The Power Supply
A critical component of every computer case is its power supply. With today’s high speed, high performance components demanding more and more power, a quality power supply is a must. How does the Coolermaster branded power supply compare with similar units available out on the market? In the table shown below is a direct comparison of the ampere rails of the Coolermaster power supply versus two other 350W power supplies, one manufactured by Enermax, the other by Enlight.
Table 1: Comparison of Coolermaster, Enermax, and Enlight Power Supplies
| Model | +3.3V | +5V | +12V | -12V | -5V |
| Coolermaster RS-350-ASMR 350W | 18A | 25A | 16A | 1.0A | 2.0A |
| Enermax EG365P-VE FMA 1.3 350W | 32A | 32A | 26A | 1.0A | 1.0A |
| Enlight EN-5602620 350W | 28A | 30A | 18A | 0.8A | 0.3A |
Source: www.newegg.com
As can be seen in the table, the Coolermaster 350W power supply doesn’t boost the strongest specifications of the bunch. In particular, its 3.3V rail looks especially weak compared to that of the other two models. For the demands of a high end gaming system, a better power supply should probably be considered.
What Else Is Included
Besides the case itself, Coolermaster includes some accessories including ample amounts of screws, a power cord, case badge, and a rather thorough manual that details case installation instructions in several languages.
Final Thoughts/Conclusion
Having looked at everything let’s summarize by looking at the Pros and Cons of the Centurion 5:
Pros
- Elegant black finish
- Case window
- 120mm rear fan
- Screwless design
- Plenty of drivebays
- Excellent cooling
Cons
I must say that overall I’m very impressed with the Coolermaster Centurion 5 case that was sponsored by Directron.com / AxionTech.com. The elegant finish, black steel mesh front bezel with added front I/O ports, a side window, screwless installation, and exceptional cooling design make this case a winner. The price of the case is reasonable, coming in at about $50-$60 with the 350W power supply. Unfortunately, the Coolermaster-branded power supply that’s included is not one of the stronger ones on the market, and if you are considering this case for a high end gaming rig or other high-end system, I would suggest you purchase the case and another PSU separately. However, don’t let this dissuade you from considering this great product. Coolermaster offers a very good looking case with great features that is very fitting for both power users and as well as casual computer builders. It’s definitely worth considering for your next build.
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