| Rosewill RX630-S-B Xtreme Series 630W Power Supply
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Conclusion:
Before the review started I didn't know what to expect from for the Rosewill RX630-S-B Xtreme Series 630W power supply. The published features and specifications were strong, and from what I had read elsewhere on the web the general opinion seemed positive. I just wasn't sure that a Rosewill power supply priced under $90 was really going to impress, and I worried that too much of that small budget had been spent on the aesthetics.
In the end I was not only pleased with the performance, but pleasantly surprised to find four potentiometers inside for fine tuning of the voltage rails. While each of the three main rails tested was very stable and within specification, it may be necessary to adjust the 12V rail as it fluctuated between 12.42V (idle) and 12.45V (load), both of which are higher than I have ever seen.
Other strong points for the RX630-S-B include near silent operation, well finished cables, and overall attractive styling. While the high gloss finish on the housing looks sharp, it is easily smudged, so don't touch it once you get it installed!
Other items worth mentioning didn't create any problems, but fit more into the "Con" category than the "Pro". While you can buy a higher rated Rosewill Xtreme Series power supply, I felt that this 630W unit could have (and should have) been equipped with more connectors. Four SATA and two PCI Express connections seem like the minimum a unit should have these days, and adding one or two more of each would have helped confirm the RX630-S-B as a true enthusiast grade PSU. On top of that, the lengths of some of the cables were on the short side. While installation went well in a mid-tower case, there wasn't much slack left on the 24-pin and 8-pin motherboard leads, and I doubt this unit would work well in all full tower cases.
As with most Rosewill brand products, there isn't much need to shop around, as you pretty much have to buy at Newegg.com or ChiefValue.com. With a price of $84.99 at either store, I wouldn't shop around anyway, as the price is very attractive for a unit.
The bottom line is that this is a surprisingly good power supply that comes at an equally surprising low price. The Rosewill RX630-S-B Xtreme Series 630W power supply therefore earns the Bigbruin.com awards of "Highly Recommended" and "Good Value".
 
Pros:
» Solid performance for mid-range gaming rigs and high-end desktop systems
» 20A on each of four 12V rails, and 24A on 3.3V and 5V rails
» Fan runs in near silence while keeping unit cool
» Well finished cables with black mesh sleeving and black connectors
» Four potentiometers found inside for voltage rail adjustment
» Competitively priced at about $85 (US)
Cons:
» 12V rail reading was high
» More connectors would be nice (SATA and PCI Express)
» Cables could be longer
» Mirror finish is easily smudged
Special thanks to Rosewill for providing the Rosewill RX630-S-B Xtreme Series 630W 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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