OCZ Technology PowerStream 420Watt PSU Review

Cases & PSU/Power Supplies by KeithSuppe @ 2004-05-26

We take a look at OCZ?s venture into the PSU world; their first unit is packed with features, comes BTX ready and looks stunning; how does it perform? Read on to find out.

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Testing

Everything about the PowerStream from a prima facie perspective is right, of course the true test of any PSU is in its performance under duress. Until my volt-meter arrives, this review must remain a cursory glance at the unit's accoutrements, and I'm dependent upon several monitoring programs to determine the unit's stability. Of course I've thoroughly tested CPUCool's ability to monitor voltage ripples, peaks, and dips, and verified its accuracy. The program is as accurate as the sensors it monitors. Let's take a look how this PSU has been running for the last week on the following system;

  • CPU - AMD Athlon64 3400+ CAAOC
  • Cooling - Danger Den TDX , Hydor L-30 (320 GPh), Black Ice eXtreme , 2x120mm Sunon 90CFM fans (push/pull), DD Bay Reservoir, 1/2" DD tubing.
  • Motherboard - Chaintech ZNF2-250Gb Pro Zenith
  • RAM - OCZ Technology EL PC-4200 Dual Channel GOLD
  • VGA - Sapphire X800Pro 256MB (Catalyst 4.5)
  • PSU - OCZ Technology PowerStream 420
  • PSU PCPower&Cooling TurboCool 510 Deluxe
  • Case - TTGI-USA TT-562
  • OS/Software - WindowsXP SP1, CPU-Cool ver. 7.2.1., Hardware-Sensors monitor, Seti@Home ver. 3.08


    I've been running the PowerStream 420 for just over 6-days, overclocking my system, and have not experienced a single problem. The only adjustment I needed to make was when I'd initially powered up the unit out of the box, as the 3.3V LED glowed RED, indicating the rail was running slightly hot. With one 1/4-turn on the pot above the LED, the sensor glowed Green, and all was well. Pushing the unit in an overclocked environment while running 3D applications, Pifast Challenge, or Seti@Home v.3.08 had no adverse effect on rail stability. Nor did the Vcore fluctuate at any time above or below its default setting during the aforementioned tests. The system maintained, and performed solidly under all LOAD conditions. I've yet to place this unit on my Asus P4C800E-Deluxe powering Prescott 3.0E, which under power of other PSU's (with the exception of PCPower&Cooling TurboCool 510) experienced periodic lock-ups and even reboots.


    However, I do believe the A64 3400 to be a much more stable performer, requiring less current then the Prescott overall. Thermal throttling features including the infamous Dynamic-VID may translate to difficult loads on any PSU powering Prescott. We already know this to be true in the case of motherboard CPU power circuitry, which undergoes severe stress (high temperatures) while powering Prescott. When driving the Prescott with TTGI-USA 14-cm 450W PSU, I experienced many reboots and a constant low 12V rail. The TTGI-USA TT-550TS, on the other hand, ran the Prescott although temperatures were a concern. What has surprised me is the ease with which the A64 3400+ multi-tasks. Similar test conditions would cause freeze-ups, or reboots with Prescott, regardless of the PSU. This surprised me, as I thought Hyperthreading was the best thing since sliced 300mm wafers, and 90nm Fab. It seems AMD's power rating (although stretched to its limits) is legitimized.


    The A64 3400+/Chaintech ZNF3-250Gb combo has handled the stress of programs such as Seti@home v.3.08 with processing power I'd only thought possible in a Hyperthreading equipped CPU. I was sorely mistaken, as the architecture of the A64+ is clearly superior to the Prescott in many respects, and especially in its power consumption. I digress.


    Onto the graphs. To create LOAD I ran Seti@Home for approximately 20 minutes, at which time the system has usually attained peak temperatures. I used CPUCool to measure any fluctuation in current, and any change in system temperatures. I've been utilizing this program for some time now, and while it's no Oscilloscope, it's highly accurate given its limitations (software);


    Madshrimps (c)



    On the graph above Seti started at time 11:11, and fortunately for PowerStream (and OCZ) the only indicator Seti@Home commenced at this point is the steep rise in temps. Temp1 corresponds to CPU, Temp2 to the System or Mainboard’s temperature. CPU temps rise approximately 6C under LOAD, Temp2 experiences some minor fluctuation. Most important are voltages which remain steadfast throughout. In the next graph the A64 3400 is overclocked, the FSB raised from 200FSB to 225FSB. This effectively has the Processor running at 2475MHz. Vcore remained at Default;


    Madshrimps (c)



    In this case running at 225FSB or 2474MHz, Seti commences at 13:54. As you can see once again, while Temp1 rises immediately and stabilizes at 38C, all other readings (voltages) remain steadfast. The results are very impressive, as I've seen just about every other PSU's experience subtle ripples as system requirements change. Next to PCPower&Cooling's PSU's these are the most stable results I've seen since first employing CPUCool over two years ago.

    Unfortunately I'm unable to push the Chaintech ZNF3-250Gb any further. The CPU has booted into 250FSB without aid of Vcore adjustment, unfortunately whether it's the memory, or the BIOS lack of options holding me back, this is very frustrating. Raising Vcore had no effect nor did changing the VDIMM, or just about any other BIOS option I had at my disposal. I would like to push the system further to impose greater demands on PowerStream, and I'll be testing the unit again on Prescott, and have at my disposal a voltage meter.
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