OCZ ModXStream PSU
The OCZ ModXStream Series is a new line of power supplies designed to offer consumers a combination of OCZ's legendary PSU architecture and an effective modular cable management system. Available in 780W and 900W models, the ModXStream offers power solutions to gamers on a budget, and hardware enthusiasts alike. The ModXStream was engineered to be the quietest PSU available so gamers can hear their games and not their PC. The load-controlled 120mm cooling fan helps keep the unit operating efficiently, but Benchmark Reviews knows that there is more that meets the eye with each and every power supply. Load testing for AC ripple and DC power regulation will prove if the OCZ ModXStream 780W Modular PSU OCZ780MXS is as good as it looks.
By now you should know that the power supply unit is the single most important part of any computer. Regardless of the system or purpose there is a given rule: whether it is a simple workstation with integrated components or an advanced gaming system with newest technology available, everything requires power to operate. As anyone who has suffered the failure of a low-end power supply will tell you: not all power supply units (PSU's) are created equal, and looks don't mean a thing.
As a gamer or case modder, modular cabling is a necessity when building a cool and orderly system. To optimize airflow and eliminate a cable mess, the ModXStream power supply is equipped with "EZMod" technology to allow complete customization of your power system by utilizing only the cables you require. Kept ultra-cool with a load-controlled 120mm fan, the powerful ModXStream still remains virtually silent and supremely cool even at peak loads.
Next generation platforms and high performance graphics cards are essential to modern gamers and hardware enthusiasts, just as much as the new software designed to use them. Complete with two PCI-Express cables and six serial ATA connectors, the ModXStream is built to provide sufficient output to power demanding GPU and system setups. With a sustained output of 780W over four +12V rails to provide uniform distribution of power, the ModXStream is very capable of driving today's higher end systems.
Benchmark Reviews has seen some major changes within the power supply industry over the past year. Even in such a limited purpose industry, somehow fads manage to come into existence. At one point, the number of rails a PSU offered was key to media hype. At another point, you could see everyone pushing for the highest watts in their new product. I can't forget how modular power supplies, with the assortment of cables and interfaces, also shared some time in the limelight.
The latest trend seemed to be 80-Plus efficiency, but since most PSU's are at least this efficient the label has lost meaning. And then without any warning, it was as if every company manufacturing power supply units suddenly decided that they could win the battle for industry dominance by combining all of the above features, and add a nice paint job or mirror finish for good measure. The new generation of power supplies has begun to amp up the competition for placement in your computer case. Antec’s EarthWatts series was among the first to cause a stir in the PSU industry by emphasizing efficient power delivery over the multi-rail hype over two years ago. But now 80% or better efficiency is very common.
The OCZ ModXStream provides Universal Input and Active PFC (Power Factor Correction) to effectively regulate input voltage across worldwide power grids and maintain an economical, yet stable supply of power. What this means to you is that the days of switching between 110/220V and 50/60Hz cycles are well behind you. Even if something should fail, all OCZ ModXStream power supplies come backed with an industry-leading three year OCZ PowerSwap Warranty for the ultimate peace of mind.
About the company: OCZ
Entering the memory market in August 2000, OCZ Technology was built around the determination to manufacture the best high speed DDR and RDRAM. OCZ was founded by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, and our commitment to the end-user has not digressed. OCZ Technology has been an innovator in many areas. We were the first manufacturer to make Dual Channel optimized memory available to the public, which originally took advantage of nVidia's Twinbank or Dual DDR architecture, found in their nForce chipset. We have now taken that technology and tailored it for the Canterwood, and Granite Bay chipset's. OCZ developed and was the first to implement ULN technology, which has been a critical element in our manufacturing process for some time. We at OCZ diligently work to improve communication with CPU and motherboard chipset manufacturers prior to the release of their products. Only in this manner can we fine-tune our memory's SPD settings, ensuring a synergistic relationship between the memory module, memory controller, and microprocessor. In today's rapidly evolving semiconductor industry, such communication is not simply research, but a necessary component of our manufacturing process.
