The Enermax EG451P-VE ATX 2.03 Power Supply
Big Clean Power For Your High End System

By Dave Altavilla - November 30, 2000

 
For even the mechanically challenged user, installing a power supply is pretty much a cake walk.  Since I personally fall into this category, I can comment with conviction that most folks won't have an issue with either extracting the old power supply from their system or setting this new unit up. 

Installation The Enermax EG451P-VE Power Supply
Software?  No no, it's all hardware baby!  (click images for full view)

 

 

   

 

First and foremost, this Power Supply actually comes with a manual.  There aren't too many that do these days.  The manual is fairly well done and written in several different languages.  It gives you all the critical specs of the supply as well as installation tips.  However, if you can operate a screw driver, you can install a power supply.  Just unscrew the 4 screws in the back of your current supply (if need be) and unplug all the connectors from their sites on your motherboard and drives.  To install the unit, just install it into the housing inside your case and insert your screws and plugs into their proper sites.  Everything matches up mechanically.  If you need further explanation, we suggest you seek "professional" help.  

 

Here is a shot of the ATX12V connector and its site on one of the new Pentium 4 motherboards.

 

 

 

Alright then, we've already spent too much time on installation.  Let's talk about the performance of this unit, which is somewhat of a subjective topic.

 
The performance factor of the Enermax EG451P-VE
431 Watts of power, more than enough but...

 

We're going to rip into something here that we feel is pretty important.  Enermax is misleading folks a little.  Even Outside Loop is being buffaloed somewhat on this.  Outside Loop shows this unit to be a 450 Watt job.  If you look hard at the model NUMBERS of the product, you may think it is rated at 451 Watts as well.  The fact of the matter is, it is NOT.  This unit is only rated at 431 Watts.  Although that is more than enough power than even any server set up will need and we are only talking about a 20 Watt differential, the model number suggests 451 Watts and that is just plain wrong.  Not a big item that will sway our judgment of this product much but something we felt compelled to point out regardless.

 

Beyond that there is absolutely nothing else to complain about.  The unit has a very convenient cut off switch in the back.  This makes it very easy to shut down the power to your motherboard maintaining a good ground contact, by not unplugging the supply totally.  The unit is also VERY quiet for one with a dual fan set up.  Actually, it is safe to say that it is probably the quietest dual fan power supply we have ever worked with.  Peace and quite is bliss and this unit delivers.  Actually, your CPU fan that resides on top of your processor heat sink, is probably much louder than this power supply.

 

This unit also does a nice job of ventilating your case.  Its large intake fan (seen in the above shot on the right) does a very nice job of pulling hot air away from the CPU heat sink setup and motherboard.  The exhaust fan on the back of the unit then blows that air outside of your case.  We didn't take any ambient air readings inside the case but we are sure this setup will perform better than any single fan unit on the market, in this regard.

 

 

One final comment on signal integrity.  This unit is rated at 4-5% for total regulation on your 3.3V, 5V and 12V outputs.  The tighter the voltage regulation, the less ripple or noise you have on the output lines that could cause performance issues with your computer's components.  At 4-5%, you have a very clean power source for all of your high end PC gear.

 

 

All told, the Enermax EG451P-VE is a great power supply that will take care of your needs for many years to come, as next generation processor and motherboard platforms come into the market.  It has more than enough power, all of the latest output levels and connectors for the ATX12V spec and good clean supply characteristics.  Perhaps the model number is a little misleading but with this supply, you get what you pay for.  This brings us to a final point with this power supply.  As with all top shelf components, it has a premium cost as well.  At Outside Loop, you can pick one of these up for $100.  For sure that is a little pricey when you can pick up a 285W Enermax unit for $50 and a Fortron Source unit for $25.  However, we think of the 431W unit as "cheap insurance".  You probably won't have to upgrade your power supply to meet new system specs, for a VERY long time. 

 

We're giving the Enermax EG451P-VE a Hot Hardware Heat Meter rating of....

 

 

Get 'em at Outside Loop Computers!

 

 

Need a little advice? 
Get into the Hot Hardware Conference Room and fire away!