OCZ GameXStream 700w Power Supply ReviewSeptember 27th, 2006 OCZ needs no introduction, but for the benefit of those new to the PC landscape and/or those that have claimed residence under a rock since the turn of the millennium, we'll provide one anyway. What started off as a small group of enthusiasts has blossomed into what's today one of the most sought after memory manufacturers in the enthusiast market. Their RAM kits have consistently been at the front of the pack, often times leading the way for the right to claim the fastest product at any particular speed grade, and they've done so with competitive pricing models. And behind the scenes lays in place a customer support system that we feel is some of the best in the business, along with customer service reps that stay active on various computer forums.
OCZ needs no introduction, but for the benefit of those new to the PC landscape and/or those that have claimed residence under a rock since the turn of the millennium, we'll provide one anyway. What started off as a small group of enthusiasts has blossomed into what's today one of the most sought after memory manufacturers in the enthusiast market. Their RAM kits have consistently been at the front of the pack, often times leading the way for the right to claim the fastest product at any particular speed grade, and they've done so with competitive pricing models. And behind the scenes lays in place a customer support system that we feel is some of the best in the business, along with customer service reps that stay active on various computer forums.
"Entering the memory market in August 2000, OCZ Technology was built around the determination to manufacture the best high speed DDR and RDRAM. OCZ was founded by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, and our commitment to the end-user has not digressed. OCZ Technology has been an innovator in many areas. We were the first manufacturer to make Dual Channel optimized memory available to the public, which originally took advantage of nVidia's Twinbank or Dual DDR architecture, found in their nForce chipset. We have now taken that technology and tailored it for the Canterwood, and Granite Bay chipset's. OCZ developed and was the first to implement ULN technology, which has been a critical element in our manufacturing process for some time. We at OCZ diligently work to improve communication with CPU and motherboard chipset manufacturers prior to the release of their products. Only in this manner can we fine-tune our memory's SPD settings, ensuring a synergistic relationship between the memory module, memory controller, and microprocessor. In today’s rapidly evolving semiconductor industry, such communication is not simply research, but a necessary component of our manufacturing process." - About OCZ In recent years, OCZ has expanded their product lineup to include flash memory, cooling products, and the ever important power supply. Their first venture into the PSU market in the form of the PowerStream series was well received by enthusiasts and has made their way into more than a few overclocker's rigs. Today we'll be dissecting OCZ's top of the line model in their next generation units, the GameXStream 700w. With an impressive spec sheet and a penchant for earning high marks, does OCZ's newest PSU make the grade or is there still homework to be done?
Features
- PowerWhisper Technology for Silent Operation
- Active PFC
- 120mm LED Fan
- EMI Isolated Casing
- nVidia Quad SLI Certified
- Quad +12V Rails
- RoHS and WEEE Compliant
| DC Output: |
+3.3V |
+5V |
+12V1 |
+12V2 |
+12V3 |
+12V4 |
-12V |
+5Vsb |
| Max Output Current: |
36A |
30A |
18A |
18A |
18A |
18A |
.5A |
3.0A |
| Max Combined Power: |
155W |
|
20W |
| 680W |
| Total Power: |
700W |
CONTENTS AND CONNECTORS
Opening up the box reveals nothing out of the ordinary. Aside from the power supply unit itself, we have a power cord, instruction manual with a few humorous typos (either that, or OCZ has discovered something icky with ATI's Crossfire technology, dubbed Grossfire in the manual) and a baggie of screws. Fairly typical for a PSU package and while we weren't exactly expecting the kitchen sink, some zip ties for cable management would have been nice considering the GameXStreams are not modular units, as would have been a case badge such as found in some of OCZ's memory kits.
Gone are the days when a case's internal aesthetics get neglected, hidden from exposure behind solid steel doors. Today's systems have seen case windows become almost a standard feature, and more and more power supply manufacturers have taken note by sleeving their cables. Not only visually appealing, sleeved cables allow for easier management, which can ultimately result in better airflow. OCZ's first power supplies, the PowerStream series, shipped with a handful of sleeved cables and left the rest bare. No such omission with the GameXStreams, as every cable has been wrapped in black sheathing, and they're also much more flexible to bend than their predecessor. That's good news, especially with the number of connectors provided:
20+4 pin Main Power
|
1 |
4-pin / 8-pin CPU
|
2 (attaches for EPS12V support)
|
4-pin FDD
|
2
|
4-pin Molex
|
6 (3 x 2 cables)
|
| SATA |
6 (3 x 2 cables)
|
6-pin PCI-Express
|
2
|
EXTERIOR AND COOLING
Compared to the PowerStream series that sport reflective mirror finishes, the new GameXStream appears bland in comparison. OCZ calls it a "blue baked shell," we call it a black casing. Aside from the finish, the GameXStream is also noticeably smaller.
