In our modern world we need lots of electronic devices around us. Be it a notebook, phone tablet, etc., they all need is juice to keep running. Most notebooks have few USB ports to charge your devices at, and what’s better than powering and charging your USB-device at a portable hub, located right at your notebook charger? If this sounds bit weird or vague to you, that’s one more reason to check out this review about the Innergie mCube Slim 95, which should do exactly that: Charge your USB device at a notebook adaptor, whilst having your notebook turned off`- but charging!

What does Innergie tell us about the mCube Slim 95?

“The mCube Slim 95 is the most practical of the Innergie line up, it’s light and compact, no larger in width and length than an iPhone in fact. It pumps out a massive 95 watts of charging oomph for devices requiring between 18 – 21 volts of juice and includes a 10 Watt USB port for charging even your iPad or other portable USB devices.”

Specifications

AC Input: 100-240 VAC/1.6A 50-60Hz
DC Output: 19 V DC/4.47A
USB Output: 5V DC/2 A
Output Power (Continuous/Peak): 95W/110W
Dimension: (LxWxH)109.2mm x 62mm x 18.2mm
Weight (exclude cables): 179g
Built-in Protection: OCP, OVP, OTP, OPP, SCP

Introduction

Here’s the third in our Rasurbo Real Power Previews. Today its the 650w unboxing where we’ll be looking at the physical layout and the bundle. Please bare in mind there won’t be any performance results, as we don’t want to be wrong now do we?

Specifications

• Enclosure varnished in green & black
• 550 | 650 watts version
• Til 85% efficiency
• Energy-saving certified by (80plus.org)
• EuP/ErP ready (less than 1 watt power consumption in standby)
• Fullrange (100 – 240 Voltage)
• 20+4 Pin ATX combo connector
• ATX 12 V version 2.3
• 5x S-ATA connector
• PCI-E 2.0 (6+2Pin), RAPM550 x2 | RAPM650 x4
• silent 135 mm fan, ca. 16 dB(A)
• automatically controlled fan speed
• Active power factor correction (≤99%)
• comprehensive protection package, e.g.:
- – Overvoltage protection (OVP)
- – Overpower protection (OPP)
- – Short-circuit protection (SCP)
- – Overcurrent protection (OCP)
- – Undervoltage protection (UVP)
• Retail packing (german/english)
• CE-certified, 24 month of warranty
• shrouded cables of approx. 95 cm length
• incl. power cord / mounting screws

Introduction

Like our recent preview of the Cougar CMX, we’re back with another PSU unboxing, though this is for the Rasurbo Real Power 450w. There won’t be any performance results, but you’ll get a look at the externals and what you get along with the unit itself.

Specifications

• Enclosure varnished in green & black
• 350 | 450 watts version
• Til 85% efficiency
• Energy-saving certified by (80plus.org)
• EuP/ErP ready (less than 1 watt power consumption in standby)
• Fullrange (100 – 240 Voltage)
• 20+4 Pin ATX combo connector
• ATX 12 V version 2.3
• 3x S-ATA connector
• PCI-E 2.0 (6+2Pin), RAP350 x1 | RAP450 x2
• silent 120 mm fan, ca. 16 dB(A)
• automatically controlled fan speed
• Active power factor correction (≤99%)
• comprehensive protection package, e.g.:
- – Overvoltage protection (OVP)
- – Overpower protection (OPP)
- – Short-circuit protection (SCP)
- – Overcurrent protection (OCP)
- – Undervoltage protection (UVP)
• Retail packing (german/english)
• CE-certified, 24 month of warranty
• shrouded cables of approx. 85 cm length
• incl. power cord / mounting screws

Since Hardware Secrets made us all look a little silly a few years ago, without access to the full test setups that the big sites and PSU manufacturers have, XSR has backed off its PSU reviews to instead make them unboxing-previews.

Please bare in mind that this preview of the Cougar CMX 550w will not include any performance numbers.

Specifications

Click to Enlarge

Features

• EXTREMELY HIGH EFFICIENCY
  • Up to 89% of efficiency, compliant with 80-PLUS®  Bronze @115V efficiency requirement .
• DC-DC TECHNOLOGY (1000CMX/1200CMX)
  • DC-DC technology provides highest efficiency, most stable performance, and perfect regulation (Regulation <3%).
• COMPATIBLE WITH LATEST PC-TECHNOLOGY
  • Supports the newest specifications of ATX12V
  • Created for usage with current and next-generation multi-core CPU platforms.
• SUPPORT MULTI-GPU TECHNOLOGY
  • Support PCI Express 2.0 next-generation graphic card with 8(6+2)pin PCI-E connector
• HIGHEST DURABLE & RELIABLE SOLID CAPS FOR 12V,3.3V,5V (1000CMX/1200CMX)
  • The best solution for a High-End PSU by using solid caps for 12Vs, 3.3V, 5V, solid caps  provide highest efficiency, best reliability, and extend power lifespan.
• 105°C JAPANESE CAPACITORS
  • COUGAR® use highest durable 105°C Japanese capacitors provide uncompromised performance and reliability, delivering 4 times the lifespan of conventional 85°C rated capacitors.
• HDB (Hydro-Dynamic Bearing) 14cm FAN
  • Advanced HDB (HYDRO-Dynamic Bearing) fan provide best lifespan and super silent performance. Temperature-controlled design adapts its rotating speed to the PSU temperature. Even on its highest rotating level the fan is still quiet enough to be barely noticeable.
• DYNAMIC MULTI-12V
  • COUGAR® use highest durable 105°C Japanese capacitors providing uncompromised performance and reliability, delivering 4 times the lifespan of conventional 85°C rated capacitors.
• FLEXIBLE CABLE MANAGEMENT
  • The modular cables that reduce air friction help maximize airflow through the PC case. The modular design also simplifies installation as it allows unprecedented flexibility in using only those cables which are needed.
• COMPLIANT WITH LATEST EUROPEAN DIRECTIVE 2005/32/EG (EuP)
  • Advanced HDB (HYDRO-Dynamic Bearing) fan provide best lifespan and super silent performance. Temperature-controlled design adapts its rotating speed to the PSU temperature. Even on its highest rotating level the fan is still quiet enough to be barely noticeable.
• SUPPORTS THE ENERGY STAR 5.0
  • Compatible with Energy star 5.0 computer system.
• FULL PROTECTIONS WITH OCP, SCP, OVP, UVP, OPP

Apparently the big change comes when utilising a thin, moldable sheet of small antennas called nantenna, that are able to absorb visible light as well as infrared by taking in and converting heat. This allows them to be used in industrial heat recycling and for solar designs.

Professor Pinhero who headed the research is attempting to move the technology over to something that can be mass produced as well as attempting to get hold of some U.S. Department of Energy funding to help accomplish this. Dennis Slafer of MicroContinuum is also being roped in as he runs a solar power and alternative energy firm.

“Our overall goal is to collect and utilize as much solar energy as is theoretically possible and bring it to the commercial market in an inexpensive package that is accessible to everyone,” Professor Pinhero states.  ”If successful, this product will put us orders of magnitudes ahead of the current solar energy technologies we have available to us today.”

He recently published a paper detailing his tests and the results of them.

Apparently within 5 years a mass produced version should be available. Combining it with current solar cell technology would allow for quite a bump in efficiency for solar power.