CoolerMaster GX Series 750 Watt ATX Power Supply Review – Page 2

Let’s Look Inside

To get a better look at those heavy components, we popped the black enclosure open. As you can see, the heatsinks aren’t elaborate, but effective nonetheless. Each one has transistors that handle switching and PFC transistors attached. Everything seems quite reputable upon first glance. There’s also a single blue 560uF 400V capacitor made by Su’Scon; a company that makes lots of different with a history of both good and bad stories. Generally, they handle their objectives up to spec.

That said, it further supports my theory that the PSU probably won’t go much higher than 800 watts. And if it does, it most likely won’t maintain acceptable power rails at that level. Again, this is way outside the specs of the PSU so if you need more power, just buy a bigger power supply as CoolerMaster has many.

Configuration and Test Methods

We kept things very simple and real world. A high end gaming system was assembled to push the GX 750 to its rated spec. Depending on the maximum output test, we will be adding more to push it beyond. As long as everything continues operating as it should, we’re happy.

Our test system uses the following components:

Intel Core i7 870 Lynnfield Processor
GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD6 Motherboard
Dual Zotac Geforce GTX295 Video Cards
Patriot Memory 4GB Sector5 2000MHz DDR3 Memory
Patriot Memory 128GB TorqX SSD
Various cooling fans to mimic real world conditions

The power supply was installed on a modified load tester to see where the unit actually tops out at while recording each of the rails as well as maximum output. Anything beyond rated specs is considered extra credit.

Test Results

We were able to run the above test system without any issues. That alone indicates there’s extra power under the hood of the GX 750. The PSU managed the power rails correctly and maintained a level of efficiency that measures up to its 80Plus rating at 50% load. At full load, it’s efficiency dropped to 79% indicating there is a little bit of noise due to heat or switching.

What we observed in our unholy attempts to locate and find any weaknesses within the GX 750’s is that it will more than handle any and everyone’s requirements to just about 830 watts and was still about 76% efficient. Keep in mind, we’ve far exceeded specs at this point drawing an extra 86 watts. Not too shabby in this respect at all.

We did notice some slight voltage fluctuations closer to full load and some heat build up indicating the loss in efficiency. It doesn’t cause any havoc in testing, but it is something CM will want to keep an eye on in future budget revisions.

Final Thoughts

If you have plans to become the proud owner of an elite computer system, there are plenty of budget PSU choices that appear to save you money. But, very few actually measure up and exceed specs like the GX Series. The last thing you want to do is feed it dirty or substandard power. You’ll regret it months down the road when your components start failing or having other issues.

The Coolermaster GX Series 750W Power Supply is everything you want in a budget unit. Sure, you’re not going to get the modular cabling. But then again, those tend to cost another $30 or more and you can always use velcro ties. At a current cost of $110, it gives the money conscious consumer a better choice in a “mainstream” power supply and with a 5 year warranty, one heckuva value.

Pros: