Conclusion:
It was beginning to seem like manufacturers wanted enthusiasts and gamers to think they needed power supplies with extremely high total power ratings in order to keep their systems up and running. While these high powered units may have a (small) market, you can definitely power a modern system with a quality power supply with a much more reasonable total power rating. The BFG Tech LS-680 680W power supply is a perfect example of this. It may only be rated for 680W total power, but it provides quad 12V rails rated for 20A each, four PCI Express power connections, and other features necessary to keep a rather power hungry system up and running without issue.
In addition to providing the power necessary to keep a modern system running reliably, the LS-680 offers other desirable features such as an ample number of connections, long power leads, high efficiency, low noise, and attractive styling.
There really were no tangible negatives to list regarding the LS-680, but one less than impressive item that stands out is how things look on the inside. While the performance was just fine anyway, the rather generic and undersized appearance of the internal components didn't install much confidence. Looks can obviously be deceiving, and for now I must assume that this is the case with the guts of the LS-680.
Newegg.com currently offers the BFG Tech LS-680 680W power supply for $114.99 (US) with free shipping. The price is not one of the strongest points, but a $25 mail-in-rebate good through the end of September 2008 brings the total price down to $89.99. To compare this unit to the Rosewill RX630-S-B one more time, the price after rebate on the LS-680 is $5 more than the RX630-S-B without a rebate. If you have the patience for mail-in-rebates, I'd consider the BFG Tech a better value given things like the extra connectors, higher power and current ratings, and higher efficiency... but I don't really care for rebates at all.
The BFG Tech LS-680 680W power supply delivers reliable performance, attractive styling, high efficiency, and is good to go for a serious gaming system. With these strong points and others considered, it earns the Bigbuin.com "Highly Recommended" and "Gaming Approved" awards.
 
Pros:
» No nonsense appearance looks sharp
» Plenty of connectors, including four PCI Express and eight SATA
» Solid performance
» 20A on each of four 12V rails
» High efficiency
» Runs cool and quiet
» Well finished cables with black mesh sleeving and black connectors
» $90 (US, after rebate)
Cons:
» Somewhat generic and undersized internal components
» Price only gets competitive after $25 mail in rebate
Special thanks to BFG Tech for providing the BFG Tech LS-680 680W Power Supply to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
|
|
