While desktop PC power supplies receive the bulk of enthusiasts’ attention for good reasons – not the least of which being the vast selection of options that comes from being a standardized part – power supplies as a whole aren’t just a concern for big PCs. With the majority of PC sales having flipped to notebook sales some years ago, notebook power supplies already lead the market in volume. And while most laptops don’t need the kind of massively powered PSUs that dominate the desktop space, even that is slowly changing as desktop replacement-class laptops increasingly grow in performance and power consumption.

Perhaps the poster-child for the high-performance, high-powered laptop is Eurocom, who has a long history of developing heavy-duty DTR laptops that are all but portable desktop systems. Following recent trends in GPU power consumption and in GPU popularity for both gaming and AI workloads, the company has been selling a range of “mobile supercomputers”, which are practically large, tailor-made laptops that rival even the best of desktop computers – and have the power requirements to match.

In order to power their own high-end laptops, Eurocom has developed a rather unusual 780W AC adapter for high-performance laptops. Intended to power the most powerful of powerful laptops, their latest power adapter can supply over three-quarters of a kilowatt of DC power; a desktop-like wattage for a desktop-like device. It’s a laptop power adapter that’s unique in its scale, and with some room to scale up even further.

Eurocom 780W AC Adapter Power specifications
RAIL	+20V
MAX OUTPUT	39A
	780W
DIMENSIONS	325 x 110 x 40mm, 1.38kg
AC INPUT	90 - 264 VAC, 50 - 60 Hz
MSRP	PSU: $299, Cable: $129+

Eurocom has offered this adapter for a few years now. But it’s taken on a new life as more laptops have been released that use such a large adapter (or two smaller 300W-ish power adapters). And, critically, Eurocom has made additional DC cable/connector sets for other manufactuers’ laptops, significantly increasing the number of systems it’s compatible with. Currently, Eurocom offers DC cables for the following laptops:

• Alienware M17x M18x; 1x DC Cable ; w/ barrel AW connector; 193cm/6.4ft 
• Alienware AREA 51m; 1x DC Cable + Splitter Box w/ 2x barrel AW connectors; 152cm/5ft 
• ASUS ROG G18 Strix; GX501V; GM501; GM501GM; GX531GM; 1x DC Cable; w/ barrel ROG connector 
• ASUS G703GX, GZ700GX; 1x DC Cable w/ 2x ROG barrel connectors; 152cm/5ft 
• CLEVO, OriginPC, Sager, XMG, EUROCOM laptops; 1x DC Cable; w/ 4-pin round connector; 182cm / 6ft 
• CLEVO X370SNx; 1x DC Cable; w/ square connector; 120cm / 3.8ft 
• CLEVO X170SM/X170KM; 1x DC Cable; w/ dual square connectors; 152cm / 5ft 
• Dell Precision 7720/7710; 1x DC Cable; w/ barrel Dell connector; 120cm / 3.8ft 
• MSI GE76, GT76, GT77, GE78HX Raider, Titan 18HX 1x DC Cable; w/ single square connector; 120cm / 3.8ft 
• MSI laptops & MSI Trident AS Gaming Desktops; 1x DC Cable; w/ 4-pin round connector; 182cm / 6ft 

The Eurocom 780W AC Adapter

Externally, the Eurocom 780W AC adapter looks like a hybrid between a PC PSU and a laptop adapter. It is shaped like an oversized laptop AC adapter but has a metallic body and cooling vents/fans. Eurocom advertises that it weighs “only 1.34kg”, which is the weight of an entire 14-inch laptop by comparison, but is relatively lightweight for a PSU with that kind of power output. The company logo is debossed across the top side of the adapter, with four round anti-slip pads found at its bottom. Care needs to be taken while moving it around because the metallic edges and weight can spell trouble for wooden surfaces.

Eurocom installed a small information display on the AC adapter, which shows the current, voltage, and power output, as well as the temperature of the adapter. It is not perfectly accurate – we can see it was reading a 12W load without a DC cable attached to the adapter – but it works as a basic reference. Next to it, there is a heavy-duty metallic connector for the DC cable. On the other side we can find a typical three-prong C14 AC cable receptacle, as well as an on/off switch, which is not something commonly found on laptop AC adapters.