The side holds various labels outlining several specs including the serial and part numbers, active PFC, RoHS compliance, inclusion of a dual ball bearing fan, total wattage and how the amps are broken down per rail, and the +12V output distribution list.
The back of the unit comes equipped with a honeycomb grill, a feature we've noticed nearly all PSU manufacturers adopting. This provides excellent airflow to keep the internal components from overheating, as the hotter a power supply gets, the less power it produces. Heat is also the reason you can find generic branded power supplies with high wattage ratings at low prices that tempt your better judgement. Unscrupulous vendors rate their units assuming an unrealistically low ambient temperature, but you can bet that any generic 600w PSU selling for $30 will never push out anything close to 600 watts.
Taking residence in nearly the entire bottom portion of the GameXStream we find a large, clear, 120mm blue LED fan protected by a standard fan grill. Because of the compact size of the shell, there should be no dead spots devoid of airflow.
A closeup of the fan reveals it to be a Protechnic Electric, model number MGA12012HB-O25. This dual ball bearing 2500RPM fan runs nearly silent and provides a blue glow thanks to the LEDs. While we didn't find the added 'bling' to be overbearing, those that are put off by the LED scene will have to undertake the task of voiding the warranty to open the unit, avoid getting zapped while poking around inside, and finding an acceptable replacement fan that uses a two-pin connection.
INTERNAL
Time for our standard disclaimer. As touched on in the previous page, opening up a power supply carries certain risks, regardless of whether it's plugged in or not. First and foremost, your warranty is instantly voided. More importantly however is the risk of shock. A power supply can hold a significant charge long after being unplugged from the wall, the effects of which are, well, not good. So leave it to us to stand barefoot in a bucket of water and dive inside power supplies, all for the sake of eXtreme journalism! Disclaimer out of the way, everything appears in order in the GameXStream's belly. The usual assortment of coils, capacitors, and heatsinks are present and accounted for, and though we've certainly seen larger heatsinks inside power supplies, the large 120mm fan negates the need for anything much bigger. Where it gets interesting is when we take a closer look.
First up we'll look at the rail distribution. The GameXStream provides four +12V rails, and OCZ provides the following information:
| 12V1 |
CPU-1 |
| 12V2 |
PCI-E2/CPU-2 |
| 12V3 |
M/B Accessory
|
| 12V4 |
PCI-E 1
| Peering closely, we were able to verify the distribution, as the rails are printed right on the PCB.
A popular topic among enthusiasts is what brand of capacitors PC component manufacturers are using. With what reads right out of a Hollywood scri pt for a flick that could appear on G4TV, bad capacitors created quite the scandal not all that long ago. Back in the 90s, an electrolyte formula was stolen and sold to capacitor manufactures, but unbeknowest to all involved, the formula was incomplete. The end result was a flood of bad caps on countless electrical devices, including popular motherboards in the DIY community, and while this issue doesn't pertain to current products, the desire for quality caps remains. OCZ uses CapXon inside the GameXStream, which while not as recognizable as Rubycon or Chemicon branded capacitors among enthusiasts, have been producing caps for going on three decades.
Continuing our examination, we find that Fortron actually produces the GameXStream, as evidenced by the mainboard model number. Many PSU manufacturers go this route, outsourcing their specifications and manufacturing details, and then rebadging the final product. OCZ's PowerStreams went through Topower, and we're thrilled to see the transition to Fortron, a company with a solid reputation in the power supply business. In essence, the GameXStream is basically the same as our previously reviewed Fortron Epsilon 700w that made our recommended list, so we have high expectations for this OCZ.
TESTBED AND PERFORMANCE
Testbed
Our testbed today consists of the following heat releasing, power drawing components housed in a Lian-Li PC-777B chassis:
When testing a power supply, we focus our attention on the +3.3V, +5V, and +12V rails. The ATX specification allows a 5% variance in either direction, so we'll be looking to make sure our unit is not in danger of running out of spec. Equally important, if not more so, is whether or not these rails remain stable or have a tendency to jump around. In other words, do they provide clean power? For example, we'd much rather have a power supply whose +12V rail remains at a constant 11.90V (well within the 5% variance allowed) over one that measures +12V on the nose but repeatedly fluctuates.
