External Impressions and Cable Configuration

The power supply case is matte black and its depth is 160 mm. The ventilation holes an eye catcher, since they use no classic fan grill. The ventilation holes near the large power switch are honeycombed, as usual. Moreover the modular connectors don't protrude which is nice to see.

Cables and Connectors

Connector type (length)

Main 1x 24-pin (50cm) fixed
ATX12V/EPS12V 1x 4+4-pin (55cm) fixed
PCIe 1x 6/8-pin (45cm) modular
1x 6/8-pin (45cm) modular
Peripheral 4x SATA (ca. 45, 60, 75, 90cm) modular
4x SATA (ca. 45, 60, 75, 90cm) modular
3x Molex, 1x FDD (ca. 45, 60, 75, 90cm) modular
3x Molex, 1x FDD (ca. 45, 60, 75, 90cm) modular

Both the 24-pin and the 4+4-pin connector are fixed--a common solution. All peripheral cables are quite long while each of the two PCIe cables reach 45cm. Eight SATA connectors are not bad for a 550W power rating. In addition two FDD plugs can be found at the end of those Molex cable harnesses. With six molex connectors the  power supply is exceptionally well equipped.

Delivery Contents, Power Rating and Fan Internals and Electronics
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  • LeftSide - Saturday, March 17, 2012 - link

    Whenever you do a review on a Power Supply, is their any way you can get a retail version to check and make sure you are getting the same results? I just feel like if a company sends in a power supply to you, they are going to send the absolute best performing power supply they have. It might not always be reflective of real world results.
    Graphics cards and CPUs are different. The performance will be the same. Although I never trust the overclocking results. Again the company sending you the product is going to send the lowest voltage part they have, giving the review the best OC results possible. I wait to read the forums about how well they OC in real life.
  • pc_void - Saturday, March 17, 2012 - link

    I agree. PSUs are too often cherry picked. Takes away from the review in the end.
  • Martin Kaffei - Saturday, March 17, 2012 - link

    This PSU has no Japanese main capacitor as promised. So nobody checked this sample.
  • ssddaydream - Sunday, March 18, 2012 - link

    While I agree that retail units will often differ from review samples, I disagree that CPUs and GPUs would be the same. Performance characteristics at identical clock speeds would be the same, but overclocking and thermal characteristics could differ significantly.
  • AnnonymousCoward - Sunday, March 18, 2012 - link

    uhh, he said CPUs and GPUs are different.
  • ssddaydream - Sunday, March 18, 2012 - link

    I am saying CPUs and GPUs vary largely.
  • Swirlser - Sunday, March 18, 2012 - link

    The OP is saying CPUs and GPUs vary.

    OP: "Graphics cards and CPUs are different."

    ssddaydream: "I disagree that CPUs and GPUs would be the same."
  • Just1Jay - Sunday, March 18, 2012 - link

    No, sir. ;- )
    I think you are being waaay too picky. ;- )
    Anyway, many reviews are done with manufacture demos which we hope are the same as the retail items. No matter what the component.
    Just my input.
    Jay
  • Spacecomber - Saturday, March 17, 2012 - link

    I'm not familiar with this manufacturer. Do they have their own retail line (as do Seasonic and Fortron, for example)? What would some typical brands be (and maybe models) that make use of this company for the manufacturing their products. Looking at their web site, I get the impression that they make a range of components for the electronics industry, but I couldn't easily get any further specifics. (They are a Taiwanese company with much of their manufacturing done on the mainland.)
  • Peanutsrevenge - Sunday, March 18, 2012 - link

    Try reading the article before asking questions that already answered in the article:

    "Sirtec (High Power) is the manufacturer of the Hive-series."

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