Circuitry:
Thankfully In-Win chose not to make this unit more attractive to the layperson by implementing Modular Connectors. The use of Modular Connectors is becoming somewhat of a marketing epidemic and in almost every case ergonomic benefits are far outweighed by resistance inherent to Modular Connectors. Most often such features are marketing inspired to make a mediocre product more appealing to the masses.



Modular connectors introduce resistance at several points, the most obvious being the connectors themselves. The female connectors originate from a daughter, or modular-PCB which is of course the first point of resistance. The 12V1 wire originates from the main PCB to a solder point on the modular PCB where traces split the current off to each connector. These pins introduce resistance and are subject to oxidation. Perhaps most problematic repeated connecting/disconnecting creates wear, potentially leading to failure (breakage). Finally the additional points of resistance associated with the connectors can be especially problematic in lower current PSU's where limited amperes (flow rate) are even more vulnerable. Delving into the circuitry four small screws allow the cover to be removed, this violates the warranty and should be avoided.



In-Win's 460W meets the infamous EPS 12V Power Supply Guide 2.91 (.pdf) and ATX 12V Power Supply guide 2.2 (.pdf) which limits current on 12v-Rails to 18A. The guide stipulates wiring must follow a "Split Plane" circuit in which 12v1 and 12v2 originate from separate solder points off the main PCB. The yellow wires in the close-up below clearly indicate In-Win has met the guidelines.



Rotating the PSU 180-degrees reveals a fairly large inductor and a few medium size capacitors. Although my opinion of what constitutes "medium" is somewhat jaded after reviewing PSU's such as Mushkin's XP-650 and soon to be published PCPower&Cooling 1-Kilowatt, as well MGE Duro 900W.



A close-up of the capacitors and inductors indicates the P460 should smooth current quite effectively. The heatsinks are unique as well. Thumbnails below provide a closer look at the components used in the P460.





Viewing the PSU from above reveals topology exemplifying pragmatic electronic circuit design. The transformer responsible for "split plane" 12V-Rails (CPU and peripherals) is substantial considering the combined amperes approach 34A with a maximum peak 19A to the 12V2-Rail (CPU). This bodes well for those seeking extra power for today's Dual Core processors.



There are three transformers the largest responsible for 12V-Rail voltage. Since most compact units are thought to be power anemic, P460 owners will pleasantly surprised to find they've plenty of current depending on the system their building. That is assuming it's not a SLI system with ten HDD's and attempting to run Peltiers off the PSU. The heatsinks employed are "raked" and angled at the top for improved heat dissipation. Thumbnails below the main photo highlight both the 12V and 5V transformers.





Insofar as adjustable potentiometers the P460 doesn't advertise nor are there any immediately recognizable upon first glance. I did find one pot marked "V1" although it's location directly below the AC-in circuitry suggest its purpose has nothing to do with DC voltage regulation. Furthermore it's glued preventing manual adjustment which indicates it shouldn't tampered with. Once again I've included thumbnails to provide a clear view of the pot in question.





The PSU ran fairly cool (37C LOAD) primarily due to In-Win using a DYNAEON Top Power model: DF121225BM (120x120x25mm) seen below. After an exhaustive (you'll see the term exhaust has some relevance here) search on the Net and through DYNAEON's website I was unable to find specifications for this model number. On the subject of 120mm fans, these are used much more often then they ever were in PSU design and there are valid concerns about this.



Many "old school" PSU makers would claim a fan this large is overkill and in a worse case scenario are used to compensate for inferior design where components are pushed to their operational limits, requiring additional cooling. Lest we forget in almost every "case' the PSU acts as an auxiliary exhaust for pre-heated case air. In fact more often then not the PSU-fan becomes the primary exhaust for the enclosure which can have deleterious affects on the PSU and on internal case temps. Given these facts In-Win's choice of a 120mm fan, ample room within the PSU and well ventilated rear mesh should do wonders for overall performance.

Onto the test system and tests ->