To test the GameXStream 700w, we'll measure idle and load voltages at our 4400+ X2's stock 2.2GHz and 1.36 vCore, and then retest when overclocked to 2.6GHz and a 1.55 vCore - in essence, a juiced up FX-60. All testing will be performed with a multimeter using our very own Jonathan Ng's PSU Testing Guide as a reference.
When running at stock, all rails remain within the ATX specification. We notice the +12V rails chugging along a bit higher than we're used to seeing, but still under 12.60V, which represents the upper limit of the 5% variance allowed. With no adjustable POTs (potentiometers) like those found on the Powerstream series, we'd prefer the rails to run a little higher as opposed to lower, as increased power loads will cause these rails to drop, but you're not likely to ever see them go up. Variance aside, all rails remained increadibly stable during testing without any fluctuation at idle or load. And providing a load barely budged any of our measurements. Let's take a look at what happens when we overclock our processor and increase the vCore.
In addition to increasing the vCore, we also enabled overvolting the various chipset voltages provided in our Asus A8N32-SLI's BIOS. In the end, our juiced up overclocking affair didn't phase the GameXStream, recording nearly identical measurements across the board to our stock settings. To say the GameXStream has plenty of headroom for component upgrades and heavy overclocking would be like saying a hurricane is windy.
| Segment |
Score |
Comments |
| Feature-set |
9/10 |
- It'd be easier to list what the GameXStream doesn't have, which are manually adjustable rails and modular cables. Everything thing else is here; quad +12V rails, active PFC, quiet cooling in the form of a 120mm LED fan, nVidia certification for quad SLI, sheathed cables, easy release molex connectors, and all housed in a compact EMI isolated casing
|
| Cables and Connections |
20/20 |
- With 6 SATA, 6 four-pin molex connectors, and 2 PCI-E connectors, your case will run out of room before the GameXStream runs out of cables
|
| Power |
20/20 |
- 700w is at the upper end of the spectrum
- One of the few power supplies that can boast official nVidia certification for not just SLI, but quad-SLI (2 x7950GX2 videocards)!
- 20A per +12V line would be nice, but we're not ones to argue with nVidia's certification
|
| Performance |
19/20 |
- Rails did not budge whether at stock or an overclocked state, at idle or at load
- +12V rails a bit on the high side, though still within the ATX specification
|
| Cooling and Noise |
10/10 |
- 120mm performed nearly silent and kept the unit cool throughout testing
- Honeycomb grill aids in airflow
|
| Warranty and Support |
9/10 |
|
| Price / Value |
9/10 |
- Currently streets for around $134 shipped (MonarchComputer), a fantastic price for a 700w unit and $29 less (shipped) than the Fortron Epsilon 700w on Newegg
- Rebates are often offered on OCZ products. At the time of this writing, there's a $25 MIR available, bringing the price down to a scant $109!
| 
Our RecommendationThere's very little to criticize on the GameXStream 700w, so let's quickly get our minor gripes out of the way. The +12V rails, while within spec, ran a bit higher than we're used to seeing, adjustable POTs are gone (which we found to be of limited real world use on the Powerstreams), zip ties would have been a nice inclusion, and we miss the reflective mirror finish. But it's what we do get with the GameXStream that excites us; 700w of power, plenty of six-pin SATA and four-pin molex connectors, sheathed cables, improved efficiency thanks in part to active PFC, a compact case, and most impressive is the official nVidia certification for quad-SLI rigs with two 7950GX2 videocards. Nvidia has certified this unit to run the most demanding GPU hardware currently available on the planet, a boast that not many PSU manufacturers can make, and though we tested with more modest components, the GameXStream never broke a sweat. Stock volts or juiced uncomfortably high, we just couldn't get the our unit's rails to budge.
The GameXStream 700w continues OCZ's reign in the enthusiast market with the performance to satisfy overclocking connoisseurs, but priced accessibly for anyone simply looking to pick up a reliable, high end unit with future proofing in mind. Regardless of which category you fall into, the price to performance ratio makes recommending the GameXStream 700w a cinch. If you're building a new system or are in need of a power supply upgrade, you'll have a difficult time finding a more appropriate selection, and if you do, we'd like to know about it.
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