Zalman ARX ARX-ZM750

Pure Platinum

When it comes to power supplies, the name Zalman is primarily associated with affordable OEM-based models. A couple of years ago, the brand set out to catch the eye of well-heeled enthusiasts and introduced the new ARX PSU lineup, which became some of the most affordable “Platinum” 750 W options in the domestic retail market.

100% reliability

A fair question arises: where did they cut costs, and what surprises should you expect? To cut to the chase, there won’t be any surprises: the PSU is well built, the components are exclusively Japanese (capacitors from Nippon, Rubycon, and Unicon), the hybrid cooling system does an excellent job, and the platform from Enhance Electronics gives no cause for complaints. In testing, the Zalman ARX showed high voltage stability (perfect on the 12 V rail and good on the others), very low ripple, and high efficiency.

There are plenty of connectors, they’re distributed sensibly across the cables, and all cables are detachable.

Noise at 80%

Testing showed that its relative cheapness leaves only one objective reason to nitpick — noticeable noise under high load. At low power, when the PSU runs passively, the noise level is very low, but from around 170 W the fan turns on and becomes clearly audible. That’s a minus. On the other hand, the cooler uses a long-life ball bearing. That’s a plus. All in all, if “Gold” PSUs no longer seem efficient enough and “Titanium” ones are too expensive, this “Platinum” option is a very attractive offer. In our view, pricier alternatives only make sense if you have heightened demands for acoustic comfort.