W1zzard
11-13-2007, 01:21 PM
[PAGE=Introduction & Packaging]
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/logo.jpg
I would like to thank Caseking.de (http://www.caseking.de) for supplying the test sample.
The AXP SuperNova 600W is sold as Xion SuperNova in the United States and AXP SuperNova in Europe. It is designed as an affordable PSU that can still pack a punch and keep your high-end system running.
This PSU is also identical to the Kingwin MACH 1 600W power supply and seems to be made by SuperFlower which are a big OEM in addition to having their own products on the market.
Specifications from manufacturer
Advanced modular power connectors management system
Compliance with ATX specification - Version 2.2 standard
Compatible with all ATX 12V v 2.01 systems
Real power capacity satisfy high-end system operation
Supports Intel Pentium 4. AMD Athlon XP and Athlon 64
Intelligent Auto fan speed control
High efficiency and quiet operation
Ceramic Bearing Fan, to give you the longer use time
More than 75% efficiency at typical load operation
OVP / UVP /OPP / Short protection
Support+12V1 and + 12V2 outputs for higher power usage
Copper cable of Dual PCI-E (SLI) connector satisfy high end graphic card requirement
Copper 8 pin EPS 12V + 4pin ATX 12V cable for Mainboard
4 SATA(600W) / 2SATA (500W) Connectors
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package3.jpg)
I find the AXP box designs it looks a bit cheap. What is more important is that all the important specs are communicated to the customer. Also a nice picture shows the special cable mounting mechanism and its lighting which is certainly out of the ordinary.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/cables_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/cables.jpg)
All the modular cables are shipping a clear plastic box which leaves a well organized impression.
Box contents:
Power supply unit
Power Cord
Instruction Manual
Cables
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/contents_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/contents.jpg)
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<th rowspan="2">Connectors</th>
<th align="center">Main Power</th>
<th align="center">5.25"</th>
<th align="center">Floppy</th>
<th align="center">4 Pin CPU</th>
<th align="center">SerialATA</th>
<th align="center">PCI-E Aux Power</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">ATX 20+4 Pin</td>
<td align="center">9</td>
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center">4</td>
<td align="center">2x 6</td>
</tr>
</table>
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/cablelength.gif
[page=The PSU]
The PSU
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu3.jpg)
The Xion SuperNova uses a dark color theme which has a light gloss to it. It is not polished so it does not take on fingerprints as much as offerings from other manufacturers. Near the back you can see a large honeycomb stamped grill which allows ample of airflow.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu4.jpg)
A special feature of this power supply is that the modular cables are attached in a different way than on most PSUs. A circular connector is screwed in to the PSU improving contact strength a lot. It also looks very nice, the blue plastic ring is illuminated when the PSU is running for additional effect. If you look closely you can see that there are several different pinouts which ensures that you do not hook up the cables the wrong way. It should also be noted that several important cables which will always be used are fixed to the PSU housing.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu5.jpg)
The fan is of the 140mm variant and uses a blue transparent material which is lighted by several LEDs when the PSU is running.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/atx_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/atx.jpg)
The motherboard connector consists of a 20 pin part and another part for the additional 4 pins. Both parts can not be clipped together but there's a small nose on the 4 pin plug to help you align it.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/12v_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/12v.jpg)
The 8-Pin power connector is split to fit motherboards which use only four pins for their CPU power supply. To insert the connectors into an 8-pin motherboard you need to manually press the blue connectors together.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug3.jpg)
Here you can see one of the modular cables. They seem to be very sturdy and of high-quality, reminding me of Hi-Fi cables. The metal ring you see on the second picture will be screwed tightly to the threading on the PSU back.
AXP also includes little blue caps to protect ports from dust and dirt when they are not in use. However, it should also be mentioned that installation of the cables is more complex than the usual plug-in system. You need to find the right rotation angle, insert the connectors and screw down the locking nut.
[pagE=PSU Inside & Test Equipment]
PSU Inside
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/warranty_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/warranty.jpg)
As with most PSUs, a sticker protects the inside. If you break the sticker and open your PSU your warranty is gone.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside5.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fan_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fan.jpg)
The 140 mm internal fan is made by Globe Fan and is temperature controlled as we will see later.
