Introduction

The StealthXStream 2 should cover the PSU entry-level segment with OCZ and this push up in performance classes of high end PCs. 700 Watts is the flagship of the series and also the here tested 600-Watt model offers a lot of performance, which would range without problems for a dual-GPU system. Wonders who buys a cheap power supply from the entry-level segment on its high end machines, if he can afford quad-core, SLI and co.. For us, therefore, the purpose of such services in the entry-level segment is not obvious, but the Watt delusion draws his circles probably still, why those are likely to be the main target group, who buy completely oversized power supplies and mainly to the best price combined with the highest wattage look.

With the StealthXStream 2 OCZ contributes so not necessarily Watt obsession on education in the field, making logically but also not equal their latest addition to a bad power supply. With FSP, it has brought even a manufacturer on board, which has a pretty good reputation in such a price range. Finally, the following pages will resolve but only how it is ordered to the StealthXStream 2.

Scope of delivery

The scope of supply as is so often only basic comprises: a handbook, four mounting screws and a power cord are with in the box. Smaller tools were certainly desirable, would drive up but again unnecessarily high the price of a part of the budget system.

Technical key points

• 80Plus-Zertifikat: Standard (confirmed)
• Dimensions: 150 x 86 x 150 cm (W x H x D)
• Warranty: 3 years

The power distribution reveals four + 12-V rail which can supply A 18 each. The + 12 V total capacity is 600 W (which strangely enough not to the power supply itself is specified) and thus I am delighted that exactly corresponds to the total performance of the power pack. This is particularly in modern PCs, which their performance to 90 percent of the + 12 V line are very important. + 3.3 V and + 5 V can be charged with 140 W.

The power supply includes the most important protection circuits, although, not present a short-circuit and overheat protection are what is not a disaster for a device of this price range, but on the other hand. The following are the available protection circuits:

• Low-voltage protection (EIA)
• Over-voltage protection (OVP)
• Short-circuit protection (SCP)
• Over-current protection (OCP)

Power supply in detail

Cabinet of StealthXStream 2 is quite small dimensioned and covered with a typical smooth finish. In addition to a large, Blue label with the promotional name of the power pack attract some small ventilation slots on the back and the side of attention. The latter are to counteract a potential heat build-up. Fortunately the fan Grill closes flush with the case, otherwise arising potential problems with the installation.

As a fan, it relies on a D12BH-12 from the factory buildings of the quite well known manufacturer of Yate Loon, which could molt some time ago even to a recommendation in the retail market. The fan itself is a 12-cm model with ball bearings and sliding bearings have a maximum rotational speed of 2300 RPM although at the beginning of a sound advantage compared to ball bearings, can be however more clearly after later in the life and time become increasingly loud.

Cable equipment

The number of cable is not exactly abundant for a 600-Watt model. We must condemn in particular the number of serial ATA, which definitely too low fails with three. Instead it would also cut quiet the outdated FDD connector. Partly also the cable length can not convince, the 24-pin-ATX-cable, as well as the 8-pin EPS strand, for example 10 cm shorter than at the recently tested Antec TruePower new.

Interior

The StealthXStream 2 is made of FSP, which have a very good reputation in contrast to the high end segment in terms of budget. A cheap Pertinax Board serves as a base.

The network filtering begins with three reels, two Y capacitors, a Ferrite core and two X capacitors, densely crowded under the appliance of couplers. The largest of the three coils was internally fixed with a plate; a very high-quality method that does not necessarily expect a power supply of this price range.

In the field of PFC filtering with one continues further coils and two small, paint-soaked X capacitors. Overall the network filtering seems to be well equipped, some readers will miss a not necessarily necessary metal oxide Varistor (MOV) as a passive high-voltage protection. Two responsible for the conversion of the AC voltage in DC rectifier bridges were attached to the medium-sized heat sink, which is no bad choice for a power supply in the 600-Watt segment and the corresponding waste heat.

