NZXT HALE90 850w Review
Simulated Load Results (Graphs)
Published: 1st October 2010 | Source: NZXT | Price: £152 |
Simulated Load Results (Graphs)
For those of you not familiar with the layout of our relatively new graphs, the highest and lowest values on the Y-axis (voltage) represent the maximum and minimum voltages allowed by ATX specifications. If the results should fall outside the graph at any time, then that's an instant FAIL. However, merely staying inside these boundaries does not necessarily indicate a good PSU. In order to display truly great voltage regulation, a PSU must stick as closely as possible to the thick white horizontal line (ideal voltage) as possible.
You will also notice that the graph is split into three sections as depicted by the Green, Amber and Red backgrounds. These indicate normal usage (green), heavily uneven load distribution (amber) and overloading of the PSU (red). For the most part all we need to worry about is how it performs in the green section, but good performance in the other sections will undoubtedly earn the PSU extra brownie points.
For a better understanding of now we conduct our PSU testing and how these results were obtained, please be sure to check out the tabulated results over on the next page.
Referring to the OC3D PSU Certification whitepaper for guidance, we can see that the +3.3v rail on the NZXT passes the idle test with an output of 3.35v. Unfortunately though, when the load is increased to 100% the output voltage dips to 3.26v thus falling outside the ±2% allowable margin.
Of course, if we forget about the certification tests for one minute, this result is still very reasonable. And given that most modern PSU's barely make any use of the +3.3v rail anymore, it is certainly nothing to worry about.
The +5v rail tells a similar story to the +3.3v rail with idle voltages just about within OC3D'd certification specs, but then falling outside the requirements when 100% load is applied. Of course, the average user of this PSU is unlikely to run it at more than 75% load most of the time, and as we can see from the results in T3 an output voltage of 5.06v is pretty much right on the money.
Moving on to the most important rail of them all, we can see by just looking at the flatter line on the graph that this is where NZXT have paid the most attention. The idle voltages are reasonable and 100% load voltages only just fall outside of certification requirements by 0.02v. Most impressively though, even in the TMax (Maximum Load) testing, the NZXT refuses to dip below +12.00v, showing that it really can deliver.
Finally we arrive at efficiency - and there's certainly no arguing that this is an 80PLUS GOLD level PSU. Throughout all of the normal tests, the unit managed over 91% efficiency, and only presented with a heavy crossload in TX1 did the efficiency drop to 84% (which is still better than most PSU's). Good work NZXT.
Most Recent Comments
seriously if i want my PSU white, i'll paint it ..
And replacing the fan is just as easy as opening a trash can!
just be carefull when opening a PSU just don't do it after a few days of F@H (gaming) and then boom open
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Originally Posted by SnW
I guess paint isn't a option ? seriously if i want my PSU white, i'll paint it .. And replacing the fan is just as easy as opening a trash can! just be carefull when opening a PSU just don't do it after a few days of F@H (gaming) and then boom open |
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Originally Posted by hmmblah
It's a sexy powdercoat, not just a paint job...nice touch IMO. |
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Originally Posted by AMDFTW
what no OC3D certification? |
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
No mate the 3.3v rail did not pass our standards. You only get our stamp if the psu is above and beyond epic! |
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Originally Posted by AlienALX
Hmmm.. Seems amazingly over priced to me... |
seen the 1000w version go for $209 (£131ish) :/
at new egg
TBH and I hate to say it but inside it looks pretty cheap. Outside it looks nice but man, reading the review I find it worrying that a £150+ PSU can just about keep within the ATX spec.
I had no respect for NZXT whatsoever until they released the Phantom. I don't know what it's built like but it's very nice looking. Unlike the fan controller of theirs I bought in 2007 that -
A. Was really cheap and tacky.
B. Was too big to fit in the 5.25 bay it was designed for and literally had to be rammed in.
C. The screen on which was absolutely parp and it wasn't cheap to buy.
I hoped that lately they had come good, but after reading this review I have my doubts. It's very easy now to get an average PSU around the same wattage for £100, and this is decidedly average. It must cost less than £50 to get a powdercoat done on a PSU (I mean FFS it's tiny) therefore I can't see any real reason at all to pay £150 for this thing.
A black one would look nicer in your case any way, and take that from some one who has studied colour coding and has a lot of experience with black and white
check my project log "crysis extreme" for some pics
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Originally Posted by Todd
So when's the full review of the Phantom coming along? I hope it isn't a disappointment as well because I really had my hopes up for NZXT. |
when is the review of the 1095t coming out
I like it even more now
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Originally Posted by Todd
Sorry, Tom, I watched that video already. I was talking about the full- full review and conclusion as a month has passed. You still love it? |
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Originally Posted by silenthill
What a load of rubbish, if you give it to me for free I wouldn’t put it in my pc |
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
Its actually pretty good fella, Im currently using an 850w in my rig |
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Originally Posted by silenthill
I only do Corsair Guvnor when it comes PSU so everything ells is like pound land |
That said, I'm surprised the PSU didn't blow up with almost 200W load on the +3.3V & +5V combined.
i assume this anyway
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Originally Posted by jonnyGURU
You know you overloaded the +3.3V and +5V rails by test 3, right? No reason to complain that the ripple is too high when you tested those rails a good 80W more than what the label says it should do. That said, I'm surprised the PSU didn't blow up with almost 200W load on the +3.3V & +5V combined. |
I've just this second finished re-resting the PSU and have published the amended set of results. As everyone will be able to see, these are MUCH more favourable for the unit in every respect. Efficiency is increased, voltages are slightly more stable and most importantly the ripple is much lower.
Please everyone take a chance to re-read the review as I wouldn't like NZXT to suffer for my mistake.
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UPDATE 03/10/10: Further to a post by a member of our forum we have become aware of a mis-calculation in our load levels for this PSU. As a result, please disregard any negative comments about the ripple results of this PSU in this thread.