craig5320

Read The Review Here
__________________

We have tested and reviewed many top end power supply units here at Driver Heaven. However, most people do not need a wallet sapping 1kw unit. For example, buying a unit which can output 800W+ for a PC which is used for office applications or web browsing is insane. Today we have an interesting unit from NorthQ for review, the Silent Lightning 400W. While the 400W maximum output makes it suitable only for low to middle range systems, NorthQ have attempted to create a good looking unit, to make it stand out from the crowd.

__________________

HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Erroneus

NorthQ has a really cheap 400W model also, it's around 25-30£, and acutally performs quite well for such a cheap PSU. Usable for HTPC and non-oc/non quad core/non sli systems.

But the reviewed model seems a bit to expensive.

__________________

IvanV

A nice PSU for a midrange PC. A price like the one Erroneus mentioned would have made it even more appealing.

I'd like to make a remark about the distribution of power between the rails: the maximum output of 3,3 and 5V rails is unnecessarily high for a modern PC. If they "relocated" some of the power from these rails to the 12V rails, they would get an even more usable 400W PSU.

__________________
If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Matth

Komplett have NorthQ's down to £33.01 (sold out at the moment), but the stand-out in their 400W class PSUs has to be the FSP 400W model at £30 ... still seems a little expensive for 400W, but it's a non-junk name.

Actually, on some forums, NorthQ are NOT at all regarded.

__________________
Mary had a little lamb,
Her father shot it dead
Now Mary takes her lamb to school,
Between two crusts of bread

Grace

Actually you cannot 'relocate' power since they use different transformers. A larger (or secondary) 12V transformer can be used, which will require larger components across the whole secondary circuit, significantly raising the manufacturing cost.

Smaller transformers can be used at the 3,3V and 5V rails to lower the cost, but I guess that the price difference would be negligible and the actual specs of the unit will go down for no apparent reason. Finally many people might buy this unit for older PCs as a replacement for a bad unit or an upgrade, so they will need the lower voltage lines.


So, better have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

mike2h

grace, would you please GET THAT FN GUN OUTA MY FACE!

__________________

Grace

Hey, somebody is paying attention to you.

NorthQ lowered the price of the unit considerably, so they expect the end-user price to drop below 40 pounds for this particular model.

Erroneus

Well I am Danish and NorthQ is from Denmark

But good move from them, that seems like a really good price.

Actually the price here in Denmark for that model, is down to 35£

__________________