ModXStream Features
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OCZ PowerWhisperTM Technology
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Internal 120mm fan
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Blue LED's
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3 year warranty backed by OCZ's exclusive PowerSwap replacement program.
OCZ780MXS Specifications
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170 x 140 x 86mm
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ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V
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OCZ ConnectAll universal connectors
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High efficiency
> 80% @ 115V (Typical load)
> 80% @ 230V (Typical load)
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Overvoltage/Overcurrent/Short-Circuit protection
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Active PFC
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MTBF: 100,000 hours @ 25C
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100~240Vac 10-5A 50/60Hz
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+3.3V(30A), +5V(30A), +12V1(20A), +12V2(20A), +12V3(20A), +12V4(20A) Maximum ratings are shown.
Closer Look: OCZ ModXStream 780W
OCZ is well known in the RAM industry, thanks to their long line of performance modules offering overclockers a little more headroom for their projects. But OCZ isn't just a system memory company, no sir, they have been making their name in other circles for a little while now as well. The ModXStream 780W Modular PSU OCZ780MXS is a perfect example of OCZ working outside the box. Prior to the company purchasing PC Power & Cooling earlier this year, they made a few power supply products of their own. The ModXStream continues where the previous GamerXStream and ModStream product lines left off.
Perhaps it is just my impression of OCZ from their system memory products, but they have always given me the impression that their priorities lie in good-looking high-performance products. The ModXStream OCZ780MXS is really not much different. Finished with a semi-gloss black paint job, the large clear 120mm cooling fan contrasts very well.
Sleeve bearings ensure that the unit doesn't become a paperweight in a few years just because the cooling fan dies. Additionally, it's a nice touch that OCZ has added: blue LED's in the fan.
The master power switch is the standard rocker style switch made of black plastic and no backlighting. Thanks to active PFC (power factor correction) there is no need for the input voltage switch, as the OCZ780MXS can accept voltages and cycles of every level and speed.
Details: OCZ ModXStream 780W OCZ780MXS
If you have read this far, all the way to page three, then I applaud you. Power supply reviews are often times not the most popular subject. Either they look good, or they don't. Either they work well, or they don't. But writing a review on these products is necessary for you to know what is quality, and what products just pose as quality. Sometimes people buy for looks alone, which is a real shame because buying a power supply based on looks makes a little sense as buying a CPU based on looks. This is why I dig deeper, and help you learn the information the manufacturers seem to always leave out.
You will notice from the image above that OCZ has completely sleeved the native cable groups of the ModXStream 780W Modular PSU. There is also a solid black plastic grommet at the opening for the native cable group, ensuring that the chassis on the OCZ780MXS will not wear through to expose bare wire.
The modular face of the OCZ ModXStream is unmarked, which means that you will simply have to match the correct connector into the correct socket. I am a little skeptical of this arrangement, since I have seen other modular systems offering far greater control of the modular interface.
Unlike other OCZ products, namely the various RAM modules they offer, the ModXStream Modular PSU is a much more tame product. Perhaps it is the nearly flat-black finish of the PSU chassis that has given me this impression, but it certainly lacks some of the standout design seen in other OCZ products. I'm not going to claim that this is a case of function before fashion, because this unit is certainly not the eyesore I reviewed not long ago. But still, something is missing from the overall appearance.
At the rear of the unit there is a simple honeycomb grill, which offers plenty of exhaust ventilation to the cooling fan. The fan on this unit is a variable speed load-controlled 120mm cooling fan with blue LED's which didn't always seem to light up.
Closer Look: Wiring and Internal
When it comes to power supply cables, every computer system requires something different based on the case and components. My own personal needs fall somewhere in the middle, requiring only about fourteen inches of cable length to most internal components. The OCZ ModXStream 780W Modular PSU OCZ780MXS offers a nearly 20" main cable group, which is plenty for most system configurations.
