Installing the Zalman Power Supply

After having checked the Zalman power supply, the time has come try this unit and go for a spin around the block. We will be using one of our MVKTech systems to install the power supply and to run some power hungry tests on it. Our MVKTech rig is packed with a power hungry CPU, several hard drives, memory modules to draw as much power from the power supply as much as possible.

• ASUS P4P800 Deluxe Mainboard
• Intel Pentium 4 (Prescott) 3.0GHz CPU
• 1024MB OCZ PC-3700 Gold Dual Channel Memory
• 1024MB Corsair XMS PRO PC-3200 XL TWINX Memory
• PNY Verto 6800 GT (NV40) 256MB AGP
• 1x Maxtor Diamond Max 9 200GB IDE HDD (UDMA133)
• 2x Maxtor Diamond Max 9 120GB SATA HDD (Raid Config)
• 2x Maxtor Diamond Max 9 250GB SATA HDD (Raid Config)
• Plextor PX-130A DVD-ROM Drive
• Plextor PX-716A DVD+/-RW DL Drive
• Zalman ZM460-APS (460W) Power Supply
• Cooler Master Cooldrive 6
• Cooler Master ATC-200C Case
• Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000

We will just install the Zalman 460W power supply into our Cooler Master case and then we are set to go. So let's get that done first and then we can finally check how powerful and noiseless the Zalman PSU really is.

We removed the previous power supply which was fitting our system so that we can now install the Zalman 460W noiseless power supply. We will install the PSU in the therefore assigned spot of the Cooler Master case, which is at the top of the case. This way the PSU will not add up on the heat already produced by the other hardware.

All done, we just had to slide the Zalman PSU into the assigned bay of our Cooler Master case we have the PSU installed in less then a minute. The only point where you have to pay attention is that you guide the power cables while sliding the PSU into the computer case. As this is a non modular design you have to take into account a bit more cable, but in the end this is not that much different then with a modular power supply.

Last but not least, we get to the point of adding up the power connections to our hardware components. Running several hard drives in a single system will prove we need a stable power supply which can handle the stress under heavy load. Our system is endowed with lots of peripherals and for that fact we needed just about every connector available.