The desktop computer market is a highly specialized industry, for this reason most companies sub-contract out their designs to a limited number of manufacturers with the required production facilities. Prima facie Power Supplies may seem less complicated compared to design and manufacture compared to CPU's for example; however, the logistics are just as complicated when produced in bulk. The Genesis chapters in the PSU manufacturing Bible read as follows: "In the beginning there was Delta (worlds largest) and Delta begat...such and such. Then there was FSP Fortron Source Group (10th largest) FSP begat...Epsilon. Then there was Topower (3rd largest) and Topower begat OCZ PowerStream 420W and ePower whom begat Tagan and then there was Mushkin"



Internal layout: removing the cover immediately reveals components and a topology recognizable as Topower. I formed this hypothesis long before I opened the unit up. Looking through the Topower patent list there are numerous clues such as the clear coated shielded cables, blue coded 6-pin cables and in particular the use of ferrite filters. Although the XP-650 employs this technology on the power cable alone, most likely to cut costs. Back to the subject at hand, the internal layout will ultimately reveal the unit's performance potential, or lack thereof.



Heatsinks are distinctly Topower / ePower / Tagan types as are most of the internal devices. Cooling is accomplished via a push-pull fan system utilizing 2x80mm thermally controlled fans. Capacitance is generous as well as the dimensions of the 12V transformer which is quite large in relation to the real-estate surrounding it. The Thumbnail magnifies the transformer model number.





Looking at the DC-out mainboard we see 12V cables (yellow green) clearly derive from independent sources following the "split plane" guideline. This issue has been done to death and the superflousness of the splt-pane and EPS/ATX guidelines can deteriorate the most astute Writer's grasp on PSU design to the following analogy; "The general rule of thumb is any power supply rated for 30A on the 12v rail should have two independent 12v rails. While it looks like all the circuitry is in place for this power regulation any semblance of independence is lost when they solder ALL the 12v lines to the same point on the PCB. Can we really call it two rivers if all it does is go around an island and then flow back into its self? No we can’t." This circumlocutious train of thought, misses the point any PSU rated for 30A doesn't have two indepnedent rails because they are "split" by definition. Perhaps Dam flood control anology would be more appropriate, nonetheless until the current guidelines are revised even with two independent tranformers feeding proprietary 12V rails the 240VA spec leaves us with babbling brooks, not rivers.





The photos below exemplify the AC-in topology where AC is filtered removing noise traveling to the thyristor. Next we have the rectifier which is the black rectangular object with the thick copper plate attached. The bridge rectifier is located on left of the capacitors and highlighted in the lower right thumbnail. Voltage then travels to the capacitors which act as storage and smooth out current before traveling to the FETs. Mushkin spec'd healthy capacitance which is critical for current conditioning. All in all the unit is well balanced and should provide substantial current when needed.