OCZ ModXStream 780W Modular PSU OCZ780MXS
Select the best combination of cables and extensions, and safely avoid a lot of spare cable inside your computer. With 18" cable lengths, reach shouldn't be much of a problem for the modular cables. While the native cable groups include one PCI-Express connection, there is one additional connection available from the modular cables. Two modular cables offer a total of six SATA connectors, and two more modular cables offer two Molex peripheral connections and one floppy drive each.
Notice that each and every cable group is fully sleeved with nylon weave. This in becoming a standard across the industry, with only a few holdouts. OCZ has also conveniently included a nice black velcro cable strap to help you keep your wiring under wraps.
Unfortunately, OCZ does not seem to take case modding as serious as they claim, because a wiring diagram with pin-out chart was not available from their website, nor was it included in the manual. If you are a hardcore modder, than you may want to consider one of the more informative power supplies we have reviewed.
On the side of the OCZ ModXStream 780W Modular PSU is the product label for the OCZ780MXS model. While the top portion of the label is fairly standard, showing a total of 755W available over four 12V power rails (which yield 20 amps each), the lower portion was little less self-explanatory. According to the diagram, there are particular devices which each rail corresponds to. However it's anybody's guess which modular connection port belongs to which rail. I think that OCZ's ModXStream could be a lot more user friendly if there were labels denoting which connection belonged to which rail.
Opening up the chassis will void your 36-month full warranty, and it may also expose you to electrical shock. Electrical shock is bad, and could cause serious injury or potentially result in death. I have risked my life to show you the inner components and electronics, so that you could go on living and breathing without risking this danger. No thanks is necessary, I'm just doing my job.
OCZ did a great job making sure the cable sleeving doesn't turn into a frayed mess, especially if it accidentally gets pulled out of the chassis. Thankfully, double zip-ties ensure that the nylon sleeves will not be a problem for you, and that it won't end up looking like a few of the units we have reviewed <cough... Glacial Tech>.
The heatsinks are both formed aluminum and sheared aluminum design, and OCZ utilizes only one large capacitor for the ModXStream OCZ780MXS 780W Modular PSU.
Load Testing
Power supplies are not like most other computer components, where it is a simple matter of comparing the item to others in the same category. Power supply units are comprised of several different variables, such as maximum output, voltage regulation, and current ripple. Each of these variables must be analyzed with unique tools, which makes it a difficult product to properly review.
I am well aware of what the more knowledgeable readers think about these power supply reviews: impractical and often useless. That's about to change. In the past, Benchmark Reviews has been guilty of the same thing nearly all of the other sites are guilty of: testing with a digital multimeter alone. So beginning now with this review, we are taking a corrected approach to testing PSU's and hope to offer the best analysis possible.
Benchmark Reviews has researched the equipment necessary to complete the most thorough power supply unit review possible. We spent the time learning what it takes because the best possible PSU tests are what we want to give to our readers. But after discovering the prices on a programmable output DC power supply system, variable range load testing units, and a DC power analyzer (Oscilloscope), we felt that more than ten-thousand dollars worth of equipment would be far too cost prohibitive for testing a hundred-dollar power supply. So without compromising too much, we made a slightly less-expensive investment into a good quality Oscilloscope in order to test DC voltage regulation and AC power ripple. Together, the Oscilloscope and digital multimeter will offer readers the best measurement of power stability any review site could reasonably offer.
Test System
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Motherboard: ABIT AB9 Pro v1.6 BIOS (Intel 965 chipset)
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Processor: Intel E6600 Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz operating at 3.2 GHz (356 MHz FSB)
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Hard Disks: (2) Western Digital WD360GD 10,000 RPM SATA in RAID-0 array
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Optical Drive: Lite-On SH-16A7S-05 SATA DVD R/W
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Operating System: Windows XP Professional SP-2 with IE7
Test Equipment
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Velleman PCSU-1000 Oscilloscope
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DC Voltage Regulation Settings: 2V DC Volt/Division, 60MHz 1x, 1ms
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AC Power Ripple Settings: 50mV Volt/Division, 60MHz 1x, 1ms
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PC-Lab2000SE v3.03 Interface Software
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Extech 450 Auto ranging Digital Multimeter
Test Methodology
Our testing process is comprised of measuring the AC current ripple, and the DC voltage regulation. There are several key steps, all of which allow us to measure and record our readings using the identical methods for every test we perform. Consistent testing methods are key to obtaining comparable results.
