EVGA GQ Series 750W PSU Review

[Guest]

EVGA teamed up with FSP once again to produce the new GQ line, which is one step below the highly popular G2 series. The four GQ PSUs feature 80 Plus Gold efficiency and semi-modular cabling, promising quiet operation.

EVGA GQ Series 750W PSU Review : Read more

 

[10tacle]

Huh. Johnny Guru gave two variants of this PSU series recommended ratings back in Nov. & Dec (650, 850). I saw a 650W on sale at NewEgg last December for $50(US) after rebate and almost recommended it to a friend, but I didn't as I hadn't seen a JohnnyGuru review on the GQ series yet (they gave it a 9.4). They also gave the 850W version a 9.2 rating back in November.

Not sure what happened with this 750W example, but it sounds more like what one would expect with a Corsair CX750 example. Definitely not the same results that Johnny Guru got with two different GQ variants.

 

[Aris_Mp]

The lower capacity GQ models use a different platform from the higher capacity ones (850W and more).

The design of the 650 and 750 GQ models doesn't allow for better performance, especially in ripple performance.

 

[dstarr3]

Eh, I'd stick with the G2 series. That's a lot more quality for only a small price premium. And really, the PSU is probably the worst place to cut costs in a system build.

 

[basroil]

Oh god, another PoS EVGA unit that shares a similar name to the spectacular G2... I can see a flood of "my graphics card has coil whine", "my computer constantly crashes", and "my headphones have static/popping (only when playing games)" posts in the forum soon...

 

[joz]

Eh, I'd stick with the G2 series. That's a lot more quality for only a small price premium. And really, the PSU is probably the worst place to cut costs in a system build.

Agreed. G2 550 and 650's are great. And the P2 750+ if you need that sort of power are great too. But these...."craptacularripplefail," units EVGA is tossing out is really hurting their image. I understand market catering and such, but they need to rethink their strategy. They aren't going to win any price/perf races while Corsair can continue to throw their shitty cx units out the window to customers. And EVGA I hold to higher standards then Corsair, so its kind of a shame to see the performance of these lower quality power supplies.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I would take the EVGA G2 , P2 , T2 over any other POWER SUPPLIES including Seasonic.

 

[jonnyguru]

Agreed. G2 550 and 650's are great. And the P2 750+ if you need that sort of power are great too. But these...."craptacularripplefail," units EVGA is tossing out is really hurting their image. I understand market catering and such, but they need to rethink their strategy. They aren't going to win any price/perf races while Corsair can continue to throw their shitty cx units out the window to customers. And EVGA I hold to higher standards then Corsair, so its kind of a shame to see the performance of these lower quality power supplies.

Unfortunately, you can't be too profitable selling only niche higher end product. At some point, if you want the board of directors to let you continue putting out power supplies, you have to put something out that can do volume. The B2 Series, The GQ Series, etc. Don't like them? Don't buy them. Is it hurting their reputation? No. Not as long as higher end units like the G2, P2, etc. continue to be solid. But if they start to slip for whatever reason, then you can say their reputation is in jeoprady. Seriously. Hardly anybody judges the Corvette because of the Chevy Spark (well... maybe some Ford fanboys, but still).

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I like the GQ's and recommend them , also love the Corsair RMx series and recommend those too.

 

[PureBlackFire]

Huh. Johnny Guru gave two variants of this PSU series recommended ratings back in Nov. & Dec (650, 850). I saw a 650W on sale at NewEgg last December for $50(US) after rebate and almost recommended it to a friend, but I didn't as I hadn't seen a JohnnyGuru review on the GQ series yet (they gave it a 9.4). They also gave the 850W version a 9.2 rating back in November.

Not sure what happened with this 750W example, but it sounds more like what one would expect with a Corsair CX750 example. Definitely not the same results that Johnny Guru got with two different GQ variants.

well, this is hardly the first time an FSP platform performed reasonably well at 650 watts and sucked at 750. sure it won't be the last either. as for the 850, like Aris said, based on a different (better) design.

 

[10tacle]

well, this is hardly the first time an FSP platform performed reasonably well at 650 watts and sucked at 750. sure it won't be the last either. as for the 850, like Aris said, based on a different (better) design.

That's just not right. A certain series should be of the same quality across the series offerings. There's a reason people shop for different series for their needs (budget vs. quality, etc.). Hell it's complicated enough already just trying to keep up with each OEM series line offerings and their quality tiers. I mean we all know the general quality difference between Corsair's CX line and EVGA's G2 line.

 

[PureBlackFire]

That's just not right. A certain series should be of the same quality across the series offerings. There's a reason people shop for different series for their needs (budget vs. quality, etc.). Hell it's complicated enough already just trying to keep up with each OEM series line offerings and their quality tiers. I mean we all know the general quality difference between Corsair's CX line and EVGA's G2 line.

unfortunately engineering is more involved than that. even within those two series you named, there are nuanced differences in the series, even on the same platform. the Be Quiet Dark Pro 11 1200 doesn't perform so great among other high end 1200 watt units, but the 850 watt sits right among the top units at that capacity.

 

[10tacle]

unfortunately engineering is more involved than that. even within those two series you named, there are nuanced differences in the series, even on the same platform. the Be Quiet Dark Pro 11 1200 doesn't perform so great among other high end 1200 watt units, but the 850 watt sits right among the top units at that capacity.

Yep, I can understand that between the component need differences of a 650W and 1050W in the same series line like Japanese vs. Chinese made capacitors for example. Just goes to show not only do we need to know the general product line, but we really need to drill down to the specific PSU in that product line for true quality measurement. A series lineage alone doesn't guarantee anything.

I don't upgrade PSUs nearly as often as I do CPUs and GPUs combined, so reviews like this are nice to know in between years of not being in the PSU market.

 

[jonnyguru]

Yep, I can understand that between the component need differences of a 650W and 1050W in the same series line like Japanese vs. Chinese made capacitors for example.

Well... Then you don't really understand because Japanese brand vs. Chinese brand capacitors aren't making the differences you're eluding too. It costs a lot of money to have multiple platforms within the same product line. It typically costs less in engineering costs and BOM cost to reuse the same platform for multiple wattages. Unfortunately, that almost always means that that platform works at its best at one wattage, but not necessarily one higher or one lower.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Out of spec ripple is enough for me to say "no" to a unit. This just proves what I always say: you can't judge a particular power supply based on other models in the series. We did not see this stuff with the 650W and 850W models, too bad the 750W is an under-performer.