The evolution of the ATX power supply seems to be a constant process as computer hardware becomes more powerful and power hungry. First we had simple units with three basic +3.3V, +5V, and +12V rails, then came extra features like Power Factor Correction (PFC) to help deliver cleaner, more efficient power, then came the introduction of SATA hard drives and the PCI-Express interface spurring on the introduction of a new ATX 12v 2.0 standard. Among other things, this new power supply standard includes four extra pins on the main 20-pin ATX motherboard connector (for a total of 24-pins) and multiple 12V rails for increased power delivery to new modern power hungry processors and video cards. Companies then started to develop a modular cabling system that allowed the user to customize what cables and connections they want and what they don't. This helped reduce wire clutter inside the case and set particular products out from the crowd of the usual power supply suspects.

High Performance Group (Hiper) has recently scratched and clawed their way to the upper echelon of power supply manufacturers. They are best known for their unique, creative "Type-R" power supply line because it offers more than just more watts and amps for your system. On the test-bench today we get to single out the Hiper HPU-4B580 Type-R power supply unit (PSU) and see what it is all about.

I was first struck by the lack of active Power Factor Correction (PFC) on this model just because it is designed for sale in the United States. Also worth taking note of is the low noise rating of 20 dB average (under normal load). This rating should be nearly impossible to hear over normal background noise, but you'll have to read on to find out just exactly how well this unit performs without PFC and just how quiet two fans can really be on a power supply.

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The Type-R 580W PSU comes packaged in a pretty spiffy plastic bin resembling a tool box or fisherman's tackle box. The bin can actually be easily reused for storage of extra cables or for any other items you see fit to store inside it.

Inside the box we find the sexy looking 580 Watt Type-R power supply unit (PSU) and the full array of modular cables and connections all nestled into little plastic baggies.

Besides the modular cables and the power supply itself, Hiper includes a printed user manual, four case screws, and a power cable. In other words, a standard fare package.

MODULAR CONNECTIONS

Since this is a modular PSU, it naturally has several bare connections on the back of the unit for connecting the extra modular cables. The thing that makes the Type-R different from most other modular power supplies is the very unique connector style.

The primary modular cables all feature a metal housing fitted with a threaded, knurled cap that is screwed directly onto the corresponding connection on the back of the power supply.

The result is a very secure, very good looking way of attaching the modular cables. It's always nice to see companies trying to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack, but one problem I did find with this design is it was difficult to screw in a cable between other modular cables, especially when the unit was installed into a case. But you can rest assured that these modular connections will not wriggle loose from the PSU.

MODULAR CABLES

The total number of optional cables included with the Hiper Type-R 580W PSU is enough to satisfy most enthusiast rigs. Not only are many different cables available that allow you to customize your connections, but they all come in at different lengths so you can further reduce extra cable clutter inside your case.

In order to avoid connecting the wrong cable to the wrong modular connector, Hiper has differentiated each cable type by the number of pins/holes. There are a total of six primary modular connectors, four of them featuring only a single 4-pin molex but cut to different lengths.

In addition to the molex cables, a single 6-pin PCI-Express power cable and 4-pin 12V CPU power cable come packaged with the 580W Type-R.

The single PCI-Express power connector is usually enough for most people, but if you have a dual videocard setup or a single 8800GTX, you will need to use the second PCI-Express power adapter. This adapter requires that two separate 4-pin molex cables are connected to it in order to provide enough juice to power hungry video cards. And if your motherboard requires an 8-pin EPS CPU power connection, then you will need to get yourself one of Hiper's unique HLC-2M1P-15 adapters.

exTENDER and MODULAR CABLES

When designing the Type-R modular power supply, Hiper didn't just stop at the unique connections, but also included some "exTender" cables allowing you to further customize the connections available on every cable coming out of the PSU.

There building blocks for these exTender cables are 4-pin molex connections. Hiper includes four short molex pass-through cables that allow you to add more cables to the primary modular cable.

Most of the other cables you will be connecting (besides 4-pin molex) are obviously going to be SATA power connections. Hiper includes two cables that each feature two SATA power connections, for a total of four available SATA power connections. There is also a 4-pin floppy power connector should your motherboard require it (or if you are still weaning yourself off of the FDD).