 

Opening up the chassis, we can see that the Eurocom 780W AC adapter is not unlike common PC PSUs – just less complex due to the need to only generate a single 20V rail. The basic layout is identical, with an AC filter at the input consisting of four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two substantial filtering inductors, that leads to a rectifying bridge. The GBJ1508 bridge is made by HY Electronic Cayman Ltd, a Taiwanese company we're encountering for the first time.

 

Then we have an APFC circuitry with a massive Aishi 450V/560μF capacitor and a large filtering coil being its passive components, with a Toshiba K31N60W regulator on the same heatsink as the two MOSFETs that form a typical half-bridge configuration. Following that we have a small transformer and two Infineon 045N10N MOSFETs to generate the 20V power output. Cooling is provided by two Protechnic Electric MGT3812XB-W20 38 mm fans, which are small but high quality products with a double-ball bearing engine.

Test Results (~25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, and various other bits and parts. 

The average efficiency of the Eurocom 780W AC adapter is very high, at 91.6% when the PSU is powered from an 230V AC source and drops down to 90.9% when powered from an 115V AC source. There is no 80Plus or similar efficiency certification covering this PSU, but there is legislation such as the Ecodesign 2019/1782 directive, and, even though the manufacturer does not fully publish its performance specs as the directive requires, the Eurocom 780W adapter seems to easily meet them. We must mention that this kind of PSU has an advantage over classic PC PSUs because it only generates a single voltage line, and conversion losses are lower, so it should not be directly compared to any multi-voltage output PSU.

The two small fans of the Eurocom 780W AC adapter seem hardwired to the power output of the unit, largely ignoring the temperature of the adapter and adjusting their speed only according to the load. Up to 40% load, which should cover the power needs of most gaming laptops anyway, the adapter is practically entirely silent. The speed of the fan gradually increases when the load is greater than 330 Watts, reaching terrifying noise figures at maximum load. Given the nature of the adapter, it is highly unlikely that it will operate at such high a load for prolonged periods of time, as even the laptops that require 2x330 Watt adapters will not continuously sustain such a high load.

Power Supply Quality 

The electrical performance of the Eurocom 780W AC adapter is surprisingly good compared to its datasheet specifications. Eurocom claims a maximum voltage ripple of 200 mV but we recorded a maximum of 116 mV, which is alright for a 20 V rail and better than we expected due to the mediocre secondary side filtering. Voltage regulation is very good, at just 1.2% across the nominal load range.

Main Output
Load (Watts)	158.03		394.68		586.46		780.78
Load (Percent)	20% Load		50% Load		75% Load		100% Load
	Amperes	Volts	Amperes	Volts	Amperes	Volts	Amperes	Volts
20 V	7.8	20.26	19.5	20.24	29.25	20.05	39	20.02

 

Line	Regulation (20% to 100% load)	Voltage Ripple (mV)
		20% Load	50% Load	75% Load	100% Load
20V	1.2%	44	66	82	116

During our routine evaluation, we examine the fundamental protection features of all power supply units we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). The Eurocom 780W AC adapter behaves quite oddly here, as it has a rated output of 39 A and a maximum output of 45 A for 25 ms. However, we were able to draw 50 A from the unit, which is nearly 1000 Watts, for several minutes without triggering the OCP/OPP protection. The PSU did not show any serious signs of stress or overheating over that time, nor poor electrical performance. The OPP protection triggers immediately once the load is greater than 50.3 A – and also immediately resets and restarts the PSU when the load drops below 50.2A. It would seem that this platform was initially designed to be significantly more powerful and the OEM “forgot” to adjust the OCP/OPP trigger points.

Conclusion

The Eurocom 780W AC adapter melds raw power with innovation, presenting a piece that's as formidable as it is intriguing. With its substantial weight and metallic edges, it demands respect and caution, especially on delicate surfaces. However, its weight is justified by the impressive power output it delivers, making it a powerhouse that somewhat overshadows its bulky, heavy-set design. The inclusion of a display for monitoring performance is a smart touch, though its accuracy leaves room for improvement.

On the inside, Eurocom doesn't skimp on quality. The adapter's internals are a testament to careful selection and engineering, closely mirroring the complexity and efficiency of high-end PC PSUs. Its cooling system, though compact, functions well and provides good performance without compromising on noise levels — at least under most loads. That said, the adapter's noise profile at maximum load might not be everyone's cup of tea, hinting at a balance yet to be perfected between power and tranquility.

