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CLOSER LOOK
A neat feature of the 500W Cougar RX Series 80+ PSU is the removable 140mm fan. The bracket and fan can be removed independently without having to open the entire unit, a nice touch if you want to change the cooling method:
Due to Cougar using a larger 140mm fan, the RPM of the fan is much lower than smaller fans (as the RPM of smaller fans are much higher) in order to expel the same volume of air in the PSU enclosure. As a result, the larger 140mm fan accounts for the PSU’s silent noise output, hence yielding a super-silent computer build.
The PSU also has an Active Power Factor Correction (PFC) which provides a PF value up to 99% of clean and reliable power. It further boasts a 140mm fan which allows superior PSU cooling compared to PSU’s using much smaller fans.
The 140mm fan is also temperature governed, containing a built-in PWM processor which allows for the fan speed to increase if the temperature threshold is reached within the PSU. Being mounted to the top cover of the PSU allows for the fan to be mounted as close to the heatsinks as possible to rid the PSU interior of heat, something we thought we should mention as most consumers rarely look at the fan positioning where PSUs are concerned.
We commend Cougar to position the fan in this manner as this aids the RX500 in cooling off much quicker and without the need to increase fan speed thus allowing the noise level to remain low. The Cougar 140mm fan allows for both performance (temperature) and comfortability (noise reduction) in the RX Series PSU, allowing for first-time builders to boast a much more luxurious feature at a very low price-point. We would have preferred a ball-bearing fan over sleeve-bearing for extra endurance over the three-year warranty period, and better assurance in terms of PSU burn-out.
Moving on, the 500W Cougar RX Series 80+ PSU supports PCI-Express 2.0 next-generation graphic cards with either the 6-pin or 8-pin PCI-E connector configurations. It also possesses one 8-pin CPU connector, one 4-pin floppy connector, three 4-pin peripheral connectors, and five SATA power connectors. As mentioned previously, the cabling is more than ample for any build despite not having a modular design, and comes thoughtfully braided for extra appeal and aesthetics:
The 500W Cougar RX Series 80+ PSU showcases undervoltage protection, overvoltage protection, short-circuit protection, overload protection, and overcurrent protection. It further boasts a single 12V rail for overclocking up to a 39A output, which is also quite competitive compared to other PSU manufacturers for a 500W PSU.