Intro:

    An unstable computer can be sometimes contributed to a bad, or failing Power Supply Unit. (PSU) While not many people can afford a professional PSU tester, what about the tech shops, and the end users? Well, COOLMAX has recently introduced a PSU tester that maybe worth a look. If anything, at least it tests the voltage output on the P4, Molex, and Floppy connectors, as well as the rails on the 20 Pin ATX connector. Instead of just one LED that lights up, as I've seen on some other inexpensive PSU testers. Let's take a closer look shall we?

Features: (slightly edited, but not overly edited from the website)

    This product is a simple tester for switching power supply. It makes it easy to test the power supply output.
 
  1. Turn-on your power supply.
  2. Plug-in your 20 pin power supply connector to mini tester.
  3. Check LED light it ON or OFF (+5V. +12V. +3.3V. -5V. -12V. +5VBS. PG)
      - If the power output is working, the LED will light and you will hear a sound.
      - If the power output fails, you won't see the LED light & no sound.
  4. Plug the HDD power connector to check if it passes or fails.
  5. Remove HDD power and plug P4 connector to check if it passes or fails.
  6. Remove P4 connector and plug the Floppy power connector to check if it passes or fails.


Warning: (slightly edited, but not overly edited from the website)
 
    This product is designed only for power supply output tests. Do not leave it connected to the power supply unattended. It generates heat and could possibly damage your power supply.

  • 20-pin main power connector
  • 4-pin peripheral power connector
  • 12 volt(P4) connector
  • Floppy connector


The packaging:

    In simple cardboard insert/plastic shell, as we are all used to seeing with small retail objects, and mostly fans really, is the PSU tester. While nothing is overdone, the packaging is tasteful. The English translation is pretty good, not great, but as you can imagine, not that much of anything is produced in the USA anymore.

(1) Front of packaging	(2) Back of packaging

Top/bottom/weight?:

    Below you can see the top and bottom of the tester. Not much really to point out except the directions printed out on it, and the base of the unit is constructed of brushed aluminum. Yes, brushed aluminum. I would have rather had it be plastic, for scratch resistance, but the aluminum does look good, and gives it some weight. Weight = good right?

(3) The top	(4) The bottom

The ends:

    On one end is the ATX power connector. Simply plug in your PSU, make sure the switch on the back, if applicable, is on, and plug in your PSU to that connector. You should hear a beep, and all the lights will light up if everything is good. Then you can leave the ATX plugged in, and one at a time, test the other plugs. As seen in picture 6 that is. Just ignore that S-Video to RCA (Composite) plug that I used to prop up the ends of the PSU tester for the pictures.

(5) 20 pin ATX	(6) Molex/P4/Berg

Testing:

    Well, here we go with a working PSU that I pulled out of my workstation a couple years ago. Mind you, a non-working PSU won't make the tester beep, and light up. The pictures pretty much speak for themselves. You may not even have to click the thumbnails...Note, when testing the P4 connector, it is only 12 Volt, so the 5 Volt LED will NOT light up.

(7) ATX line in	(8) Testing 5 and 12 volt Molex

(9) Testing 12 Volt P4	(10) Testing 5 and 12 Volt Berg (Floppy connector)

What makes it tick?:

    Throwing caution to the wind, which I do at times, but not all the time, I found a screw under the "Void if removed sticker." I proceeded to remove it with my trusty screwdriver. After 20 minutes, I still couldn't figure how to take it apart. I pulled, I pushed, I pried. Sorry folks...

(11) Candle in the Wind

Summary (The truth be told):

    Now we have to take a step back. Did you look above? Picture 2, at the back of the packaging? I quote, "This product is a simple tester for switching power supply." Yes, other than missing an 'a', "simple" meaning, it tests using the voltage off a working PSU. A bad PSU, one that doesn't power on, won't power on the tester. I had one of those bad type PSU's at my disposal. Yup, no light, no beep. I did have a PSU with 3 blown caps on it. Light, beep, all rails ok. Previously, the PC that that was in was only a P3 450, but it was flakey at times. Something this tester really isn't designed to test. Maybe the 5 Volt LED might shine low enough at say maybe 3 or 4 Volts that visually, you may be able to pick up, if the Voltage is wrong. Generally though, a bad PSU will just stop working. And that is easily tested with this tester. But then again, you can do that with a bent paper clip.

    So all in all, junk? Not really. A simple tester, yes indeed. You'll have to decide how important this could be for you. If anything, the marketing of these types of things are pretty profound. Then again, so are cell phone antenna boosters.


Pros:

  • Tests many rails on PSU's
  • Inexpensive? For what it does?
  • Brushed aluminum body
  • Easy to use


Cons:

  • Doesn't create a real load on a PSU
  • Only tests voltages by lighting LED's
 

Extra picture (Out takes):

    Since the brushed aluminum didn't come out in the lighting I had up here in the lab, (a technical term for my romper room) I knew a way I could at least attempt to show it was with the camera flash. So look out below!
 

(ot1) Brushed! Click the pic to make it bigger of course.

Closing:

    I would like to thank COOLMAX for sponsoring this product for review. Yes, I didn't give this a rating. As I said above, "You'll have to decide how important this could be for you." The main page for it is here. Looking to get one for yourself? Go right to their partner page. COOLMAX has many resellers, including Newegg, which is one of my favorites by far for ordering stuff online. I hope you enjoyed this review! Until next time...

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