Comparison Crown Standart CM-PS500 vs Zalman HP HP-ZM500

The diameter of the fan(s) in the power supply cooling system.

The large diameter allows to achieve good efficiency at relatively low RPMs, which in turn reduces noise and power consumption. On the other hand, large fans are more expensive than small ones and take up a lot of space, which affects the dimensions of the entire PSU. We also emphasize that a small fan is not yet a sign of a cheap power supply — quite advanced models can also have such equipment, in order to reduce dimensions.

As for specific diameters, the smallest value that can be found in modern consumer-grade PSUs is 80 mm. The most popular option is 120 mm, this size gives good efficiency and a relatively low noise level at a reasonable price and dimensions. Larger diameters are somewhat less common — 135 mm and 140 mm.

A standard for power supplies that supplements the ATX specifications regarding power supply along the 12 V line. Introduced into use since the time of the Intel Pentium 4 processor. In the first series of the standard, the +5 V line was mainly used; from version 2.0, the +12 V line was introduced to fully power the components computer. Also in the second generation, a 24-pin power connector appeared, used in most modern motherboards.

The number of SATA power connectors provided in the PSU.

Nowadays, SATA is the standard interface for connecting internal hard drives, and it is also found in other types of drives (SSD, SSHD, etc.). Such an interface consists of a data connector connected to the motherboard, and a power connector connected to the PSU. Accordingly, in this paragraph we are talking about the number of SATA power plugs provided in the PSU. This number corresponds to the number of SATA drives that can be simultaneously powered from this model.

The number of Molex (IDE) connectors provided in the design of the power supply.

Initially, such a connector was intended to power peripherals for the IDE interface, primarily hard drives. And although the IDE itself is completely obsolete today and is not used in new components, however, the Molex power connector continues to be installed in power supplies, and almost without fail. Almost any modern PSU has at least 1 – 2 of these connectors, and in high-end models this number can be 7 or more. This situation is due to the fact that Molex IDE is a fairly universal standard, and with the help of the simplest adapters, components with a different power interface can be powered from it. For example, there are Molex - SATA adapters for drives, Molex - 6 pin for video cards, etc.

The number of PCI-E 8pin (6+2) power connectors provided in the PSU design.

Additional PCI-E power connectors (all formats) are used to additionally power those types of internal peripherals for which 75 W is no longer enough, supplied directly through the PCI-E socket on the motherboard (video cards are a typical example). In PC components, there are two types of such connectors — 6pin, providing up to 75 W of additional power, and 8pin, giving up to 150 W. And the 8pin (6 + 2) plugs used in power supplies are universal: they can work with both 6-pin and 8-pin connectors on the expansion board. Therefore, this type of plug is the most popular in modern PSUs.

As for the quantity, on the market you can find models for 1 PCI-E 8pin (6 + 2) connector, for 2 such connectors, for 4 connectors, and in some cases — for 6 or more. Several of these plugs can be useful, for example, when connecting several video cards — or for a powerful high-performance video adapter equipped with several PCI-E additional power connectors.

The cable system used in the power supply. According to this parameter, modular, semi- modular and non-modular devices are distinguished, here are their features:

— Not modular. The classic version of the design, used in computer power supplies from the very beginning and not losing popularity to this day. The wires in such systems have a non-detachable design, and additional cables are not provided for connection. As a result, the user has to deal with only those cables that the manufacturer provided, without the ability to remove or replace them (the only modifications available are the installation of additional accessories such as an extension cord or splitter). Because of this, such PSUs are less convenient than modular and semi-modular ones: their wires are often excessively long, and some of them are not used at all, while such an “economy” further clutters up the case, worsening air circulation and cooling efficiency. On the other hand, these shortcomings can be reduced to almost zero with careful selection of the PSU and careful wiring; and non-modular systems themselves are distinguished by reliability and at the same time low cost. It is because of these features that they are most common nowadays.

— Modular. Systems in which each cable is made detachable; special sockets are used for fastening wires. Thanks to this design, you can optimally organize the space inside the PC —...for example, remove unnecessary wires so that they do not interfere with air circulation in the system unit; replace a cable that is too long with a shorter wire (or vice versa); swap cables, etc. At the same time, modular systems are noticeably more expensive than non-modular ones, while they are considered somewhat less reliable due to the presence of "weak points" in the form of removable cable mounts.

— Semi-modular. A kind of compromise between the options described above: some of the wires in such power supplies are made non-removable, some are equipped with modular mounts. This makes it possible to partially combine the advantages and compensate for the disadvantages of the two systems: semi-modular PSUs are less expensive and more reliable than modular ones, and at the same time more convenient than non-modular ones. Usually, in systems of this type, the most important wires have a non-removable design, which are almost guaranteed to be used when assembling a PC, and secondary cables are equipped with removable mounts and can be removed if not needed. However, the specific features of a semi-modular PSU should be specified separately.

The presence of a braid in the complete wires of the system unit — for all or at least for some.

This feature has a positive effect on reliability, making the wire as resistant as possible to bending, abrasion, strong pressure and other similar influences; it also provides additional protection against accidental contact with sharp objects (for example, when repairing a PC). The disadvantages of braided wires, in addition to increased cost, are also increased thickness and greater rigidity than similar cables in conventional insulation. This can create some difficulties in organizing space inside the system unit.

Manufacturer's warranty provided for this model.

In fact, this is the minimum service life promised by the manufacturer, subject to the rules of operation. There are both models with a small warranty up to 3 years, and more advanced power supplies, in which the warranty can reach 7, 10 years and even 12 years. In general , a 5-year warranty(for example) does not mean that the device will fail after the specified time. Most often, the actual service life of the device is much longer than the guaranteed one.

Specific warranty periods may vary even for similar drives from the same manufacturer. So not

The power supply has its own backlight. This function does not affect the technical characteristics, its role is purely aesthetic, and therefore it is worth paying attention to power supplies with backlight, first of all, for those who care about the individual design of their own PC. Note that the specific functionality of the backlight may be different. The simplest systems are single-colour, more expensive solutions may provide several colour options, and the most advanced type of backlight in this regard is RGB, with the ability to select almost any shade at the request of the user. In addition, some systems are able to synchronize with the backlight of other PC components; See "Light Timing" below for more on this.