At the start of every test, the Velleman PCSU-1000 Oscilloscope is calibrated to the PC-Lab2000SE software. After calibration is complete, the voltage on the 12V rails are measured and recorded with the Extech 450 digital multimeter to ensure comparable margin across all rails. Once the Velleman 60MHz probe has been grounded and attached to the 12V lead, our test system is powered on and left at the Windows logon screen for ten minutes.
Once this lightly-loaded idle warm up period is complete, the Velleman PCSU-1000 Oscilloscope was allowed to run for one minute measuring the AC power ripple. Then once ripple is recorded, the 12V DC voltage regulation is recorded after another minute.
After the results have been recorded from the light idle load, our test system then receives heavy load by utilizing the following tools: two console versions of the https://folding.stanford.edu/client operate and task each CPU core to 100%, hard disks are stressed by benchmarking each with HD Tach RW, system memory (RAM) is given a stress test with Lavalys EVEREST, and ATITool scans for artifacts which forced the video card into high-power 3D mode. After ten minutes of heavy load the power supply is again measured, and the AC power ripple and 12V DC voltage regulation results are recorded.
Voltage Regulation & Ripple Test Results
In the test results below, it will be necessary to explain what you are viewing. In each image the AC power ripple is represented by the yellow trace line making up the waveform. While every personal computer power supply unit available to the retail market has some degree of measurable AC power ripple, it is most important that measurable AC ripple is very minor and does not create a large peak to peak voltage (Vpp) distortion. Stable, well-regulated power is critical to system stability and hardware longevity.
AC Ripple Waveform at Light Idle Load
The waveform image above shows the AC power ripple under light idle load, which is measured inside of a 1ms recording frame. Waveform data recorded during the light idle load measurement is represented in the chart below:
AC Ripple Waveform Data at Light Idle Load
The waveform data above describes the actual measurements at light idle load. The maximum peak-to-peak AC voltage distortion was 378.1 mV, and the AC RMS ripple was 22.4 mV under light idle load. Note that these results are approximately the same as the average results we have collected under light idle load.
Here are the average AC RMS ripple measurements under light idle load for power supplies we have recently tested:
AC Power Ripple at Idle Load
The waveform image below shows the AC power ripple under heavy load. The maximum peak-to-peak AC voltage distortion was 364.1 mV, and the AC RMS ripple was 29.3 mV under heavy load. Note that these results are slightly better than the average results we have collected under heavy load.
AC Ripple Waveform at Heavy Load
Under heavy load, the OCZ ModXStream OCZ780MXS 780W Modular PSU measured an average AC RMS ripple only slightly higher than the ripple at light idle load, which is very good. The waveform data recorded during the heavy load measurement is represented in the chart below:
AC Ripple Waveform Data at Heavy Load
Because the OCZ ModXStream 780W Modular PSU offered average results in the idle readings, I didn't really expect them to get any better; but they recorded very good results into the heavy load tests. Here are the average AC RMS ripple measurements under heavy load for other power supplies we have recently tested:
AC Power Ripple at Heavy Load
The power dropped down to no less than 12.06V, which means that even under heavy load there is very little chance that system stability will be affected. Under light idle load conditions the DC regulation averaged 0.50 Vpp, and deviated slightly more under heavy load to a measured 0.56 Vpp. The DC regulation data recorded at light and heavy load is displayed in the chart below:
DC Voltage Regulation Waveform Data at Light Idle and Heavy Load
 
Many of the power supplies we test here at Benchmark Reviews have DC voltage regulation measuring above the 12V baseline more often than below. For obvious reasons, the diversion from the 12V baseline with increased voltage is more preferred than below it since dropping too far under 12V will cause a system to power off or recycle. Plainly put, no power supply is ever perfectly centered at 12V DC; instead they most often maintain a DC mean voltage higher than they are regulated at.
