Clever Power VGA Booster and CPU Stabilizer Review

Cases & PSU/Power Supplies by KeithSuppe @ 2006-08-31

Clever Power isn?t a name on the tip of every PC-Enthusiast?s tongue, but it may be soon. We look at two unique products from this company which are designed to help stabilize power flow inside your PC for the CPU and Video card.

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Clever Power VGA Booster

Clever Power VGA Booster


Madshrimps (c)


Besides the connector types and slightly shorter stature the VGA Booster isn't very different from the CPU Stabilizer in its appearance. Below we see the rear 6-pin connectors which will accommodate SLI but not Quad SLI if four individual cards are used. I was able to test Quad SLI since we tested this unit with the Leadtek 7950GX2.

Madshrimps (c)


The same concept applies insofar as the VGA Booster and this is where Clever Power may have some trouble. Ironically there are very few Power Supplies available which provide 18A on the external 6-pin VGA connectors. In fact these are not even mentioned in the EPS12V and ATX12V Guidelines. While the 240VA safety requirement has been met an unexpected side affect revealed how few PSU makers build to the maximum specifications (18A per 6-pin connector). With SLI and Dual SLI systems this would limit one's options even further when choosing a PSU. So how can Clever Power?s VGA Booster remedy or aid in this respect?

VGA Booster (aluminum cover removed)


Madshrimps (c)


Taking a closer look at the VGA Booster in action, the start-up procedure is just about identical to its sibling. Upon powering up your PC the VGA Booster's LED glows red indicating power-up, several seconds later the yellow LED light's transitioning slowly to green where upon a "click" can be heard. The VGA Booster unlike the CPU Stabilizer awaits the Windows splash screen or Desktop at which point 2D/3D loads have taxed the external 6-pin connector drawing current into the unit's capacitor banks.

Madshrimps (c)


Side View


Madshrimps (c)


Rear View


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Bench Tests


The VGA Booster was tested using an IWATSU SS-7606 analog oscilloscope. The screen shots below indicate the sine wave as measured directly from the PSU 6-pin connector and then from the VGA Booster 6-pin connectors.

Madshrimps (c)


Madshrimps (c)


Once again the results are prima facie where smoothing is concerned. How the unit works under load and if the unit's current conditioning proficiency can improve VGA performance leads us to our next series of "real world" tests.
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