Conclusion:
With so little history on this product prior to the review, I wasn't sure what to expect from the Nesteq EECS 700 Watt ultra quiet power supply. In the end I wound up very impressed by the convenience of the EECS modular cables, the extremely low noise operation, and the muscle it packed to be able to power a rather power hungry gaming system.
The EECS (Enhanced Easy Connecting System) modular cables are definitely the unit's most unique design feature, and according to the Quiet PC USA website they are something "never before seen on a PSU". Modular cables are nothing new, but the ability to customize the length of each cable as well as what connectors are found on each cable, is definitely interesting. Installation was quick and cable management was about as easy and neat as possible. They didn't skimp on connections either, as you could easily connect four PCI Express graphics cards, ten SATA drives, ten PATA drives, and four floppies.
The only negative to list for this unit is that four 16A 12V rails just might not cut it for some systems. While the typical low noise system probably won't be designed around multiple GPUs, CPUs, and other power hungry components, it is possible. Many manufacturers are going back to a single, beefy 12V rail to avoid over-current shutdowns caused by an overloaded rail while other rails go under-utilized. However, during testing the power supply did not flinch even when loaded up. Three ATI Radeon HD3870 graphics processors, an overclocked Intel dual core processor, and a variety of other system load sources were handled with ease.
The Nesteq EECS 700 Watt ultra quiet power supply has rather limited availability, so your best bet is to head straight to Quiet PC USA if interested in one. They carry the unit for $185.95, which may be more than most would be willing to pay for a power supply. High quality power supply units that put out something around 700W can be had for less from well known manufacturers like Enermax, Thermaltake, and PC Power and Cooling. While it may have extremely nice cables and produce minimal noise, the lack of brand name recognition makes the premium price hard to justify. But then again, big brand names generally start off small, and based on the quality, features, and performance of this power supply, Nesteq has what it takes to make a name for themselves.
The bottom line is that the "Enhanced Easy Connecting System" makes cable management quick and easy, and Nesteq is justified in using the term "ultra quiet" to describe the low noise operation of this power supply. With those two items in mind, the Nesteq EECS 700 Watt ultra quiet power supply earns the Bigbruin.com "Great Idea" and "Whisper Quiet" awards.
Pros:
» Performed well in testing
» "Enhanced Easy Connecting System" is a great idea
» Plenty of cables and connections
» Extremely low noise output
» High efficiency and power factor rating
Cons:
» High end systems may be limited by the four 16A 12V rails
» Price and availability
Special thanks to Quiet PC USA for providing the Nesteq EECS 700 Watt Ultra Quiet Power Supply to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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