Overall, Eurocom's 780W AC adapter boasts commendable efficiency and electrical performance. But as a premium-priced product – a complete unit and cable will set you back at least $429 – it could benefit from a touch more finesse, particularly in terms of user safety and operational noise at high loads. Otherwise, I'm personally a bit surprised that Eurocom isn't offering a open-ended cable for DIY enthusiasts, which could broaden its appeal and utility. Such an addition would not only cater to a wider audience but also underscore Eurocom's commitment to versatility and innovation.

In sum, while the adapter stands out for its power and performance, there's also a clear avenue for Eurocom to enhance its appeal through minor, yet impactful, improvements.

Iceberg Thermal Inc. is one of the newer players in the PC cooling market. The company was founded in 2019 by an experienced team of designers and engineers setting off on their own, aiming to deliver a wide range of PC cooling products to industrial and commercial users alike. They only have a handful of retails products currently available, with the vast majority of them being CPU air coolers, but they have just launched their first liquid cooler products, the IceFLOE Oasis series.

In today’s review, we are having a look at the IceFLOE Oasis 360mm AIO (All-In-One) CPU cooler, the larger of the company's two recently-released liquid coolers. The IceFLOE Oasis CPU cooler targets the high-performance PC cooling market with a sub-$100 price point, aiming to deliver the performance needed to effectively cool a power-hungry processor without being a drain on the wallet in the process. This cooler features a 360mm radiator for an ample heat dissipation area, as well as housing for three high-airflow 120 mm fans. The IceFLOE Oasis supports a wide range of Intel and AMD socket types, making it compatible with a broad spectrum of CPUs. Additionally, it offers advanced RGB lighting, allowing users to customize the aesthetic of their cooling system.

In the arena of PC components, Be quiet! is a name synonymous with excellence, known for its fusion of silent functionality and exceptional performance. The company's broad range of products, from high-end power supply units (PSUs) to sophisticated cases and cooling solutions, including both air and liquid options, is crafted with a keen eye on reducing noise while maximizing efficiency. Be quiet! has earned accolades for its dedication to achieving near-silent operation across its lineup, making it a preferred choice among those in the PC enthusiast community who seek a serene computing environment. The diversity of its offerings reflects a deep understanding of the needs of tech enthusiasts and professionals alike, with each product designed to offer a blend of low noise levels and high efficiency.

Today we're looking at he Be quiet! Straight Power 12 750W PSU, a high-tier offering in Be quiet!'s PSU portfolio that exemplifies the brand's approach to product design. The Straight Power 12 series is engineered to deliver top performance and whisper-quiet operation, appealing to users who seek the optimal mix of power efficiency and sound level, without compromising on reliability and premium quality. The 750 Watt model that we are reviewing today is the weakest unit of the series, yet still enough to effortlessly power a modern gaming system with a mid-tier GPU.

Typical CPU coolers do the job for standard heat management but often fall short when it comes to quiet operation and peak cooling effectiveness. This gap pushes enthusiasts and PC builders towards specialized aftermarket solutions designed for their unique demands. The premium aftermarket cooling niche is fiercely competitive, with brands vying to offer top-notch thermal management solutions.

Today we're shining a light on DeepCool's AK620 Digital cooler, a notable entry in the high-end CPU cooler arena. At first blush, the AK620 Digital stands out from the crowd mostly for its integrated LCD screen. Yet aesthetics aside, underneath the snappy screen is a tower cooler that was first and foremost engineered to exceed the cooling needs of the most powerful mainstream CPUs. And it's a big cooler at that: with a weight of 1.5Kg and 162mm tall, this is no lightweight heatsink and fan assembly. All of which helps to set it apart in a competitive marketplace.

DeepCool is one of the few veterans in the PC power & cooling components field still active today. The Chinese company was first founded in 1996 and initially produced only coolers and cooling accessories, but quickly diversified into the PC Case and power supply unit (PSU) markets. To this day, DeepCool stays almost entirely focused on PC power & cooling products, with input devices and mousepads being their latest diversification attempt.

