Hiper HPU-4M630 Power Supply Review

Hiper claims its “M series” 630 watt unit (HPU-4M630) “represents the new ultra-efficient (85%) power solutions of the Type M Series with the well-known HIPER Mesh-Design in an environmental-friendly packaging.”  They go on to note that the unit “complies with latest ATX12V v2.2 & EPS12V v2.91 form factors.”  We wondered if the Hiper M630 is all that and still a performer.

Features

Holding to its environmental claims, the Hiper M630 comes in a plain, but recycled material box. Packaging doesn't directly effect our score, but we like Hiper’s move toward environmental responsibility – and we are sure some consumers like it as well.

Out of the box, the HPU-4M630 comes with the basics plus a few additional components; a rather detailed foldout manual with (albeit limited) warranty information, a main power cord, four mounting screws, a specification plate on the PSU itself, a couple Hiper case badges in different designs (letting on to the modder focused roots of Hiper) and five wiring extenders / adapters. Not a bad package for what is one of the company’s more basic PSUs.  We were, however, slightly disappointed that zip ties were not included.

The unit itself is coated in matte black and, like Hiper says, uses a mesh design.  In fact, 4 sides of the PSU are partially stamped mesh.  The M630 utilizes a single 140mm intake fan for cooling mounted on what will be the bottom of the unit after installation - that's right - 140mm.  The fan is nicely garnished with a Hiper badged chrome grill. This large fan setup is a popular (if not traditional) design for modern PSUs.  Large fans theoretically can cool better while keeping noise to a minimum.  The M630 is not a modular cabled PSU and that will add to cable management issues upon installation – though we will look closer at this in the next section.

The specification panel numbers tell us that the M630 sports four 12V rails.  As a nice feature, the included manual is very clear on which connector carries the power from which rail.  This is a plus for folks like us who are testing the unit, but also good information for the end user to have.  These 12V rails each claim 18A (216 watts), but the combined 12V rail power is limited to 600 watts. The wattage limit placed on the 5V + 3.3V rails is 170W total.  That’s typical of similar sized PSUs.  You will notice that 600 watts + 170 watts is a tad over the 630 watt maximum the M630 is advertised at.  This is nothing new, but is a reminder that it pays to look closely at a PSU specification panel before purchase.  While the specification panel is not on the box (something we prefer), it is available online.

Cables, Connections, Dimensions

As we said, this is not a modular PSU. However, Hiper saw fit to minimize tangles by separating the harnesses at the PSU into five separate bundles rather than having one Medusa like bunch exit the unit from a single spot.  This minimizes the fight you have while hooking up the PSU.  The M630’s ten cable harness are all sleeved in black mesh from tip to toe, including the oft overlooked area between multiple connectors on harnesses that have them. This is yet another welcome feature that helps in cable management (and cooling).

Cable lengths are adequate, although some of the peripheral connectors are at short lengths. That said, with the included extenders you should be able to configure a setup to about any modern system.  We do have one gripe though, the 24 pin mainboard connector doesn’t “break away” to allow for connection to a 20 pin board.  If you need a 20 pin hookup you could “mod it” or shell out $10+ USD for an adapter (it’s not one of the included adapters).  Or, Hiper could have tossed in the few pennies it would have cost them to include it in the first place – after all, they did include a floppy connection adapter. Legacy support in a PSU is inexpensive, so why not fully include it?

Speaking of adapters and extenders, Hiper went all out. Save for one 3” eight pin to six pin PCI-E adapter, all of the extenders and adapters are sleeved.  For the most part, the included adapters mainly allow you to add another 4-pin molex type peripheral connector to a harness. Two of them have additional floppy power connectors on them as well.  By including these, Hiper was able to minimize multiple connectors on peripheral harnesses, allowing you to add them only if you need them. This is a big plus when it comes to taming the wiring beast.  Hiper even includes instructions on proper use so that the end user can avoid current overloading on a particular harness (overloading wiring harness with too many amps = not good).  So, while the M630 is not modular, Hiper didn’t forget about good cable management.  In fact, we are left wondering if this extender system might supersede modular in some fashion in the future.

The dimensions of the 630 are 5.9” wide, 3.4” tall, and 7.1” inches long.  Hiper claims the M630 “complies with the latest ATX12V v2.2 / EPS 12V v2.91 form factors.”  Well, much like the PC Power and Cooling unit we recently tested, we have to raise the red flag.  The ATX12V specification calls for a max length of 5.75”.  We understand the need for more room.  The ATX form factor is from a time before 500 watt+ PSUs.  However, we don’t like seeing units advertised as compliant when they are not. If you are using one of the smaller ATX cases and housing optical drives in the tops bays, you may find it a pretty tight squeeze,  if it will fit at all.  The lesson here (as we have said before), is measure your case before purchasing a PSU.  You may find you just don’t have the room for the M630.  Hiper does publish dimension information on their site.