PSU Group Test: 500W, 600W, 700W, 850W

FSP Epsilon 85PLUS 600W

Manufacturer: FSP
UK Price (as reviewed): £99.95 (inc. VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): Not available

The Epsilon 85PLUS is part of a new range of mid-range PSUs that FSP will launch later this year. As the name suggests, these new models improve on previous Epsilon models with a claimed efficiency of at least 85 per cent. Unlike FSP’s new Everest 85PLUS 800W PSU, the Epsilon 85PLUS 600W is equipped with captive, rather than modular, cables. Although this makes the Epsilon 85PLUS 600W much cheaper than the Everest 85PLUS 800W, the large number of cables will clutter up the inside of your PC, reducing airflow and thereby increasing the temperature.

The Epsilon 85PLUS has four 12V rails, each of which is rated at up to 18A, with a maximum combined output of 46A. Hardwired into the main cable loom are one 6+2-pin and one 6-pin PCI-E power cable to support the latest and greatest graphics cards. A relatively quiet, but slightly humming 120mm fan keeps the inner workings cool. The Epsilon 85PLUS proved to be rock solid at 50 per cent load, but none of the 12V rails was capable of outputting a stable 18A at full load without the voltage dropping considerably, no matter which one we stressed.



Unfortunately, the drop was so severe that the output, 12V2 at 11.34V and 12V4 at 11.28V, was well below the 11.4V minimum requirement of the ATX spec. However, the Epsilon 85PLUS was very efficient, managing a score of 90 per cent at full load. Despite the Epsilon 85PLUS’s noteworthy energy-efficiency, it’s impossible to recommend because of its weak 12V rails.

• Stability
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• -
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• 8/10

• Features
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• -
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• 4/10

• Value
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• x
• x
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• -
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• 6/10

• Overall
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• -
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• 6/10

Score Guide