Today's review turns the spotlight toward DeepCool’s PSUs and, more specifically, the PX850G 850W ATX 3.0 PSU, which currently is their most popular power supply. The PX850G is engineered to balance all-around performance with reliability and cost, all while providing ATX 3.0 compliance. It is based on a highly popular high-output platform but, strangely, DeepCool rated the PX850G for operation up to 40°C.

ARCTIC GmbH, originally known as Arctic Cooling, first burst onto the PC cooling scene in 2001 and has since maintained its stature as a leader in cooling technologies. The company made its mark with top-notch thermal compounds and has since kept its focus on cooling solutions while also expanding into other tech accessories, including advanced monitor mounts and audio products.

With the introduction of the Liquid Freezer III series, ARCTIC has taken another significant step forward in the cooling market. This new lineup builds upon the success of the previous Liquid Freezer II series, the great price-to-performance ratio of which made it a highly popular product. Today, we're delving into ARCTIC's latest offerings with the Liquid Freezer III series and, specifically, the 280 A-RGB White model. We'll assess the features, quality, and thermal performance of the AIO (All-In-One) cooler of the series ARCTIC is hoping to dominate the bulk of the mainstream market with.

Be quiet! is renowned for its dedication to excellence in the realm of PC components, specializing in products that emphasize silence and performance. The brand's product lineup is extensive, encompassing high-quality power supply units (PSUs), cases, and cooling solutions, including air and liquid coolers. Be quiet! is particularly renowned for trying to achieve whisper-quiet operation across all its products, making it a favorite among PC enthusiasts who prioritize a noiseless computing environment. The brand's portfolio reflects a dedication to meeting the diverse needs of tech aficionados and professionals, with an array of products that emphasize noise reduction and efficiency.

This review shines a spotlight on the Be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650W PSU, a standout product in Be quiet!'s PSU collection that illustrates the company's attitude towards product design. The Pure Power 12 M series is designed to provide dependable performance and quiet operation, catering to users who demand a good balance of power efficiency and acoustics with reliability and value. This model, in particular, strives to offer a compelling blend of performance and quality, making it an attractive option for individuals seeking a PSU that aligns with the requirements of both entry-level and advanced PC builds.

Cooler Master, renowned for its pioneering role in cooling technologies, has evolved into a key player in the PC components industry, extending its expertise to include cases and power supply units (PSUs). The company's current catalog is a testament to its commitment to diversity, featuring over 75 PC cases, 90 coolers, and 120 PSUs, all designed to cater to the evolving demands of tech enthusiasts and professionals alike.

This review focuses on the Cooler Master MWE Gold V2 750W PSU, a key offering in Cooler Master's power supply lineup that embodies the brand's vision of combining quality and value. The MWE Gold V2 series is engineered to offer solid performance and reliability at a price point that appeals to system builders and gamers looking for an entry-level to mid-range solution. As a result, the MWE Gold V2 750W has been a consistently popular offering within Cooler Master's catalog, often cycling in and out of stock depending on what sales are going on. This makes the PSU a bit harder to track down in North America than it does Europe, and quick to vanish when it does show up.

Alphacool, a renowned name in the realm of PC cooling solutions, recently launched their Apex Stealth Metal series of cooling fans. Prior to their launch, the new fans had amassed a significant amount of hype in the PC community, in part because of the unfortunate misconception that the entire fan would be made out of metal.

Regardless of whether they're made entirely out of metal or not, however, these fans are notable for their unique construction, combining a metallic frame with plastic parts that are decoupled from the metal. This design choice not only contributes to the fan's aesthetic appeal but also plays a role in its operational efficiency.

The series includes two distinct models, the Apex Stealth Metal 120 mm and the Apex Stealth Metal Power 120 mm, distinguished primarily by their maximum rotational speeds. The former reaches up to 2000 RPM, while the latter, designed for more demanding applications, can achieve a remarkable 3000 RPM. Available in four color options – White, Matte Black, Chrome, and Gold – these fans offer a blend of style and functionality, making them a versatile choice for various PC builds.

For established PC peripheral vendors, the biggest challenge in participating in the highly commoditized market is setting themselves apart from their numerous competitors. As designs for coolers and other peripherals have converged over the years into a handful of basic, highly-optimized designs, developing novel hardware for what is essentially a "solved" physics problem becomes harder and harder. So often then, we see vendors focus on adding non-core features to their hardware, such as RGB lighting and other aesthetics. But every now and then, we see a vendor go a little farther off of the beaten path with the physical design of their coolers.

