. This, in turn, will help produce a cleaner power signal throughout the electrical system of the computer.
Moving on to the main power couplings, you have a few options to play with. Since this model is compatible with all the newest standards, you get a 20+4 pin main and a 4+4 pin auxiliary. This allows you to handle pretty much any motherboard in existence that is newer than AT standard. It also does away with converters between differing standards. While these converters generally work well, they can be a pain to install.
The last item of interest is the inclusion of a physical grounding cable. The manual states that it should be connected to one of the grounded motherboard mounting screws. While not necessary to make use of the power supply, it is just a means of being more careful with your gear.
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