Test Equipment
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/setup.jpg
The PSU is connected to an APC SmartUPS which supplies clean 220V input.
AC current is measured using a Peaktech 4010 desktop RS232 multimeter with 0.02A accuracy.
To measure DC output voltages of the PSU we use a Keithley 2700 6.5 digit data acquisition system. All three input voltages are measured at the same time using a solid state switching system.
Power Factor is measured using a generic Power Efficiency Meter.
Measurements for Ripple Voltage were obtained using a 100 MHz Tektronix TDS224 Digital Storage Oscilloscope.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/noisetest_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/noisetest.jpg)
Fan noise measurements are performed with an IEC Type 2 Sound level meter and this setup.
It consists of three high-power resistors and a Socket A motherboard. The motherboard creates a small load which makes sure the PSU turns on (some PSUs require a minimum load). Since there is no hardware installed in the motherboard, its power draw is negligible. The three resistors create a static load of 320W (120W @ 12V + 50W @ 5V + 150W @ 12V) - a typical high-performance system. This setup is also used to determine the power conversion efficiency of the PSU.
[page=Performance]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/sticker_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/sticker.jpg)
I miss several important certifications here like UL, TÜV and VDE. While this does not mean that the PSU is bad it may be important for companies where certain policies are in place regarding equipment use.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<th colspan="8">AXP SuperNova 600W AXP-600W14A </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>AC Input</th>
<td colspan="7">115V-230V, 11A, 50-60 Hz</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>DC Voltage</th>
<td align="center">+3.3V</td>
<td align="center">+5V</td>
<td align="center">+12V1</td>
<td align="center">+12V2</td>
<td align="center">+5VSB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th rowspan="3">Max. Output </th>
<td align="center">24A</td>
<td align="center">32A</td>
<td align="center">21A</td>
<td align="center">21A</td>
<td align="center">2A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">79W</td>
<td align="center">160W</td>
<td align="center">252W</td>
<td align="center">252W</td>
<td align="center">10W</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5" align="center">600W</td>
</tr>
</table>
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psugraph.gif
Tested on: AMD Athlon64 FX-62 @ 2800 MHz, ABIT AT8, 2x 512 MB DDR400, WD Raptor 36 GB, Radeon X1900 XTX + Radeon X1900 XTX Crossfire
Voltage stability is good, the 3.3V line flucuates a bit more than normal, but still stays inside the limits set forth by the ATX specification.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/ripple.jpg
The ripple voltage was measured on the 12V line at idle. With an amplitude of 17mV it's sufficiently stable but nothing out of the ordinary. Overall the voltages seem to be ok, especially if you consider the total wattage of "only" 600W.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<th>Standard deviation 12V</th>
<td align="right">11.63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Standard deviation 5V</th>
<td align="right">4.37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Standard deviation 3.3V</th>
<td align="right">8.64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Power Factor</th>
<td align="right">0.99</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Ripple Voltage 12V</th>
<td align="right">17.4 mV</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Power Efficiency @ 320 W</th>
<td align="right">74% (320W:435W)</td>
</tr>
</table>
Standard deviation is a statistical term, which tells how far away from the average the measurements are. In other words it's the average of the average.
A large standard deviation indicates that the data points are far from the average and a small standard deviation indicates that they are close within the average.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/efficiency.gif
While we have seen a lot of very efficient PSUs in recent tests, the AXP SuperNova 600W can not score here. Around 74% is not that bad, but in times where 80+ is advertised on almost every PSU and people getting more and more concerned with PSU efficiency this could become deal breaker for some "green" people.
[PAGE=Fan Noise]
Fan Noise
For easier comparison of PSU fan noise results we have seperated our test results into three groups with a chart each:
Up to 500W: Typical PSU ideal for a single video card system.
500W to 750W: Plenty of power available for most single and dual video card machines.
