For almost 30 years the company Cooler Master is engaged in the production of computer components, including cases, cooling systems, power supplies and various accessories.
Today we have a power supply model on the test Cooler Master ELITE 600 V4 (MPE-6001-ACABN)… The device belongs to the budget line, and it seems to us that it may interest our readers. The average price is about 3800 rubles.
The Cooler Master ELITE 600 V4 power supply is packaged in a black and white box made of thick cardboard with full information about the product. The main data about the power supply unit, which we can gather upon purchase, are located on the left end of the package in the form of a table.
Active PFC technology is present and this fact is highlighted in the foreground of the packaging. I would like to remind you that in power circuits there are concepts such as active or reactive power. Active power does useful work – forcing an iron to warm up, an incandescent lamp to glow, or powering PC components. But reactive power does not perform any payload, but only wanders through electrical circuits and heats them. It is characterized by the parameter cosine Phi. It is for this reason that a reserve of wire cross-section is provided. The more cos φ, the more energy is dissipated in the circuit in the form of heat. Since usually large capacitors are used in computer power supplies, the reactive component in such a circuit is also noticeable. Fortunately, it is not counted by the household electricity meter, so the user will not have to overpay for electricity. The cos φ value for such devices usually reaches 0.7. This means that the power reserve of wiring must be at least 30%. Since current flows through the power supply circuit in short, changeable amplitude pulses, this shortens the life of the capacitors and diodes. If the latter do not have a margin of amperage and are matched up (as is often the case in cheap power supplies), the service life of the device is reduced. To combat these reactive phenomena, a Power Factor Correction (PFC) is used.
In our test Cooler Master ELITE 600 V4 (MPE-6001-ACABN), as we have already mentioned, a device with an active Power Factor Correction module is used – an additional switching power supply to increase the voltage. Active PFC, active circuit (APFC), can increase this parameter to 0.95, that is, make it close to ideal. Such a power supply unit is less susceptible to short-term “dips” of the current, allowing it to work on the charge of capacitors, which is an indisputable advantage.
It should be borne in mind that such design features affect the price of the device. Today, you can find PSUs on sale in the ATX form factor, both with PFC and without PFC. Whether a PFC is needed or not should be decided based on the specifics of using the computer. For example, in a game solution, its presence is desirable, but not at all necessary. Among other things, the PFC reduces the level of high frequency noise on the output lines.
It is recommended to use such a power supply unit in conjunction with peripheral devices for processing analog video and audio signals – for example, in a recording studio. But even if you are an ordinary amateur connecting an electric guitar to a computer with an amplifier installed, it is recommended to use a PSU with a power factor corrector. In the technical specifications, which are shown on the packaging, the manufacturer indicates the cos φ> 0.9.
Here are a few more arguments that tilted our opinion about this block in a positive direction. It’s not a secret for any of us that the biggest problem in economy class solutions is the use of cheap components in the construction. This is an inexpensive cooler, a cheap printed circuit board and an element base of radio components installed on it. Hence, neglect of various types of protection, which keep the power supply unit in working order for a long time and ensure the stable operation of all PC devices. Usually, the cheapest PSUs lack any protection, which cannot be said about the ELITE V4 series.
In the table of technical characteristics on the packaging, the manufacturer claims four types of power supply protection: OVP – overvoltage protection, OPP (Over Power Protection) – overload protection based on the total power for all channels, OTP (Over Temperature Protection) – overheating protection , and SCP (Short Circuit Protection) – short circuit protection.
When building and designing a power supply with an economy element base and in the absence of protection, such an approach in the event of a power supply failure can lead to the failure of all those components that were connected to it. Therefore, requirements are usually made to a budget power supply unit – a relatively high efficiency (in our case – 85%), a sufficiently high-quality element base and the presence of the very protections that we mentioned. We also managed to find out that in the manufacture of this device the Cooler Master company used an element base from a fairly reliable supplier Enhance Electronics.
The total power of Cooler Master ELITE 600 V4, which is declared by the manufacturer, is 600 W, although if you are stricter about this component, it will be more honest to indicate 550 W. Form factor – ATX 12V. The power supply unit is certified in the 80 PLUS standard and is offered for use in Europe, as it is designed to operate with a 200-230V mains supply. The manufacturer provides a 3-year warranty.
The power supply has no cable management, that is, there are no detachable cables. But this is a characteristic feature of all economy class PSUs. As for the plug-in connectors, here you will find:
- Power supply for the motherboard and processor – 24 + 4 + 4 pins (both wires are 57 cm long);
- PCIe video card power connector – 2 * (6 + 2) pin (wire length 53 + 15 cm);
- SATA connectors – 5 pcs (wire length from 57 to 73 cm);
- Connectors for peripheral devices (Molex) – 3 pcs (wire length 73 cm).
The 120 mm fan used for cooling has a speed thermostat and a sleeve bearing. With a load of up to 50%, it works quite quietly, and only when this threshold is crossed, the noise increases noticeably. At 85% load, the noise becomes uncomfortable, which is a paradox for this class of PSU. Noise in idle is 49 dB, and under load it can reach 65 dB.
We also carried out a series of test measurements of voltage at idle and under load (when running various games on a PC) in 3 circuits – +12 V, + 5V and + 3.3V. Measurements showed insignificant voltage spread within acceptable values:
- +12 V (admissible minimum 11.40V, maximum 12.60V) – 11.99V – 12.07V;
- + 5V (allowable minimum 4.75V, maximum 5.25V) – 5.07V – 5.08V;
- + 3.3V (allowable minimum 3.14V, maximum 3.47V) – 3.34V.
The Cooler Master ELITE 600 V4 is a noteworthy device. This is a very good option if you are on a budget or plan to build a PC for office tasks. That is, the choice must correspond to the purpose and level of tasks. The advantages include a competitive price. Although there are many price rivals, not everyone provides a 3-year warranty period for their products, which is a great advantage in this segment. In addition, the manufacturer initially makes it clear that he is confident about the quality of his product. The second plus is a stable output voltage, and the third and, in our opinion, the most important point in this device are those electrolytic capacitors that ensure stable and uninterrupted operation. And we know that 80% of power supply failures are low-quality capacitors. And although electrolytes with a temperature threshold of 85 degrees Celsius are used here, there are no complaints about the quality of their work. Well, the disadvantages, perhaps, can be attributed to the state employee without nagging a pretty decent howl during game loads. And the user will have to solve the dilemma for and against.
Author: Sergey Dyakonenko (Madnfs)
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