OCZ or FSP uses a variant of OST with a dielectric strength of 420 V and a capacity of 470 Microfarad as primary capacitor. The temperature specification is located at 105 ° C. Instead of a 105-C-model of OST you would have to use rather a qualitatively higher quality model of e.g. Teapo with our opinion in turn of lower specification of 85 ° C. The version shown here seems to have especially marketing technical reasons. The well-known Japanese (and not necessarily better when compared to Teapo) brands Nippon Chemicon, Rubycon or Hitachi would be too much of the quality in this case and would drive up unnecessary high the price of the power pack.

The PFC/PWM control takes a CM6800TX from the famous House of champion micro. A very popular PS223 of SITI is used for the protection circuits.

In the secondary area are reasonable 105-° C-capacitors of Teapo combined with some models of OST for the task of smoothing of power responsible.

Chroma test station

Our power supply testing, we rely on a fully automatic “chroma 6000 ATS”-test station. This must only be programmed and then tests the PSU with the entered settings and desired procedure without further operation. Thus, we can produce a 100% comparability between the individual parts of the network because each test subject performs each measurement to the exact same time and in exactly the same length. Measurement errors are excluded by human error. The test station can generate a load of total 3000 W and thus deplete each currently on the market power supply.

Because such a load must be cooled to loudly, a volume measurement of the power supply is not possible. As a replacement, we therefore measure the speed of rotation of the fan with a meter of Shimpo.

Usually the chroma would go through a complete test pass depending on the amount in about 50 seconds. Because we had this time but no chance, to measure the speed of rotation of the fan and the fan not even comes in these few seconds up to speed, we run the loads under 230 VAC for each 15 minutes and start at the end of this period with the measurement.

The chroma 6000 ATS contains five main blocks that are controlled via PC and are synchronized:

• Ten switcher Analyzer 650 is a programmable dynamic load of each 300 W DC loads.
• Since our local network is subject to many fluctuations, a programmable AC power source to the 100% comparability of power supplies with each other and exact measurement of the efficiency is essential. For this the test station of a 6500 uses AC source (see figure). This represents the current top model of voltage sources and can simulate a wide range of normal/abnormal voltage conditions. Thus, we can test the power supplies at exactly off 115,00 or 230.00 VAC, the appropriate frequency and under a perfect sine wave.
• A combination of all standard instruments provides the power Analyzer.
• For the measurement of ripple & noise and other special things is one Messeinheit extend responsible, which is why there is no need for an external oscilloscope and we present no usual ripple-& noise graphics.
• A DC voltage source is implemented to simulate over voltage and under voltage test.

Overall, we can automatically test 41 different elements in different versions with the test station. It should be mentioned that we measure at room temperature.

But where does it several ten thousand euro expensive chroma? Please note at this point open, that is the chroma test station at Listán (be quiet!) and we test as a guest on it. We are aware of the explosiveness of the situation, but can assure that Listán enjoys our full confidence and thanks to following points simply no influence on the results of the measurements can be taken: 1. we travel with our own test specimens and not, as quite usual, “testing remotely”. 2. The calculation of the load, entering the expense and any other preparatory work is done completely by ourselves. 3. If the used chroma to a fully automatic model, manipulations are simply not possible.
Should we have only the slightest doubt, the test station can not absolutely independent results, we will waive immediately further tests with the chroma.

Because we are always looking for improvements in our testing, our detailed testing methods be extended even further. Utilization of 10, 80 and 110 percent, Crossloading tests as well as a test that demonstrates the behavior of the power pack at problematic input voltage are planned.

Test

Strictly, the burden is calculated according to the ATX specifications.

Efficiency

The 80Plus-Initiative tests on the American network of 115 VAC, which is why we also perform our efficiency tests, the comparability for this input. In addition, we test with our domestic input voltage 230 VAC. At this point, we wish to stress that the results will differ always something of the original results of the 80Plus-Initiative, efficiency is affected by many factors such as room temperature, the power supply temperature etc.

According to our measurements, the StealthXStream 600W 2 reached the 80Plus-Bronze certification and is thus somewhat better there than in the test reports of 80Plus-Initative, where it just missed the bronze certificate.

PFC

The non sinusoidal power consumption of the components raises complications with the electricity supplier and gives a reactive power, which is an unnecessary load on the components. The power factor correction (PFC), with a value of 1.0 reflects the omission of the reactive power acts as countermeasure.

