OCZ Z-Series Z1000M 1000W ATX PSU
Cables & Internal Components
Published: 10th September 2009 | Source: OCZ | Price: £177 |
Cables, Connectors & Internal Components
With the exception of a few manufacturers, most modular PSU's available these days are what I'd prefer to call hybrid-modular. That is, most - but not all of the cables on the unit are modular. This is exactly the approach that OCZ have taken with the Z-Series, hard-wiring the cables you are most likely to use into the unit, while providing the rest as modular cables.
As I already mentioned over on the previous page, the Z1000M comes complete with eight modular headers that are split equally between the PCI-E and SATA/Molex connectors. This is just a tad on the low side for a 1000W PSU with most of the competition managing around 10 connectors. Still, unless you're planning a Tri-SLi Watercooled system with a tonne of hard disks, the eight headers should be more than adequate.
All of the cables on both the hard-wired and modular front are sleeved in a black mesh right up to the end of each connector and finished off with black heatshrink. While this certainly isn't as fancy as the flat style modular cables on a lot of Corsair's PSU's, it gets the job done and the quality of the finish on each cable is very high.
| OCZ Z-Series 1000w Connectors | ||
| ATX Connector | Native | 1x 20+4 Pin |
| EPS-12v / P4-12v Connector(s) | Native | 1x 4+4 Pin / 1x 8 Pin |
| Molex Connectors | Modular | 3x |
| Floppy Disk Connectors | Modular | 1x |
| SATA Connectors | Native / Modular | 3x / 9x |
| PCI-E Connectors | Native / Modular | 2x 6+2 Pin / 4x 6+2 Pin |
Moving on to the number of connectors included with the Z1000M reveals some rather shocking results. Only three, yes count them...1...2..3 Molex connectors on a single modular cable have been provided in the cable bag. This is in contrast to the whopping 12 SATA connectors (3x Hard-Wired / 9x Modular) provided with the unit. Now I understand that OCZ probably want to shift a few of their Solid State Disk Drives, but guys this isn't the way forward!
Anyway, on a more serious note after contacting OCZ with these findings they have made alterations to their retail units to include an additional two Molex based modular cables in the bag. This brings the total number of Molex connectors up to 9. Much, much better guys. It's always good when a manufacturer acts upon our findings.
On the hard-wired connector front the Z1000M is fitted with a 24-Pin ATX connector which cannot be reduced down to 20-Pin for older motherboards. The EPS-12v connectors however, comes in both 4+4 and native 8 Pin formats which permits use on older motherboards and more power hungry dual-connector motherboards such as the high-end eVGA range. For the PCI-E connectors OCZ have gone for a native 6-Pin format with an additional 2 pins tagged on the side to enable use with all current graphics cards.
Removing the four small screws on each corner of the fan area and lifting off the lid reveals the Z1000M's internals. Although I certainly wasn't expecting oodles of free space inside the unit given its diminutive dimensions, it has to be noted that everything appears to be quite cramped. While this would normally send alarm bells ringing regarding potential heat issues, the three rows of gold coloured aluminium heatsinks attached to the PSU's mosfets are designed in such a way that they can effectively make use of the PSU's cooling without obstructing airflow to the components beneath.
Going in for a closer look at the some of the components we can see that OCZ have used a single transformer to deliver the majority of the 1000W that the unit provides. However, as is common on most PSU's a second much smaller transformer can also be spotted nearby. This one has the job of delivering the 6A output of the 5VSB rail when the PSU is in standby.
The capacitors used on the primary (high voltage) side of the unit are manufactured by Japanese company Rubycon, and while not quite as well known as the likes of Nippon Chemicon, still promise great performance and longevity. Obtaining the specs of these capacitors was certainly no easy task due to their orientation and surrounding components, but from what I could just about make out (without cracking out the soldering iron) are rated at 400v / 330uF / 105c.
Over on the secondary side it's time for me to eat my words as OCZ has has splashed out on an array of Nippon Chemicon 105c caps for the low voltage filtering. No other specs are visible, but If i manage to dig up any more info I'll be sure to add it.
Although almost impossible to see, it would appear that the two vertically mounted PCB's in the two pictures above are more than likely the DC-DC boards for dropping the main 12v output down to 3.3v and 5v for the other rails. Once again, without pulling the whole PSU apart it's pretty hard to say for certain, but there's definitely some solid state caps and chokes on there that look promising.
The 135mm fan is manufactured by Globe Fan and is rated at 1500RPM/106.86CFM/29.2dB. I have to say that the noise output does sound (no pun) a bit optimistic given the CFM output of the fan, but I'll be sure to put my ear up to it on the next page as we enter the simulated load testing...
Most Recent Comments
You forgot the delta in the deltaTemp column header of the results table 
why do I even see that O.o
Aside from that, great unit for high end rigs. Bring on the next gen graphics cards
why do I even see that O.o
Aside from that, great unit for high end rigs. Bring on the next gen graphics cards
I was taken back by the amount of amps that were on the 12 volt rail.
Impressive bit of kit. So many good products being released lately that we're almost starting to need a "OC3D top three recommendations" for catergories
Btw, did I miss the noise results? 100+cfm @ 30db sounds too good to be true.
Like the aluminium finish, just wish manu's would stop slapping big-ass stickers on them. We know what it can do, we've already brought it. Yeesh.
Btw, did I miss the noise results? 100+cfm @ 30db sounds too good to be true.
Like the aluminium finish, just wish manu's would stop slapping big-ass stickers on them. We know what it can do, we've already brought it. Yeesh.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='monkey7'
You forgot the delta in the deltaTemp column header of the results table
why do I even see that O.o Aside from that, great unit for high end rigs. Bring on the next gen graphics cards |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by freak
I was taken back by the amount of amps that were on the 12 volt rail. |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='VonBlade'
Impressive bit of kit. So many good products being released lately that we're almost starting to need a "OC3D top three recommendations" for catergories
Btw, did I miss the noise results? 100+cfm @ 30db sounds too good to be true. Like the aluminium finish, just wish manu's would stop slapping big-ass stickers on them. We know what it can do, we've already brought it. Yeesh. |
The Z1000M certainly sounded low - in fact it hardly seemed to increase the fan speed (or at least the noise associated with a fan speed increase) through any of the loads.
I'm looking into a fan bypass switch for the load testers so I can briefly turn the fans off for long enough to hear the PSU. Thing is, even the bloody oscilloscope has a fan in it, so its never going to be a perfect analysis.
Thanks Jim. I know noise is stupidly subjective (I've got a 19db fan that sounds like a hurricane) but PSUs can be a source of noise it's impossible to rectify, unlike other cooling, so it's an important part in my decisions (which is still a HX series one).
Just a reasonable "loud, not so loud, is it on?" is absolutely fine, so thanks
I must have missed it in the performance chart. Overwhelming information lol.
Just a reasonable "loud, not so loud, is it on?" is absolutely fine, so thanks
I must have missed it in the performance chart. Overwhelming information lol.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='VonBlade'
I must have missed it in the performance chart. Overwhelming information lol. |
I'm also putting together a top 10 chart at the moment which will be sorted in order of performance for all PSU' I've tested in the last year or so.
What if you make a fan connection like used in psu's with a 5-12v pot and connect the fans to it? You're already ripping open the psu anyway.
Sure it would not be completely accurate and still be subjective, but together with your while-testing super subjective measurements it should be a little more precise.
Sure it would not be completely accurate and still be subjective, but together with your while-testing super subjective measurements it should be a little more precise.
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OCZ Z-Series Z1000M 1000W ATX PSU