Enermax Platimax 1200W Power Supply review

1. Introduction2. Enermax Platimax 1200W (Bundle & Cables)3. Enermax Platimax 1200W (External)4. Enermax Platimax 1200W (Internal)5. Enermax Platimax 1200W (Super High Res Gallery)6. Testing Methodology and Results7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

Enermax are well known in enthusiast circles and over the years they have expanded their portfolio to include power supplies, fans, coolers and computer cases. Today we are looking at their new ultra high end Platimax 1200W power supply which is 80 Plus Platinum Certified.

The Platimax is the replacement for the MaxRevo, so we would expect similar performance with improved efficiency. The 1200W power supply is an FMQ design which in the words of Enermax is “a high-performance power supply topology to use all magnetic quadrants of the main transformer and to achieve maximum efficiency and rock stable output voltage.”

Efficiency is rated between 84 and 94 percent and the 1200w model utilises a copper bridge array for direct voltage transmission to reduce the wire resistance and to enhance efficiency. It is also ErP Lot 6 ready to improve power consumption in standby mode.

Product overview

• 80 PLUS® Platinum
  89 to 94 percent efficiency at 230V and 20 to 100 percent load. 80 PLUS® Platinum certified.
• FMQ Design
  High-performance power supply topology to use all magnetic quadrants of the main transformer and to achieve maximum efficiency and rock stable output voltage.
• Copper Bridge Array
  Innovative and patented transmission technology for direct voltage transmission to reduce the wire-resistance and to increase the efficiency. Optimized air circulation due to clear and spacious PCB design.
• ErP Lot 6 ready!
  Help systems to meet EU eco-design directive ErP/EuP Lot 6 (<1W in standby mode) due to improved, high-efficient 5V standby (+5Vsb) circuitry.
• C6 & Hybrid Support
• Supports energy saving modes of current and future CPU & GPU generations (C6 & Hybrid Mode) due to ZERO LOAD Design (no minimum load).
• Multi Rail Design
  Stable and safe power supply thanks to up to six high-performance and massive 12V rails each with separated over current protection (OCP). Extremely low ripple noise.

The Platimax box is clearly designed with the product name in mind – being a ‘platinum' design.

The box is huge, comprising three separate trays to house all the components. This is an identical style to the MaxRevo power supply which we looked at several months ago.

The bundle is extremely impressive. There is a power cord, an overview card of the +12V rail configuration, four Enermax velcro straps, a sticker, two nylon pouches (for storage) and mounting screws. They also supply a quality fan, which can be used in a chassis. This is a twister model, several of which we have reviewed before.

There are a plethora of modular cables supplied, as listed above.

The finish of the Platimax 1200W is extremely attractive. It has a textured surface which feels ‘rough' under the skin, but doesn't mark easily or attract fingerprints. We like the beveled side panels which look great.

Enermax are using a 140mm fan with the patented Twister Bearing Technology. According to their documentation the fan spins between 600 rpm and 1,500 rpm. It has an MTBF of 100,000 hours.

The power supply is vented to aid air flow. There is a power button and connector next to the vented panel.

The modular interface is colour coded for ease of system installation. The 24 pin ATX12V and 8 pin CPU power connector plug into the 20 pin and 16 pin headers bottom right in the image above. The black 5 pin connectors are used for the SATA and Molex cables.

Specifications are impressive with up to 100A available via the 12V rails.

The 140mm fan is branded EA142512M-0A and is a Twister bearing model. It is rated to 1,500 rpm maximum.

The design looks almost identical to the MaxRevo which we reviewed a while ago. Enermax are using a self contained EMI filter unit and inside is a single X capacitor, two Y capacitors and a coil. Outside there are a few differences, such as a duo of ceramic capacitors and a single diode. In the middle of the power supply is a row of transformers.

They are using three 105c rated Matsushita (Panasonic) primary capacitors (330uf/400v). Heatsinks are strategically positioned with one of them holding two Toshiba K20J60U MOFSETs. The small PCB next to these contains the PFC controller IC's. Next to the two large coils are a row of Rubycon capacitors, which are used to filter the +12VDC output.

On this page we present some super high resolution images of the product taken with the 24.5MP Nikon D3X camera and 24-70mm ED lens. These will take much longer to open due to the dimensions, especially on slower connections. If you use these pictures on another site or publication, please credit Kitguru.net as the owner/source.

Additional technical assistance: Peter McFarland and Jeremy Price.

Correctly testing power supplies is a complex procedure and KitGuru have configured a test bench which can deliver up to a 2,000 watt DC load. Due to public requests we have changed our temperature settings recently – previously we rated with ambient temperatures at 25C, we have increased ambient temperatures by 10c (to 35c) in our environment to greater reflect warmer internal chassis conditions.

We use combinations of the following hardware:
• SunMoon SM-268
• CSI3710A Programmable DC load (+3.3V and +5V outputs)
• CSI3711A Programmable DC load (+12V1, +12V2, +12V3, and +12V4)
• Extech Power Analyzer
• Extech MultiMaster MM570 digital multimeter
• SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa)
• Digital oscilloscope (20M S/s with 12 Bit ADC)
• Variable Autotransformer, 1.4 KVA

We combine all +12V output for results.