ModXStream Final Thoughts
OCZ ModXStream OCZ780MXS mixes equal parts function and fashion; as this 780W Modular PSU neither dominates nor does it falter in either category. There are only a few standout findings which are worthy of noting, and even these items are very minor.
Offering above-average cosmetic design with above-average power stability, the OCZ ModXStream OCZ780MXS PSU provides enough power performance and looks for most all computer enthusiasts. This power supply unit is really best suited towards mid to high-level SLi gaming systems which would not particularly begin to tax this quad-rail unit which can offer 755W to the video cards and peripherals. I wasn't totally sold on this unit because of the very erratic reading this unit displayed, with very high point-to-point voltages recorded over the AC and DC measurements. But in the end the AC ripple was better than average, despite less than impressive voltage regulation.
OCZ OCZ780MXS Conclusion
OCZ's product presentation was slightly above the average, but the packaging was far from informative. It would be particularly helpful to consumers if the retail box had something more than marketing features; perhaps something more technical and informative to allow the buyer to better compare this product over others on the store shelves.
With fully sleeved native and modular cable groups and a semi-gloss black finish, the appearance is very well complimented, and far better than many of the power supplies we have seen. Combined with a very attractive blue LED fan, and a modular connection interface, the OCZ ModXStream OCZ780MXS is ready to prove itself as being capable on top of the good looks.
OCZ is hoping to become well known for their solid and reliable power supply units, which is why they purchased PC Power & Cooling. The construction found in the OCZ780MXS is a step in the right direction, but there are still a few things to polish off before OCZ can begin to claim the crown. Construction was very good, but there were a few items such as the modular connection labels which should be corrected.
Regarding functionality, there were some very good areas of the product which shined and only a few that did not. The DC voltage regulation measured higher Vpp than desired during light idle and heavy load, and even though the AC ripple was very low under either load both readings had unusually high voltage deviation from the regulated norm. I expect that acquiring PC Power & Cooling will help to clean these things up, but for now OCZ will have to settle for nearly-perfect.
Presently, the OCZ ModXStream 780W Modular PSU is listed on our price comparison tool for $146.87. This price seems to put the OCZ780MXS directly within the price range of 720-780W power supplies, which lends some credibility to the value of this product. What you get is a lot more than you pay for, and that's always a good thing.
In summary, I found the OCZ ModXStream 780W OCZ780MXS to be perfect for mid to high-range computer systems requiring only two PCI-Express connectors. The ModXStream doesn't go over the top, but it still offers plenty of value for the design features and performance you receive. With a little refinement, the ModXStream series could easily prove itself king of the hill; especially if the price remains as competitive as it is now.
Pros:
+ Attractive design and finish
+ Respectable AC ripple measurements
+ Good value
+ Blue LED cooling fan
+ Fully-sleeved native and modular cable groups
+ 36-Month full exchange warranty
+ Modular cable interface
+ Quality construction
+ Plenty of power connections
+ Active power factor correction
Cons:
- Lacking modular connection labels
- DC Power regulation is worse than average
- Blue LED's worked intermittently (this unit)
- No protective end caps included
Ratings:
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Presentation: 8.5
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Appearance: 9.0
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Construction: 9.0
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Functionality: 8.75
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Value: 8.5
Final Score: 8.75 out of 10.
Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.
Special Thanks: This review would not have been possible without the sponsorship of manufacturers such as OCZ. While we write our reviews with an unbiased opinion towards the sponsor, we realize that it would not be possible without them. Thank you OCZ.
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