Verdict:

A good all-rounder, bar the lack of modular cables.

Since OCZ bought PC Power & Cooling in 2007 the company has completely updated its own PSU range, introducing the new high wattage EliteXStream series.

Like PC Power & Cooling PSUs, the EliteXStream PSUs have a single 12V rail; in theory, this could be dangerous if a bug or metal shard were to get inside your PSU, but it's more energy-efficient, and easier and cheaper to design and build than a PSU with multiple 12V rails.

In the case of the memorably named OCZ1000EXS-UK, its 12V rail is rated to deliver up to 80A, which is a huge amount of power for a single circuit to produce. The OCZ1000EXS-UK has plenty of power to go round, and includes four 6+2-pin PCI-E connectors, although all the wires are hard-wired into the PSU. The compact, 160mm-long interior is cooled by a reasonably quiet, but audible, temperature-controlled 120mm intake fan.

The OCZ1000EXS-UK managed to output a stable voltage on all its rails, but proved to be slightly less efficient than the lower-rated OCZ800EXS-UK, although it's still an impressive 84 per cent efficient. However, the lack of modular cables and audible fan make it hard to justify spending close to £137 on this PSU when there are so many other PSUs available.

• Cases - 21st November 2008
• Motherboards - 24th October 2008
• Gaming Headsets - 26th September 2008
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• Media PC components - 22nd August 2008
• PSUs - 14th July 2008

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