The latest addition to made by OCZ shows good results in terms of power factor correction, the peak is among 230 VAC 0,972.

Voltage regulation

All the following pages measurements now with an input voltage 230 VAC.

The + 12 V rails are among 12,00 V already 20 percent load, can keep then but quite stable and decrease in later under 11.80 V. Otherwise, there are no further (positive or negative) symptoms, any voltage is located entirely within the specifications.

Ripple & noise

The ripple & noise measurements show the quality of the output voltage, visible in the not completely smooth AC shares in spikes and covered are. The distance between the lower and upper point of the glitch (peak-to-peak) at 12 V must be no higher than 120 mV. The remaining tensions must present values among 50 mV.

The ripple & noise values are within the specifications, but scratching the 3, 3-V supply lead to the limit. Also make the + 12-v3- and – 12-V-tracks not the best impression, but still far away in a critical region.

Volume

Hold-up time
In the power grid, it comes again and again to fluctuations and short-term power outages, which need to bypass the power supplies for some time. As a minimum, the ATX standard provides 16 milliseconds.

Inrush current
When you turn on the PC system is a very strong current, which charged the entire domestic mains supply in the short term. The ATX specification provides such an inrush current of maximum 100 A at in the case of our 230 V mains.

Power Good Signal
When you turn on a PSU needs some fractions of a second, until the tension on all lines reach their nominal value. The process takes too long or too quickly will expire, this can lead to problems at the start of the system.

For all additional measurements shown here is no nakedness the OCZ and presents values that all of them are within the specifications.

Summary

The OCZ StealthXStream 2 has surprised us in a positive way. We had assumed that a power supply with 600 Watt 57 Euro passes all tests within the limit. In terms of efficiency, the power supply we reached even the 80Plus-Bronze-Zertifizierung and the power factor correction is better, than those of recently tested Antec TruePower new 650w. The voltage regulation also makes a good impression. In terms of ripple-& noise it looks, however, no longer quite so good for the StealthXStream 2: the + 3, 3-V supply scratching at the limit, with 45 mV but still within the specifications. As the largest negative point, you must identify the volume. This is while convenient, but it is still too high for a such low load under 20-percent load (the fan rotates its rounds already with 1,020 RPM). Under full load, can convince even less the fan in this respect, and crack the 1800-U/min mark. Just under 50 percent load, it leaves a positive impression and moves 1,170 RPM in a good frame. Otherwise the measurements provide no further reason for criticism. Hold-up time, current, power good – everything is within the specifications without any problems.

The Interior can also come up with a positive overall conclusions. A simple and solid structure – only the choice of primary capacitor can not convince us. Instead of a higher quality 85 ° C-model it used a rather low-quality (but not necessarily bad) model with a specification of the temperature of 105 ° C. Can the marketing greet?

On the number of cable and length makes itself with this power supply most noticeable, that it is a model from the entry-level segment. For example, three serial ATA is simply too little, and also the length of the strands leaves a frown. Also we need to criticise the lack of a short-circuit and overheat protection (where the latter when a power supply of this price range would be almost luxury). Da convinces the power distribution with a + 12 V total capacity of 600 W, since the power supply of its complete performance of the + 12 V Rails can make available.

Conclusion

All in all it is necessary the StealthXStream 600W 2 declare a positive overall conclusions. For approximately 57 euros the buyer with this device wrong, no matter if it meets the requirements. The latest addition to made by OCZ could exceed our expectations in any case.

Compared to the Antec TruePower new 650w, the OCZ is here so better than expected. However, you have to take some compromising, for example, the cable equipment or the quality of the Interior in purchase. Although the StealthXStream 2 provides no DC-DC technology, but it passes our test course without setpoint in contrast to the model of the House of Antec and is cheaper to just under 30 euro. So who exactly, facilities and technical refinements have top priority, which should resort to the Antec. A solid, cheap and groups regulated device is desired, that itself gives although no weaknesses, have however no special parade disciplines has, you can access safely to the StealthXStream 2 – unless you actually need a 600-Watt model.