Conclusion:
When I first saw the picoPSU at CES I was impressed by the idea and the potential to eliminate an item that typically takes up a good chunk of real estate inside a Mini-ITX case. Since the picoPSU mounts directly to the mainboard, no extra space is needed to accommodate it! Not only would this make a great upgrade power supply for a Mini-ITX system in a traditional case, but it would be ideal for a custom enclosure like many of the projects seen at
Mini-ITX.com.
Testing revealed that the "world's tiniest 12V DC-DC ATX power supply unit" is no weakling, and that it can provide ample power to keep a Mini-ITX system running reliably. Although the test system has minimal components (as may be common in this form factor), the results lead me to believe that the picoPSU-120 would be capable of handling a much heavier load than was thrown at it.
Mini-Box.com carries the picoPSU-120 for
$49.95 (US), which is actually quite competitive with more traditional DC-DC power boards used in Mini-ITX systems. One thing to keep in mind is that the AC/DC power adaptor is not included, and sourcing one separately will add to the cost if you do not have an existing (compatible) power supply that you are upgrading from. The picoPSU presently has a fairly limited availability, and my quick search of the web found it at Mini-Box.com and Mini-ITX.com.
Given the impressive performance and innovative design, I award the picoPSU-120 12V DC-DC ATX Power Supply a final score of 5 out of 5 stars, and a rating of "Highly Recommended".
Final Rating (5 out of 5 stars):
Pros:
» Ultra compact
» Strong performance
» Onboard indicator LEDs
» Competitive price
Cons:
» Does not include an AC/DC adaptor
» Limited availability
Special thanks to
Mini-Box.com for providing the picoPSU-120 12V DC-DC ATX Power Supply to Bigbruin.com!
