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Product: Cooler Master Real Power 550 SLI Power Supply When I think of Cooler Master, the first thing that comes to mind is their awesome cases and cooling products. However, in recent years, Cooler Master has also begun to focus on the performance power supply market. As any computer enthusiast knows, the power supply can make or break a computer. Packaging and Contents:
Specifications:
Features
Connectors (Quantity - Type):
Display Module
One of the unique things about the Real Power 550 SLI is that it includes an analog gauge that shows how many watts your computer is currently using. While it was a nice extra, I had two problems with the display module. The first problem was the size of the unit. It was too short and was unable to secure it properly with the tool-less design of the Centurion 534. One would think that Cooler Master would have at least designed the display module so it was compatible with their cases. The second problem with the display module is that it is hard to read from an angle. It could only be accurately read when looking straight on. I found it to be an annoyance having to get down on my hands and knees just to view the display module. A digital display would have worked a lot better. The Real Power 550 SLI Realizing that not everyone may have a motherboard which requires a 24 pin ATX connector, Cooler Master was nice enough to throw in a 24 pin to 20 pin adapter. However, for most people who are buying this power supply for their SLI system will not have to worry about using the adapter.When I first took the Real Power 550 SLI out of the packaging, I was a little disappointed to see that only the ATX motherboard power cable was sleeved. The sleeving was flexible but it would have been nice if the other cables were sleeved as well. The Real Power 550 SLI power supply is cooled by a single 120mm blue LED fan. The fan is extremely quiet and I could not even hear it over the noise of the other fans in my case. The rear of the power supply was made out of a honeycomb design to allow adequate air flow.
I didn’t particularly like how the hole for the wires to exit the power supply was designed. There is nothing to protect the wires from the edge of the hole. Rubber or plastic edging would have been a nice addition to this part of the power supply. While I don’t see this as a major problem, this oversight on Cooler Master’s part could lead to wires becoming frayed and possibly even shorting out.
The cables on the Real Power 550 SLI power supply were long enough to reach any spot in both computers that I tested the power supply in. However, a few of the cables were a little too long. I had to find places to hide all the extra cable so it did not inhibit the airflow in the case. After I figured out how I wanted to arrange the cables, the extra length allowed me to be more creative with the cable management than I have been before. Test Beds Test Bed 1 Test Bed 2 Performance When I first booted up the first test bed after installing the Real Power 550 power supply I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of voltages. However, I was happy to see that the voltages were as follows:
Cooler Master’s Real Power 550 SLI power supply handled test bed 1 with ease, and the same was true for test bed 2.
*Note*
The voltages were measured using a multimeter and measured at 3 different time. The results displayed are an average of the measurements.
Conclusion Cooler Master definitely did a good job designing and manufacturing the Real Power 550 SLI power supply. It was able to easily handle both test beds and the voltages were stable even when overclocking. Anyone who is looking for a good power supply should definitely look at the Real Power 550 SLI. Maximum CPU gives the
Pros + Includes 24 to 20 pin adapter Cons - Only motherboard power connector is sleeved |
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