Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
The GAMDIAS ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W has a pretty standard size for an ATX power supply. In terms of dimensions, this power supply stretches out 16.5cm. It definitely is not the smallest unit we have seen, as this rivals units with a higher efficiency rating than 80 Plus Gold. It should be noted fully modular power supplies generally take up more room compared to their semi-modular or non-modular counterparts by a centimeter or two, as this extra real estate is used for the connector board at the back. We will explore what this looks like later when we delve inside the GAMDIAS ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W. For most ATX or eATX chassis, this sort of length will be almost a non-issue. However, for smaller mATX or mITX cases, the extra length may be more difficult to deal with, even if it is only a few centimeters. In the end, your mileage will vary based on your build.
From the top of the photo here, you can see the GAMDIAS logo smacked in the middle with a pattern of horizontal and diagonal slits. These slits follow across the entire top, back, and parts of the sides to allow airflow from all of these directions into the power supply I can honestly say I have never seen a power supply like this, but I really like the way it looks. Rather than having specific dedicated areas to allow for intake and exhaust, this makes for a more open environment, while also integrating the holes into its design. The top grille pattern runs across the 135mm internal fan to stop larger debris and objects from entering. Despite this unique pattern, I do have to say it will probably impede airflow a bit more than some other designs. Otherwise, the sides of the power supply are finished in a smooth black look. The sides show off the ASTRAPE P1 branding, with its 750G and 80 Plus Gold certification. At the back, we have the aforementioned exhaust vents in the same pattern. This allows excess heat to leave out the back of the power supply. The external casing of the power supply is held together with four screws at the top near the fan, with one screw having a warranty seal over it. The only way to get inside this unit is to void the ten year warranty, which is not advisable to do.
At the back, we can get a closer look at the slit pattern. This follows the same aesthetics at the top, though once again, I will say this does limit a bit more airflow in comparison to the standard honeycomb pattern. The back vents play an essential role in allowing heat to flow out the back, and having better airflow means it will get out as efficiently as it can. Most modern power supplies have an automatic full range (110V-240V) AC line voltage selection, so you will not need to manually flip an additional switch, and this product is no exception. Therefore, the back has a single power switch and a standard power input. Thankfully, this is not a C20 receptacle, like the ones we have seen on some power supply units. We also have another switch with a label of "Silent Mode". As the name implies, this switch enables or disables the silent mode for the fan. One small design choice I would change is to emulate the line and circle indicators for on and off on the Silent Mode switch for consistency. Finally, we have a push button switch labeled "RGB Lighting", which allows users to cycle through the RGB lighting on the fan. We will see what this looks like later on.
Like most of the power supplies we have covered here at APH Networks, the GAMDIAS ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W is a fully modular power supply. This means all cables are completely detachable from the main unit. While some users may question the necessity of this for essential cables like the ATX 24-pin and the ATX 4-pin/EPS 8-pin, there still are benefits to having this. For example, I would argue this makes cabling easier, since users can pre-route the cables without needing the power supply installed right away. Secondly, there are a few third party manufacturers who provide sleeved cables for power supplies, and this is only made possible by fully modular units. On the other hand, there is a higher, but very negligible, electrical contact loss at the connectors compared to permanently fixed cables. At the end of the day, your preference will make the final call, but I prefer fully modular units.
The rear cable connection panel is clean, with similar connectors grouped together and laid out logically. They are clearly labeled, so you know which plug is for what. On the top row, we have the motherboard pins. Next to these are two sets of six pin connections, used for the peripheral outputs like SATA, or Molex connections. At the bottom row we have the CPU output, followed by two PCI Express connectors. Finally we have two more peripheral outputs. At this power wattage rating, I think GAMDIAS has provided a good number of connections, though it is a bit strange seeing only two PCI Express connections from such a high wattage unit. I would have expected to see at least three if not four outputs.
The external build quality of the GAMDIAS ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W is super solid, which is great for the first time showing from GAMDIAS. Otherwise, the fit between the panels is quite good with very little gaps in between. The edges are finished off, though there are some sharper corners and edges than I would like. I would take some caution with handling the power supply. Of course, what matters is the inside, and we will see what they are like soon enough.
The voltage specification label for the GAMDIAS ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W is on the opposite side of the fan. There are two main virtual rails. Up to 22A can be delivered via the +3.3V rail for a total of 72.6W. The +5V rail can deliver 22A too, bringing the output to 110W in this area. The total combined output for the +3.3V and +5V rail is 120W. In other words, your power allocation combination must fall within the limits of the listed specifications. Meanwhile, a single powerful +12V rail delivers up to 62.5A (750W) to reduce operating overhead compared to multiple +12V rails. Overall, the combined power output for the whole ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W is an unsurprising 750W. Again, your power distribution in your system must fall within the limits provided -- it must not exceed 72.6W on the +3.3V rail, 110W on the +5V rail and 120W combined for both, 750W on the +12V rail, and 750W combined between the positive rails. All these confusing numbers aside, this configuration allows for flexible power demands. It should be sufficient to accommodate most users and the overall distribution is pretty reasonable for an 750W power supply.
The GAMDIAS ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W is 80 Plus Gold certified, which means it is certified to be at least 87%, 90%, 87% efficient at 20%, 50%, and 100% load, respectively. While the Gold rating may seem a bit pedestrian for a power supply in 2017, I think this is completely fine, considering the target audience for this unit.
A total of eight modular cables are included out of the box. All modular cables are flat and easy to bend, making them extremely easy to work with. Surprisingly, all wires are 18 AWG, including high current PCI Express and ATX/EPS connectors. Usually, manufacturers will fatten them up to 16 AWG, but GAMDIAS opted out on that.
The following modular cables are included out of the box:
- 1x ATX 20+4 pin, 65.0cm
- 1x ATX/EPS 4+4 pin, 2 connectors, 70.0cm to first connector, 25.0cm spacing thereafter
- 2x PCIe 6+2 pin, 2 connectors each, 55.0cm to first connector, 15.0cm spacing thereafter
- 3x SATA, 3 connectors each, 55.0cm to first connector, 10.0cm spacing thereafter
- 1x Molex and Floppy, 4 connectors, 55.0cm to first connector, 10.0cm spacing thereafter, 1 Floppy at the end of dongle
These are just what I measured from the cables. Most users should have no problems with the cables included with the GAMDIAS ASTRAPE P1-750G 750W, even if your case has a bottom power supply mount. 50cm is the general standard, and this power supply met or exceeded this recommendation for all critical components. The SATA and Molex cables are pretty lengthy too, though I would have liked to see a bit more spacing between the connectors. At 10.0cm for each connector, this could be a bit tight when chaining multiple peripherals. I still question why power supply manufacturers even include floppy connectors nowadays, as floppy drives are practically relics now, and practically nothing uses the Berg power connector anymore.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Minor Tests and Conclusion
