![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Wednesday, December 03, 2008
- Author:
- Paul Johnson
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
Tagan BZ 1300W PSU
Tagan delivers some impressive features in this 1300 watt powerhouse of a PSU. It is advertised as future proof and guaranteed to last, but does it deliver the full 1300 watts of advertised power under our test conditions?
Build Quality
As we already know the Tagan BZ 1300W features a single 135mm fan design that has come to be one of the preferred standards for quiet cooling environments due to the ability to move a larger volume of air at slower speeds than a smaller diameter fan. While great for quiet computing environments the key criteria in our evaluation is whether or not the cooling solution is sufficient, not necessary it’s sound level or form factor.
External Build Quality
The finish on the BZ 1300W is identical to that on the BZ800 and falls somewhere between the super glossy finish like we saw on the ITZ1300 and the matte ones we have seen on a number of Corsair power supplies. This makes for an excellent compromise of looks and durability. The unit is dominated by the single large overhead 135mm fan that has the Tagan logo on it in place of the ABS one we saw on the BZ800. The side of the unit is dominated by the large Tagan BZ 1300W label just like the one found on the ABS/Tagan BZ800. The back of the unit does not include a switch for the +12v Turbo Mode like the BZ800 but rather like the ABS/Tagan ITZ1300 claims to have an Auto 12v “turbo” mode. On the front of the unit we see the same style modular interface that we have no seen on two SuperFlower built Kingwin's and two Topower built Tagans. Like the ABS/Tagan BZ800 this unit is not full modular like the Topower PowerBirds but rather has a few cables that are still attached to the unit making it a semi-modular design. Finally, around the modular connectors we see the various color rings that provide the "Colorful Cable Definition" for the unit when the cables are in use, again much like those seen on SuperFlower built Kingwin units and other Topower built Tagan units.
The cables that are attached and those that are removable provide a serviceable length of ~24 inches to the first or only connector, however with the addition of the REMI filters on the end of the PCI-Express cables can be extremely unwieldy to route or hide. The BZ 1300W itself comes in at a length or ~6 7/8 inches but in addition to that, users need to account for the added length of the coax style modular plugs. The base length, however, is certainly manageable for a 1300w power supply.
Internal Build Quality
Once we open the Tagan BZ 1300W by removing two screws and prying open the unit (the other two screws were stripped) we are left looking at a design that looks more like the ITZ1300 than the BZ800 we most recently saw but with some notable differences. First the heatsinks are different due to the different axis of cooling provided by an overhead fan as opposed to a pair of 80mm fans. Second, while similar the two main transformers are slightly different models in this unit than what we saw in the ITZ1300. We do however, see the same dual transformer and dual primary capacitor configuration that we saw in the ITZ1300, but this time we are able to make out the Topower model number for this unit and it is the P10. The fan charged with cooling this new 1300w setup is a GlobeFan rated at 0.70A at 12v.
OMG WTF
Lastly, as we look at the back of the main PCB we see what is possibly some of the scariest and sloppiest looking soldering we have ever seen. This is tremendously bad workmanship and needs to be corrected. I think it can be said that no [H] readers will be caught dead with this unit in their system based on this one picture alone. If this little care goes into building it, you just should not be purchasing it.
On the primary side we see that the unit is once more very similar to the ITZ1300. The primary capacitors are a pair of Toshin brand, rated at 200v 1200uF 85c. We also see on the primary side that the bridge rectifier is situated right next to the input filtering with the APFC coil between it and the primary capacitors. The bridge rectifier has a heatsink on each side of it and these heatsinks are secured to all the other components in the area with the liberal use of caulk. The caulk used to secure components is of course important but the manner in which it has been used in this unit is certainly sloppy and haphazard looking as exemplified here. Finally, before moving on the secondary we see that the input filtering is here on the primary side and is complete. However, the way in which some of the components below the PCB on the AC receptacle are affixed to the main PCB looks less than neat and the solder on the back of the add in PCB is a mess as well.
Moving over to the secondary side we see another very crowded section that is in a lot of ways no better constructed than the primary. From the overhead view we see the three coils indicating an independently regulated design and a whole mess of wiring for the “six”12v rails. In reality, the unit is a single 12v unit as the OCP is not active. From the side we see the add-in PCB that houses the OVP, and the other protection circuitry along with fan controller nested among the wires. Also found in that forest of wiring are the secondary capacitors which are provided by Her-mei, not exactly what we would call a good or well known brand but this seems to fit with what we have seen from some other Topower units such as the BZ800 which reached into the same grab bag of obscurity to pull out Samson. Moving on, we see the modular interface, and after seeing it I wish I had not. From behind the plastic shield we see several Her-mei capacitors peaking their heads out which only gets worse once we remove the plastic and see another PCB with a very poor soldering job. However, at least someone soldered the hex nuts down, that is worth something right?
Build Quality Summary
The Tagan BZ 1300W is much like that beautiful "showgirl" that everyone knows…”personally.” She is easy on the eyes and so is the Tagan BZ 1300W. Unfortunately once you get her out of that costume you find the bitter truth of the matter. While pretty to look at, the really important parts are a bit subpar and look to have been handled without any care at all.
While the Tagan BZ 1300W does feature Japanese primary capacitors from Toshin the secondary is filled out with Her-mei capacitors that have popped out of Topower’s grab bag of obscurity. The actual construction of this unit is just disgustingly sloppy. The soldering on the PCB's is absolutely atrocious and while our units did not have any cold joints or shorts, if the quality of soldering carries over from this unit to others I have a feeling Tagan is going to be seeing some RMA issues because of a piss-poor quality of workmanship. While caulk is important in securing certain components to the PCB, it does not need to be used like cake frosting, and does not need to be used to seemingly fill in any gaps that can be found between components.
In the past Topower has provided some good units, and some less than good units. However, this older P10 based unit features some just extremely bad construction quality. I had hoped this unit was just missed by the QC department and is not representative of the units as a whole, but after seeing three total BZ 1300W units (two samples and one retail purchase), it seems this really is the way the unit is built.