Enermax Platimax 600 W Power Supply Review

Introduction

The 80 Plus Platinum certification is the next level in energy efficiency, promising 92% minimum efficiency at typical load (i.e., at half of the power supply’s labeled power). The Enermax Platimax is one of the first power supply series carrying this new certification level to reach the market, with 600 W, 750 W, 850 W, 1,000 W, and 1,200 W versions. Let’s see if it is worthwhile buying the 600 W model, which will be released in the U.S. in January 2012.

Figure 1: Enermax Platimax 600 W power supply

Figure 2: Enermax Platimax 600 W power supply

The Enermax Platimax 600 W is 6.3” (160 mm) deep, using a 140 mm twister bearing fan on its bottom (Enermax EA142512W-OAB).

This unit has a modular cabling system with seven connectors, two for video cards (red) and five for SATA and peripheral power connectors (black). It is really important to understand that each red connector has separate pins for two power cables, so each connector acts as if it were two separate connectors. The motherboard cables come permanently attached to the power supply, and they are protected with nylon sleeves that come from inside the unit. This power supply comes with the following cables:

• Main motherboard cable with a 24-pin connector, 22.4” (57 cm) long, permanently attached to the power supply
• One cable with two ATX12V connectors that together form an EPS12V connector, 24” (61 cm) long, permanently attached to the power supply
• Four cables, each with one six/eight-pin connector for video cards, 20.5” (52 cm) long, modular cabling system (each pair of cables uses a single red connector of the power supply)
• One cable with four SATA power connectors, 18.1” (46 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors, modular cabling system
• Two cables, each with two SATA power connectors and two standard peripheral power connectors, 18.1” (46 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors, modular cabling system
• One cable with three standard peripheral power connectors and one floppy disk drive power connector, 17.7” (45 cm) to the first connector, 5.9” (15 cm) between connectors, modular cabling system

All wires are 18 AWG, which is the minimum recommended gauge, except the main motherboard cable, which uses thicker 16 AWG wires.

The cable configuration is outstanding for a 600 W power supply, allowing you to install two high-end video cards that require two power connectors each at the same time without the need of adapters, and with eight SATA power connectors.

Figure 3: Cables

Let’s now take an in-depth look inside this power supply.