DC Output Load Regulation
Combined DC Load	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		+5VSB		-12V
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
330W	5.53	3.39	5.52	5.04	21.22	12.19	0.85	5.02	0.20	-12.13
620W	11.02	3.35	11.03	5.03	42.53	12.08	1.74	5.01	0.40	-12.10
918W	16.54	3.32	16.48	4.98	63.71	11.88	2.64	4.98	0.60	-12.06
1204W	22.03	3.27	22.01	4.94	85.01	11.84	3.6	4.95	0.80	-12.02

Platimax 1200W	Maximum Load
	1345W

We managed to get 1345W from the unit before it would switch off. The overcircuit protection system worked well and it shut off safely.

Next we want to try Cross Loading. This basically means loads which are not balanced. If a PC for instance needs 500W on the +12V outputs but something like 30W via the combined 3.3V and +5V outputs then the voltage regulation can fluctuate badly.

Cross Load Testing	+3.3V		+5V		+12V		-12V		+5VSB
	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V	A	V
1190W	4.0	3.35	3.0	5.04	88.0	11.85	0.20	-12.04	0.50	5.01
195W	19.0	3.27	22.0	4.96	2.5	12.19	0.20	-12.08	0.50	4.96

The Cross loading performance is first class, thanks to the specific unit design methodology. All voltages remained within stated tolerances.

We then used an oscilloscope to measure AC ripple and noise present on the DC outputs. We set the oscilloscope time base to check for AC ripple at both high and low ends of the spectrum. ATX12V V2.2 specification for DC output ripple and noise is defined in the ATX 12V power supply design guide.

ATX12V Ver 2.2 Noise/Ripple Tolerance
Output	Ripple (mV p-p)
+3.3V	50
+5V	50
+12V1	120
+12V2	120
-12V	120
+5VSB	50

Obviously when measuring AC noise and ripple on the DC outputs the cleaner (less recorded) means we have a better end result. We measured this AC signal amplitude to see how closely the unit complied with the ATX standard.

AC Ripple (mV p-p)
DC Load	+3.3V	+5V	+12V	5VSB
330W	10	10	10	15
620W	10	10	20	15
918W	15	15	25	15
1204W	20	25	30	20

Noise suppression is superb and well within the parameters set down in the ATX12V Ver 2.2 standard. +3.3V and +5V are extremely impressive and the +12V rail is also noteworthy, settling at 30mV under full load.

Efficiency (%)
330W	90.89
620W	93.45
918W	91.76
1204W	90.01

Efficiency is excellent, peaking at 93.45% when under 50% load. Efficiency drops to around 90% at full load which is a very strong result indeed.

We take the issue of noise very seriously at KitGuru and this is why we have built a special home brew system as a reference point when we test noise levels of various components. Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.

Today to test the Power Supply we have taken it into our acoustics room environment and have set our SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa) one meter away from the unit. We have no other fans running so we can effectively measure just the noise from the unit itself.

As this can be a little confusing for people, here are various dBa ratings in with real world situations to help describe the various levels.

KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refridgerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 Player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum

Noise (dBA)
330W	29.4
620W	30.7
918W	33.2
1204W	34.5

This is a very quiet power supply, even when tasked with a power output of 900W. It would barely be audible above the majority of case fans. At full load it becomes audible, but it is still far from intrusive. Very impressive results indeed.

Temperature (c)
	Intake	Exhaust
330W	35	36
620W	38	42
918W	42	48
1204W	46	54

The large Twister fan pushes an impressive amount of air, while making very little noise. This means that the unit holds a very positive above ambient as can be seen above.

Maximum load	Efficiency
1345W	87.1

Pushing the PSU above its rated limits generates an efficiency level of around 87.1%. This is not a viable ‘real world’ situation, but its interesting nonetheless.

The Enermax Platimax 1200W power supply is one of the highest quality power supplies we have seen in recent years. It has built upon the excellent heritage of the MaxRevo 1350W, with a slightly tweaked design.

The finish deserves a mention again, because it is sublime and other manufacturers should take note. It is almost impossible to damage under real world conditions, doesn't attract fingerprints and looks fantastic under specific lighting. It may seem like a minor point to make, but we are believers in the small, yet important details. The 5 year warranty for instance, is reassuring.

Internally, it is just as impressive and again formed from the superlative MaxRevo structuring. Soldering and component selection is first class and Enermax use highest grade Rubycon, Matsushita and Nippon Chemi-con capacitors throughout.

Technically it is a solid design and features stable load regulation, great noise suppression and high levels of efficiency. Noise levels are low, and the quiet, yet capable fan ensures that internal cooling proficiency is without question. It also passed our cross loading stress tests with flying colours.

UK availability is still sparse so we don't have any solid pricing yet, however in America it retails for $320. We would expect this to translate to around £250 inc vat in the UK, although we might be out a little on this.

Pros:

• performance is first class.
• quality connectors.
• great efficiency.
• stable.
• well built.
• we love the finish.

Cons:

• It isn't cheap.

Kitguru says: Another great design from Enermax, with fantastic all round performance.

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