Over 750W: For the most hardcore, power hungry and overclocked setups.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fannoise_500.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fannoise_750.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fannoise_1000.gif
With less efficiency comes more heat generated inside the PSU. This has a direct influence on the "load" noise. The fan has to run faster to make sure the PSU inside stays at an acceptable temperature. What is nice however, is that at idle the PSU is the quietest of our test group. The automatic fan speed control works very well.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The AXP/Xion SuperNova 600W costs around $90. Newegg even has a mail-in-rebate right now to bring the price down to less than $40! In the EU, our friends at CaseKing (http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=30_1390&products_id=7168), who also provided the sample, have the unit listed for € 89.99.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Quiet
Nice looks
Affordable
Modular
Cables are fully sleeved
Short cables (good for small cases)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Low efficiency
Two PCI-E connectors on one cable
High heat output, needs faster running fan under heavy load
Modular connectors are a bit hard to work with
3.3V line a bit unstable
Short cables (bad for big cases)
</td></tr>
<tr><th>8.4</th>
<td>The AXP SuperNova 600W, or Xion SuperNova 600W (or Kingwin Mach 1 600W) is always the same product, just with different branding. In my opinion this helps make the PSU available to a wider range of customers. The way the modular cables are connected is a pretty unique approach that was pioneered by case modders. While it is very nice to look at, especially when in action it has the drawback that it seems a bit harder to install than your normal way of attaching the cables. Another thing to mention about the cables is that they are rather short, which will be a godsend if you have a small form factor case and plan on doing some cable hiding. Users of full tower cases should definitely check if the available cable length will fit their system.<br />
The performance results of the SuperNova are satisfactory but nothing exceptional. What is more of an issue is the low efficiency of around 75%. While some vendors actually advertise this as "high efficiency" I think it's a bit low when compared to other offerings on today's market. The fan noise is refreshingly low when the PSU is not heavily loaded but ramps up quickly once you pull a lot of power from it.<br />
For a normal gaming system with one video card this PSU seems to be a good choice, once you go SLI or CrossFire you should probably look at other offerings, especially since the SuperNova has both VGA connectors on the same cable, so the load isn't distributed as it should be.
</td></tr>
<tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/recommended.gif</td></tr>
</table>
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/logo.jpg
I would like to thank Caseking.de (http://www.caseking.de) for supplying the test sample.
The AXP SuperNova 600W is sold as Xion SuperNova in the United States and AXP SuperNova in Europe. It is designed as an affordable PSU that can still pack a punch and keep your high-end system running.
This PSU is also identical to the Kingwin MACH 1 600W power supply and seems to be made by SuperFlower which are a big OEM in addition to having their own products on the market.
Specifications from manufacturer
Advanced modular power connectors management system
Compliance with ATX specification - Version 2.2 standard
Compatible with all ATX 12V v 2.01 systems
Real power capacity satisfy high-end system operation
Supports Intel Pentium 4. AMD Athlon XP and Athlon 64
Intelligent Auto fan speed control
High efficiency and quiet operation
Ceramic Bearing Fan, to give you the longer use time
More than 75% efficiency at typical load operation
OVP / UVP /OPP / Short protection
Support+12V1 and + 12V2 outputs for higher power usage
Copper cable of Dual PCI-E (SLI) connector satisfy high end graphic card requirement
Copper 8 pin EPS 12V + 4pin ATX 12V cable for Mainboard
4 SATA(600W) / 2SATA (500W) Connectors
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/package3.jpg)
I find the AXP box designs it looks a bit cheap. What is more important is that all the important specs are communicated to the customer. Also a nice picture shows the special cable mounting mechanism and its lighting which is certainly out of the ordinary.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/cables_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/cables.jpg)
All the modular cables are shipping a clear plastic box which leaves a well organized impression.
