Sparkle FSP550-60PLG 36A 12v (review)

[dustybyrd]

where i got it for $87 shipped: http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-SP550I

but you can also get it here for $76 shipped:

http://www.excaliberpc.com/product_info.php?cPath=208_612&products_id=2267&osCsid=08530f81065c21ca236079243f7139e9

i didn't get 24-20pin, 8-4pin adaptors where i bought it (i didn't need it anyway)....but i've read you can get this psu at newegg with the adaptors for $109 shipped :

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-478&depa=0

tested my dual xeon system:

Asus NCCH-DL motherboard (manual states a 600 watt min. psu is required)
2x 2.4ghz at 3.5ghz @ 1.6v (estimated at 110 watts max each)
2x 512mb ram at 1.75v
3x 160gb sata, pata drives
1x 74gb raptor
2x DVDRW NEC 16x
1x 9700pro at 400/700
1x floppy
1x zip100
7x 80mm fans
2x coolermaster -04's
3x pci cards

(PLEASE READ NEXT POST IN THIS THREAD ON SOFTWARE VOLTAGES AND "REAL" VOLTAGES)

software voltages, read during 4x prime 95:

3.3-3.34 (with pcp&c 510 atx w/24, 8pin adaptors it was 3.3-3.34)
4.94-4.96 (with pcp&c 510 atx w/24, 8pin adaptors it was 4.99)
11.85 (with pcp&c 510 atx w/24, 8pin adaptors it was 12.03-12.09)

software voltages, idle:

3.3-3.34 (with pcp&c 510 atx w/24, 8pin adaptors it was 3.3-3.34)
4.94-4.96 (with pcp&c 510 atx w/24, 8pin adaptors it was 4.99)
11.91 (with pcp&c 510 atx w/24, 8pin adaptors it was 12.03-12.09)

the Sparkle 550 has one adjustable pot inside that I could find and it only adjusted the 3.3v line...

it weighs 5.13 pounds

it has 2 PCB full size boards and is very packed with capacitors etc...

i have pics available if interested...

also, the specs written on the side of the psu are:

550 watts max at 30C
27A - 3.3v
29A - 5v
36A - 12v
3.3v + 5v + 12v max = 528 watts at 30C

500 watts max at 50C
3.3v + 5v max is 150 watts
3.3v + 5v +12v max is 478 watts at 50C

very nice PSU, especially at less than $100

[dustybyrd]

ok, this is why you should never trust software read voltages:

i did some thorough testing of the new sparkle FSP550-60PLG psu with a voltmeter that is accurate to 0.01v

12v (read at 8pin cpu connector): 12.07 (idle) to 12.05 with 2x prime95 and 12.01 with 4x prime95 running....air coming out of psu is 34C (ambient 20C)

then after 1 hour of 4x prime95 running: 11.97v...air coming out of psu is 42C (ambient 20C)

after another hour of 4x prime95, 12v=11.97v and psu air is 43C (ambient 20C)

during all these tests, the 5v ranged from 5.06 to 5.04v and the 3.3v ranged between 3.43 and 3.44---but it was probably high since i had incorrectly turned up the 3.3v pot (only one inside the psu i could find) all the way, because the software voltages read lower than what they actually were...

so i put the 3.3v pot back to just a tad higher than fortron had it...and now...

before and during 4x prime95, looping 3dmark2003 or passmark burnin test at 100% on all tests:

3.3v = 3.36-3.37
5v = 5.04-5.06
12v = 11.97-12.07

i'd say that's pretty solid and that as usual, don't ever trust any software voltages...

what i am most pleased with is that when full loading the system (pulling ~400 watts from the a/c, by kill-a-watt measurements...probably ~300 watts that the psu is actually supplying to the system)...the air coming out of the psu was only 42-43C...even with just the 24db, 80mm sanyo denki fan (that i used to replace the louder stock Nidec fan) that pushes ~30cfm...

the power leads from the Nidec fan were connected to a small pcb, that probably is a temperature controlled, voltage regulator, to speed up the fan as the temperature inside the psu increases due to heavy load or high ambient temps...so i disconnected this fan (that was additionally sealed by epoxy...i used a knife to remove the epoxy)...then I put the sanyo denki 80mm (that i bought here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3673&item=6735585049&rd=1 ) and i pulled the 3pin wire through the psu case with the other cables and connected it to a 3pin 12v fan connector on the motherboard...

if you want the best high powered 12v centered power supply that's high quality for <$100...look no further than this beast...especially considering it's 24pin, 8pin, 6pin (pci express) ready...and can still be used with adaptors on the older ATX specification...

[larva]

Thanks for posting your experiences, it looks like the 550 Fortron can be added to the "short list".

[docinthebox]

Thanks dustybyrd. You mentioned the FSP550-60PLG weighs 5.13 pounds. Out of curiosity, do you have the weights of the FSP530-60GNA and the PCP&C 510?

I too am a big fan of the FSP550-60PLG. =) =)

[dustybyrd]

Thanks dustybyrd. You mentioned the FSP550-60PLG weighs 5.13 pounds. Out of curiosity, do you have the weights of the FSP530-60GNA and the PCP&C 510?

I too am a big fan of the FSP550-60PLG. =) =)


i weighed them on a 3000 gram max scale...and the FSP550-60PLG weighed 2330 grams and the Fortron 530 and the PCP&C 510 both were between 2200 and 2300 grams, although i don't remember exactly...but about 5 lbs IIRC for both...

about 2260 grams is 5 pounds...

what's really surprising about the FSP550-60PLG is that as compared to the Fortron 530 and the PCP&C 510 is the much smaller heatsinks...as there is simply no room in Sparkle 550 for larger heat sinks as there are two full sized PCB's

so, one thing Fortron/Sparkle does is physically screw the top of the heatsink to the psu's case...ie, the top of the case is flush with the small, thin heatsink...thus effectively turning the psu case into another heat sink...