Since all of the SATA power connectors are sprouting from 4-pin molex connections, that means there was no room to fit the 3.3V wire usually found on traditional SATA power connectors. After contacting Hiper about this issue, it appears as though there are two reference designs for SATA hard drives. The missing 3.3V is actually a reserved wire from the reference design and should not affect reliability, or so I'm told. They used the comparison example of the wall socket in which has a live, neutral, and ground in the reference design. The EU socket design only uses live and neutral, but does not make it less reliable. Still, it's worth mentioning that I haven't run across another PSU that negates this wire, so take that explanation how you like...

There is actually only one single cable that is always attached to the 580W Type-R PSU, that being the 20+4 pin motherboard ATX power connector. This is a pretty standard connector and features a separate 4-pin connector in case you are still living in the stone age with an old 20-pin motherboard.

AESTHETICS AND INTERNALS

In addition to just being colorful, the cables and sleeving on the Type-R 580W are also UV reactive. When placed under a UV black light, the connectors glow a bright red (almost pinkish) color and the sleeving is a brilliant blue. So if you happen to have such lighting already installed in your case, this PSU will look down right spiffy. If you are devoid of lights or a side panel window in your case, then maybe getting this power supply will give you the modding bug and your rig will all tricked out before you know it!

But if you aren't the one to spend money on silly lights or hack up your shiny new case, then maybe you will be able to appreciate the blue LED fans inside the unit its self. Since the entire body of the Type-R 580W PSU is constructed of open mesh, the blue glow from the fans lights up the entire unit giving it a very unique look that is sure to turn some heads.

First off, I want to make it very clear that in no circumstance should you ever open up or poke around inside your power supply. The capacitors and components inside store high voltage power and can seriously injure (or kill) you. In addition to your safety, any warranty on the product is instantly voided when the cover is unscrewed.

Inside the Hiper Type-R, we find the expected rats nest of wires, capacitors, coils, and aluminum heatsinks. If it weren't for the two cooling fans and open mesh casing, I would be a little worried about the cooling ability of the two small heatsinks we see above. The innards of the Hiper Type-R 580W PSU aren't as populated with components as some of the other high-end power supply units I've seen.

In this last picture above, you can see where the wire leads for the rest of the power supply's external power connections are soldered to the main PCB. The far left bunch of orange wires are the +3.3V rail, then next in line to the right is the +5V rail (red wire bunch), and ground (black). The +12V1 and +12V2 rail solder points are slightly hidden around the corner, but you can follow the yellow wires down to their home on the PCB.

COOLING

On the rear exterior, we find something that many power supplies with a 120mm fan do not have, an 80mm exhaust fan. Usually power supplies these days feature only one or the other aforementioned fans, not both. But Hiper has chosen to include both a 120mm intake fan on the bottom and an 80mm exhaust fan in the back. In addition to the 80mm exhaust fan, the rear exterior panel also has the usual on/off switch as well as the power plug. But one thing this unit does not have is a slider to switch between 115V and 225V. Since this Hiper manufacturers American bound products as totally different parts, the unit is set already set up for 115V and no switch is needed.

The 80mm fan is labeled as Top Motor, which is actually a Dynatron. While the DF128015SL fan is not listed on their website, we can determine what the basic specifications are by looking at the Dynatron Fan Series Model Number Chart. This particular fan is an 80x15 mm variant with a sleeve bearing and is designed for low speed (and low noise). The little air being exhausted out the back by this fan is warm, but it doesn't seem to be alarmingly hot. I also want to point out that the 80mm exhaust fan continues to run for a few minutes even after the system has been shut down in order to keep the internal power supply components from overheating from excess ambient heat.

The 120mm intake fan is also of Dynatron descent as evident by the logo and unique model number. Again, by looking up the model number on Dynatron's chart, we know that it is a 12V DC 120x25 mm fan constructed with a low speed sleeve bearing rated at 0.27A. Not only are both of these fans decked out with a chrome looking finish on the blades, the frame is outfitted with blue LEDs to give this power supply a truly unique look. I have to say that these are also some of the quietest fans I've ever heard. Only a slight, low-pitched motor hum can be heard if I put my ear right up to the fan; otherwise they are virtually silent.