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We took a first look at power consumption numbers from the latest integrated graphics platforms and came away with some surprising results at the time. As we mentioned in the original article, our initial focus was on the platform and not chipsets.  Little did we know the reaction this focus would create from both the manufacturers and...

How big does your power supply really need to be for your new computer? We examine the real power requirements of modern components to provide answers; what we discover may surprise you....

The new Intel Atom processors are rather amazing pieces of technology. These diminutive processors pack a whole lot of punch. They have the performance equivalent to that of the Intel Pentium M, for a fraction of the power consumption. With a TDP of only 0.6W to 4W, the Atom processors are ideal for Mobile Internet Devices and Ultra Mobile PCs as the lower power consumption means the devices can deliver longer battery lives. These may not be mainstream mobile processors, but they will certainly have a significant impact on the design of such mobile devices.

There's a big difference between a power supply that runs your system "okay" and a high-quality unit that provides higher efficiency, lower noise, and more stable output. We have recommendations for people interested in the latter....

We took an in-depth look on one of the most simple power supplies from Antec, EarthWatts 500 W. Does it really deliver 500 W? Read on.

Here is a snippet:
"EarthWatts is a series of power supplies from Antec with a Spartan look and relatively low cost, but able to deliver 80% efficiency and nominal power labeled at 50º C, also featuring active PFC and two video card connectors for your SLI or CrossFire setup. Let's take an in-depth look inside the 500 W model and see if it can really deliver its labeled power."

HX620W is a very famous power supply from Corsair and 18 months after we posted our original article on it we decided to re-evaluate this unit to include minor changes Corsair made to it and also to include our load tests.

Here is a snippet:

"We had the chance a while back to review the Corsair HX series 620 watt power supply and it managed to be one of the most stable we have yet to come across. The power levels were incredibly clean and showed no stability issues at all. While this was a sure winner in our labs, past performance won't help out in today's testing.

When it comes to power supplies, the days of picking up whatever happens to be on the shelf are long gone. With the advent of more powerful processors, graphics and cooling solutions, power is just too important to take shortcuts with."

The MacBook Pro update gets "5 hours of wireless productivity" on the battery and is charged by a slightly smaller power adapter. The MacBook has to settle for 4.5 hours. Has Apple's marketing changed to align with reality, or are the machines getting worse battery performance?Read More...

The Rexus Power Supply Tester is constructed of sturdy aluminum and allows you to check to see if a power supply is working properly in seconds. An easy to read LCD display on top of the tester shows you the detailed voltage information on each of the voltage rails, and the Power Good (PG) value in milliseconds. Not bad for something that costs ~$20 at numerous retailers.