Box contents:
Power supply unit
Power Cord
Instruction Manual
Cables
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/contents_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/contents.jpg)
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<th rowspan="2">Connectors</th>
<th align="center">Main Power</th>
<th align="center">5.25"</th>
<th align="center">Floppy</th>
<th align="center">4 Pin CPU</th>
<th align="center">SerialATA</th>
<th align="center">PCI-E Aux Power</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">ATX 20+4 Pin</td>
<td align="center">9</td>
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center">4</td>
<td align="center">2x 6</td>
</tr>
</table>
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/cablelength.gif
[page=The PSU]
The PSU
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu3.jpg)
The Xion SuperNova uses a dark color theme which has a light gloss to it. It is not polished so it does not take on fingerprints as much as offerings from other manufacturers. Near the back you can see a large honeycomb stamped grill which allows ample of airflow.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu4.jpg)
A special feature of this power supply is that the modular cables are attached in a different way than on most PSUs. A circular connector is screwed in to the PSU improving contact strength a lot. It also looks very nice, the blue plastic ring is illuminated when the PSU is running for additional effect. If you look closely you can see that there are several different pinouts which ensures that you do not hook up the cables the wrong way. It should also be noted that several important cables which will always be used are fixed to the PSU housing.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psu5.jpg)
The fan is of the 140mm variant and uses a blue transparent material which is lighted by several LEDs when the PSU is running.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/atx_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/atx.jpg)
The motherboard connector consists of a 20 pin part and another part for the additional 4 pins. Both parts can not be clipped together but there's a small nose on the 4 pin plug to help you align it.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/12v_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/12v.jpg)
The 8-Pin power connector is split to fit motherboards which use only four pins for their CPU power supply. To insert the connectors into an 8-pin motherboard you need to manually press the blue connectors together.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/plug3.jpg)
Here you can see one of the modular cables. They seem to be very sturdy and of high-quality, reminding me of Hi-Fi cables. The metal ring you see on the second picture will be screwed tightly to the threading on the PSU back.
AXP also includes little blue caps to protect ports from dust and dirt when they are not in use. However, it should also be mentioned that installation of the cables is more complex than the usual plug-in system. You need to find the right rotation angle, insert the connectors and screw down the locking nut.
[pagE=PSU Inside & Test Equipment]
PSU Inside
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/warranty_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/warranty.jpg)
As with most PSUs, a sticker protects the inside. If you break the sticker and open your PSU your warranty is gone.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/inside5.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fan_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fan.jpg)
The 140 mm internal fan is made by Globe Fan and is temperature controlled as we will see later.
Test Equipment
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/setup.jpg
The PSU is connected to an APC SmartUPS which supplies clean 220V input.
AC current is measured using a Peaktech 4010 desktop RS232 multimeter with 0.02A accuracy.
To measure DC output voltages of the PSU we use a Keithley 2700 6.5 digit data acquisition system. All three input voltages are measured at the same time using a solid state switching system.
Power Factor is measured using a generic Power Efficiency Meter.
Measurements for Ripple Voltage were obtained using a 100 MHz Tektronix TDS224 Digital Storage Oscilloscope.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/noisetest_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/noisetest.jpg)
Fan noise measurements are performed with an IEC Type 2 Sound level meter and this setup.
It consists of three high-power resistors and a Socket A motherboard. The motherboard creates a small load which makes sure the PSU turns on (some PSUs require a minimum load). Since there is no hardware installed in the motherboard, its power draw is negligible. The three resistors create a static load of 320W (120W @ 12V + 50W @ 5V + 150W @ 12V) - a typical high-performance system. This setup is also used to determine the power conversion efficiency of the PSU.
