darkFlash UPMOST 1250W ATX v3.0 PSU Review

Epilogue

The darkFlash UPMOST 1250W is a decent-performing PSU, which could be notably better if the ripple at 12V was lower under full load and if the transient response on the same rail was improved. Currently, the 12V rail drops dead low under the increased transient loads that the ATX v3.1 spec requires, and the OEM of this unit should look into this issue and fix it. The tiny platform allows for a super small PCB, but combining the small PCB and the restrictive fan grille leads to sky-high noise output. Clearly, Zhong Yuan Power didn’t pay much attention to the fan speed profile of this platform, which is a mess in all load ranges. If you cannot stand noisy PC parts, this PSU is not for you. Now, if you mostly care about price, this is a decently priced product using good parts, so it will most likely not have any issues in the long run. Surviving all my tests without breaking means a lot regarding reliability. Especially during the protection features evaluation, I push hard the products under test, far beyond their official ratings, to see if they can withstand abuse, besides checking if their protection features are properly set. In this unit, the OCP triggering points on the minor rails are set sky-high, and although it survived my tests, this can be a problem in the long run. There is no need for such high power levels on the minor rails, especially at 3.3V. Lastly, the unit’s 5VSB rail is only rated at 2.5A, while the ATX spec recommends at least 3A, but it can deliver up to 3.9A before its OCP engages.

It is always interesting to test new platforms instead of the typical stuff, and I highly welcome a new OEM to the PSU market, where several big players dominate the field. I have said that many times in the past, but I will repeat it: competition is good for all of us. Hopefully, we will see more platforms from this OEM, Zhong Yuan Power, and improvements in the sections that I highlighted in this review, especially noise output.

Before investing in a new power supply, read my Best ATX v3.x PSUs article to check all alternative PSU offerings. You help me a lot by using my affiliate links, which don’t increase the product’s price. I get a commission from Amazon every time you do it, which can make a difference for me, especially now that I am on my own, working exclusively for my media and not for someone else.