The XPG Core Reactor II 1200W PSU Review: XPG Goes for the Gold

Cold Test Results (~25°C Ambient Temperature)

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, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts. For a thorough explanation of our testing methodology and more details on our equipment, please refer to our How We Test PSUs - 2014 Pipeline post.

The XPG Core Reactor II 1200W power supply unit demonstrates commendable efficiency, aligning with its 80Plus Gold certification. Although the figures are not too high, it maintains good efficiency across a broad range of load conditions, resulting to a high average. In tests conducted with a 230 VAC input, the Core Reactor II achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 91.3%, a respectable figure within its category. This efficiency slightly decreases to 89.9% when tested under a 115 VAC input. While this reduction in efficiency is noticeable, it doesn't significantly detract from the unit's overall performance, which remains solidly high for a Gold-rated PSU.

The fan of the Core Reactor II 1200W PSU begins to operate when the PSU reaches 40% of its capacity. Despite its significant power output, the internal temperatures of the unit remain within reasonable limits, which is commendable given that the fan never reached its maximum speed during our room temperature testing.

During cold testing, the XPG Core Reactor II 1200W PSU's fan initiates operation at 40% capacity. The fan speed is very slow up to a 60% load and increases progressively beyond this point. It will reach clearly audible figures once heavily loaded, even if only for a few seconds. However, even under heavy load conditions, the fan does not reach its maximum speed of 2300 RPM.