Epilogue
Micronics initiated its cooperation with the huge Chinese OEM called Great Wall with the Wizmax G series, and the results are promising. Besides a tight load regulation and good ripple suppression, the transient response at 12V is good, the hold-up time is increased, and the average efficiency meets the Cybenetics Platinum criteria (however, Micronics decided to use the Cybenetics Gold badge instead). The 5VSB rail also has satisfactory efficiency, and the APFC converter offers good enough performance. On the other hand, some things could be improved in performance; the inrush currents are high, and vampire power at 230V should be below 0.1W. Moreover, efficiency at light and super-light loads needs a boost.
Micronics and Great Wall paid attention to the fan speed profile, which is loose enough to allow for a silent operation under normal operating conditions. The fan stop feature contributes to this, but it would be nice if there were an option to be able to deactivate it and have the fan spinning from the start, at low speeds under light loads, to not allow for heat build-up at the PSU’s internals. In general, I think that fans with PWM control spinning at low speeds under light loads are preferable over the fan-stop feature.
In the protection features section, which is among the most important, the 12V OCP and OPP triggering points are conservatively set; however, I cannot say the same for the OCP triggering points on the minor rails, which are set too high. Moreover, it would be nice to see a fan failure protection feature implemented. Unfortunately, most PSU platforms don’t have fan failure protection, but it is time to help change that.
All in all, the Micronics Wizmax G 850W is a well-performing PSU that, with some further tuning, can become even more competitive.
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- Delivered full power at 46.5°C
- ATX v3.1 and PCIe CEM 5.1 compliant
- Good parts used
- Within 1% load regulation on the primary rails
- Good ripple suppression
- Efficient platform (Cybenetics Platinum)
- Quiet operation under light and mid loads
- Satisfactory performing APFC converter
- Good transient response at 12V
- Long hold-up time
- Alternative Low Power Mode (ALPM) compatible
- FDB (Hong Hua) fan
- 12+4-pin PCIe connector set at 600W
- OCP on the minor rails and OPP need adjustments
- Relatively low efficiency at light and super-light loads
- High inrush currents
- 3.3V rail’s transient response could be better (normal loads)
- Increased vampire power consumption at 230V
- No fan failure protection