Underscoring this point – and the subject of today's review – is Enermax's latest all-in-one (AIO) CPU cooler, the LiqMaxFlo 360mm. Designed to compete in the top-tier segment of the cooling market, Enermax has opted to play with the physics of their 360mm cooler a bit by making it 38mm thick, about 40% thicker than the industry average of 27mm. And while Enermax is hardly the first vendor to release a thick AIO cooler, they are in much more limited company here due to the design and compatibility trade-offs that come with using a thicker cooler – trade-offs that most other vendors opt to avoid.

The net result is that the LiqMaxFlo 360mm gets to immediately start off as differentiated from so many of the other 360mm coolers on the market, employing a design that can give Enermax an edge in cooling performance, at least so long as the cooler fits in a system. Otherwise, not resting on just building a bigger cooler, Enermax has also equipped the LiqMaxFlo 360mm with customizable RGB lighting, allowing it to also cater to the aesthetic preferences of modern advanced PC builders. All together, there's a little something for everyone with the LiqMaxFlo 360mm – and a lot of radiator to cram into a case. So let's get started.

A recall on 12VHPWR angled adapters from CableMod has reached its next stage this week, with the publication of a warning document from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Referencing the original recall for CableMods' V1.0 and V1.1 adapters, which kicked off back in December, the CPSC notice marks the first involvement of government regulators. And with that has come to light a bit more detail on just how big the recall is overall, along with an estimated failure rate for the adapters of a hair over 1%.

According to the CPSC notice, CableMod is recalling 25,300 adapters, which were sold between February, 2023, and December, 2023. Of those, at least 272 adapters failed, as per reports and repair claims made to CableMod. That puts the failure rate for the angled adapters at 1.07% – if not a bit higher due to the underreporting that can happen with self-reported statistics. All told, the manufacturer has received at least $74,500 in property damage claims in the United States, accounting for the failed adapters themselves, as well as the video card and anything else damaged in the process.

As part of the recall, CableMod has asked owners of its angled 12VHPWR adapters V1.0 and V1.1 to stop using them immediately, and to destroy them to prevent future use. Buyers can opt for a full refund of $40, or a $60 store credit.

It is noteworthy that, despite the teething issues with the initial design of the 12VHPWR connector – culminating with the PCI-SIG replacing it with the upgraded 12V-2x6 standard – the issue with the CableMod adapters is seemingly distinct from those larger design flaws. Specifically, CableMod's recall cites issues with the male portion of their adapters, which was not altered in the 12V-2x6 update. Compared to 12VHPWR, 12V-2x6 only alters female plugs (such as those found on video cards themselves), calling for shorter sensing pins and longer conductor terminals. Male plugs, on the other hand, remain unchanged, which is why existing PSU cables made for the 12VHPWR remain compatible (and normally safe) with 12V-2x6 video cards. Though as cable mating is a two-way dance, it's unlikely having to plug into inadequate 12VHPWR female connectors did CableMod any favors here.

Sources: Consumer Product Safety Commission, HotHardware, CableMod

Today we're looking at a all-in-one closed loop cooler from a face that's new to AnandTech: Geometric Future. Founded in 2020, Geometric Future is a PC components manufacturer with a goal of setting themselves apart in the crowded PC marketplace by redefining modern aesthetics. Their approach to design emphasizes the application of geometric elements and minimalist philosophy, as reflected in their slogan, "Simplify". They regard themselves as a potential future backbone in China's design industry, starting with a small step in the IT sector.

For such a new company, Geometric Future has already made significant strides in the realm of PC power and cooling products. One of their most notable products – and what we're reviewing today – is the Eskimo Junior 36, an all-in-one CPU liquid cooler available in 240mm and 360mm sizes. This cooler is designed with a minimalist aesthetic in mind, featuring a simplistic CPU block and equipped with high-performance Squama 2503 fans. Geometric Future pitches the Eskimo Junior 36 as being engineered to provide an optimal balance of cooling efficiency and aesthetics, making it able to achieve excellent cooling capabilities while maintaining low noise levels.

But marketing claims aside, we shall see where it stands in today’s highly competitive market in this review.