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Testing:
Test Rig: |
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| Motherboard | Abit IX38 Quad GT Motherboard |
| Memory | Crucial Ballistix DDR2 PC2-6400 |
| Processor | Intel E7200 2.53GHz |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital 300GB Velociraptor |
| VGA | Palit Radeon 4870 Sonic Dual Edition CrossfireX |
| Power Supply | Lian Li Maxima Force Extreme Power Supply PS-A750GB 750W |
| Chassis | AeroCool AeroRacer Pro Case |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit SP1 |
The motherboard that we had on hand didn't support CrossfireX. Luckily, we didn't need the help of ATI's multi-GPU rendering solution to fully stress test the dual 4870's we had hooked up. Folding@Home has the ability to run on a GPU and offers manual assignment to each GPU. After configuring Folding@Home to use both GPUs, we easily overcame the obstacle of not having CrossfireX to test the power supply.
We used a multi-meter to measure the voltage of the power supply both idle and under the intense stress of the maxed out graphics cards. While idle, the multi-meter read 11.97V and 11.94V carrying the load of the maxed out 4870's. At all times, the BoosterX 5 had less than a 1% deviation from the 12V standard, which means it holds its voltage exceptionally well. A good rule of thumb for power supply voltages is that a 2-4% deviation in voltage from the standard 12 V makes for an acceptable power supply. Anything greater in deviation is junk.
Conclusion:
FSP Group helps to fill a nice niche market with their power supply. At time of writing, the BoosterX 5 could be found for around $90, which is considerably cheaper than the kilowatt solutions out there that are capable of handling the 3 and 4 GPU setups. This power supply works exceptionally well offloading work from the main power supply for the graphics cards. The front LED adds a nice bit of eye candy to something that will be visible on the front of your case. With 7 different colored LED's, there's bound to be one to match your case. The attractive price tag makes it a nice alternative to buying a new power supply, especially if you're building or upgrading on a budget. With the economy in it's current state, you have to be thrifty whenever possible. For performing exceptionally in the line of duty, we would like to award the FSP Group BoosterX 5 the awesome hardware award.
