Date: November 23rd, 2006
Article by: Joe Anderson (Hardware Reviewer)
Edited by: Nathan Glentworth (Owner / Head Editor)
Product was submitted by: Zalman USA
<--SHOP FOR A ZALMAN ZM600-HP 600 WATT POWER SUPPLY HERE
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
Heatpipe Installed for Maximum Cooling Performance and Ultra-Quiet Operation
A heatpipe with ultra-high cooling performance incorporated on the power supply¡¯s main
rectifiers enables high load operation even at low RPM for a dramatic reduction in noise levels.
Improved Power Factor & Reduced Harmonics through Active PFC
By implementing Active PFC(Power Factor Correction), the Power Factor (PF) is improved from 75% (Passive PFC) up to 99% while harmful harmonic frequencies are reduced to meet the line harmonic distortion requirements of IEC61000-3-2 Class D.
High Efficiency Design
This power supply is capable of reaching a maximum of 84% efficiency(230VAC, Full & Typical Load) through its use of high switching frequency and low power-loss circuitry.
ATX20+4 Pin Main Connector
ATX20+4 pin main connector broadens the range of motherboard compatibility.
Supports ATX12V CPU 4-Pin and EPS12V CPU 8-Pin
Two ATX12V CPU 2¥ª2(4-Pin) power cables can be combined to form an EPS12V CPU
8-Pin power cable.
Dual PCI Express VGA Power 6-Pin Connector
Support Nvidia SLi dual graphic card systems.
Module Cables
Modular cables provide organized cable management and improved air circulation inside the computer case.
Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan
Ultra quiet 2-Ball Bearing 120mm fan maximizes the airflow and minimizes the noise level enabling a noiseless computing environment with optimized cooling.
Four Independent +12VDC Outputs
Four +12VDC rails supply power independently to the CPU, VGA, motherboard, and peripheral
components for the highest level of stability and performance.
EZ Grip Connectors for ODDs & HDDs
EZ Grip Connectors for easy removal of the plugs from ODDs & HDDs.
Gold-Plated Terminals
Gold-plated the terminals minimize power loss by reducing contact resistance.
Sleeved Cables
All power cables are sleeved for easy cable management and improved air circulation inside
the computer case.
Multiple Safety Features
Over-Voltage Protection, Over-Current Protection, Short-Circuit Protection, Under-Voltage Protection, Over-Temperature Protection.
Internal Blue LED
Blue LEDs are installed inside the power supply for cool aesthetics.
WEEE & RoHS
Complies to WEEE & RoHS Environmental Directives of Europe.
- WEEE : Waste Electrical and Electronic Regulations
- RoHS : Restriction of Hazardous Substances Regulations
The specifications (from the Zalman website) are quite good. Active PFC is always good to see and the 84% efficiency rating is excellent, although only at 230VAC. Four +12V rails at 16A each should be plenty of power for all but the most demanding systems. So why not two 32A rails? Or some other configuration? Well, UL/EN safety specifications limit the power on each rail to 240VA ( VA = Volts x Amperes). The ATX12V spec is even tighter, limiting each rail to 18A. This may change, if it hasn't already, in response to ever-increasing demand by multiple GPU solutions. At any rate, with 500W available, there's plenty of power here and load regulation, at +/- 5%, is very good. At 5.9”L x 6.5”W x 3.4”H the ZM600-HP is relatively compact and should fit into most ATX chassis' with no issues.
The features list, also from the Zalman website, is long and impressive. Topping this list is the heatpipe cooler for the main rectifiers. Along with the heatpipe, this PSU also sports modular, fully sleeved cables, gold-plated terminals and blue LEDs. We'll go into these and the other features in more detail as we proceed.