[page=Performance]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/sticker_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/sticker.jpg)
I miss several important certifications here like UL, TÜV and VDE. While this does not mean that the PSU is bad it may be important for companies where certain policies are in place regarding equipment use.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
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<th colspan="8">AXP SuperNova 600W AXP-600W14A </th>
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<th>AC Input</th>
<td colspan="7">115V-230V, 11A, 50-60 Hz</td>
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<th>DC Voltage</th>
<td align="center">+3.3V</td>
<td align="center">+5V</td>
<td align="center">+12V1</td>
<td align="center">+12V2</td>
<td align="center">+5VSB</td>
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<tr>
<th rowspan="3">Max. Output </th>
<td align="center">24A</td>
<td align="center">32A</td>
<td align="center">21A</td>
<td align="center">21A</td>
<td align="center">2A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center">79W</td>
<td align="center">160W</td>
<td align="center">252W</td>
<td align="center">252W</td>
<td align="center">10W</td>
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<tr>
<td colspan="5" align="center">600W</td>
</tr>
</table>
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/psugraph.gif
Tested on: AMD Athlon64 FX-62 @ 2800 MHz, ABIT AT8, 2x 512 MB DDR400, WD Raptor 36 GB, Radeon X1900 XTX + Radeon X1900 XTX Crossfire
Voltage stability is good, the 3.3V line flucuates a bit more than normal, but still stays inside the limits set forth by the ATX specification.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/ripple.jpg
The ripple voltage was measured on the 12V line at idle. With an amplitude of 17mV it's sufficiently stable but nothing out of the ordinary. Overall the voltages seem to be ok, especially if you consider the total wattage of "only" 600W.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
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<th>Standard deviation 12V</th>
<td align="right">11.63</td>
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<th>Standard deviation 5V</th>
<td align="right">4.37</td>
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<th>Standard deviation 3.3V</th>
<td align="right">8.64</td>
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<tr>
<th>Power Factor</th>
<td align="right">0.99</td>
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<tr>
<th>Ripple Voltage 12V</th>
<td align="right">17.4 mV</td>
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<tr>
<th>Power Efficiency @ 320 W</th>
<td align="right">74% (320W:435W)</td>
</tr>
</table>
Standard deviation is a statistical term, which tells how far away from the average the measurements are. In other words it's the average of the average.
A large standard deviation indicates that the data points are far from the average and a small standard deviation indicates that they are close within the average.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/efficiency.gif
While we have seen a lot of very efficient PSUs in recent tests, the AXP SuperNova 600W can not score here. Around 74% is not that bad, but in times where 80+ is advertised on almost every PSU and people getting more and more concerned with PSU efficiency this could become deal breaker for some "green" people.
[PAGE=Fan Noise]
Fan Noise
For easier comparison of PSU fan noise results we have seperated our test results into three groups with a chart each:
Up to 500W: Typical PSU ideal for a single video card system.
500W to 750W: Plenty of power available for most single and dual video card machines.
Over 750W: For the most hardcore, power hungry and overclocked setups.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fannoise_500.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fannoise_750.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AXP/SuperNova_600W/images/fannoise_1000.gif
With less efficiency comes more heat generated inside the PSU. This has a direct influence on the "load" noise. The fan has to run faster to make sure the PSU inside stays at an acceptable temperature. What is nice however, is that at idle the PSU is the quietest of our test group. The automatic fan speed control works very well.
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The AXP/Xion SuperNova 600W costs around $90. Newegg even has a mail-in-rebate right now to bring the price down to less than $40! In the EU, our friends at CaseKing (http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=30_1390&products_id=7168), who also provided the sample, have the unit listed for € 89.99.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Quiet
Nice looks
Affordable
Modular
Cables are fully sleeved
Short cables (good for small cases)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Low efficiency
Two PCI-E connectors on one cable
High heat output, needs faster running fan under heavy load
Modular connectors are a bit hard to work with
3.3V line a bit unstable
Short cables (bad for big cases)
</td></tr>
<tr><th>8.4</th>
<td>The AXP SuperNova 600W, or Xion SuperNova 600W (or Kingwin Mach 1 600W) is always the same product, just with different branding. In my opinion this helps make the PSU available to a wider range of customers. The way the modular cables are connected is a pretty unique approach that was pioneered by case modders. While it is very nice to look at, especially when in action it has the drawback that it seems a bit harder to install than your normal way of attaching the cables. Another thing to mention about the cables is that they are rather short, which will be a godsend if you have a small form factor case and plan on doing some cable hiding. Users of full tower cases should definitely check if the available cable length will fit their system.<br />
The performance results of the SuperNova are satisfactory but nothing exceptional. What is more of an issue is the low efficiency of around 75%. While some vendors actually advertise this as "high efficiency" I think it's a bit low when compared to other offerings on today's market. The fan noise is refreshingly low when the PSU is not heavily loaded but ramps up quickly once you pull a lot of power from it.<br />
For a normal gaming system with one video card this PSU seems to be a good choice, once you go SLI or CrossFire you should probably look at other offerings, especially since the SuperNova has both VGA connectors on the same cable, so the load isn't distributed as it should be.
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<tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/recommended.gif</td></tr>
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